Practical Checkout Challenge
Experienced sailors can challenge our
practical 2.5 hour check out for a cost of $160.00
(145.00 for members).
If you are not earnestly confident that you can perform all of the practical check-out requirements with a score of at least a 90%, we'd appreciate it if you'd take a course or a private lesson to improve and refine your skills. It's important that sailors requesting a check-out have had ocean experience as the Bareboat certified captain.
The sailing skills tested in the checkout are as follows: Sailors must perform the following skills with competence and ease:
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The purpose of the Practical Check-out is to assess the sailor's ability to competently and safely handle a sailboat, both under sail and power under all wind and sea conditions with confidence, precision and ease. Knowing the correct action in a given situation, communicating clearly to the crew what is expected and performing the maneuver with precision and confidence (what we call "Command Presence") are also critical components of the sailor's boat handling abilities.
You are not required to utilize crew for every or for any part of the checkout -- you may choose to singlehand. Our USCG skipper would be your standby crew. Should the sailor chose to use crew then one of the skills assessed is his/her ability to clearly instruct the crew on what they are to do and when they are to do it. Should the sailor chose to singlehand, the same criteria hold true, i.e., how well does the sailor prepare for the maneuver, how well does he/she take into account the prevailing conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, current, proximity of other vessels, etc.) in planning the maneuver, how well does he/she recover when the initial plan goes awry, etc.
Sailing is a communication-intensive sport. Communication between skipper and crew is critical to avoid chaos and potential damage or injury. Even the single-handed sailor "communicates" with himself prior to taking any action, looking ahead, thinking through the action choices available and making alternative plans.
What is expected is that whatever
approach the sailor chooses it is appropriate to the given situation
and is performed with precision, confidence and ease with due
regard for the safety of the crew and
vessel.
The ASA sets competency standards for both sailing knowledge and on-the-water skills for sailors, as does the Practical Checkout. While the ASA standards may or may not require that a maneuver be done in a specified way, the critical similarity between ASA and the checkout is that the skipper display precision and confidence in safely handling the vessel.
Please see the Basic Sailing & Seamanship, Basic & Intermediate Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat instruction programs for other requirements. Most sailors who take the eight-day consecutive course can incorporate the check-out into course time. We also recommend that you charter or sail within 30 days of receiving your certification and continue to sail on a regular basis to stay current on your skills.
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