Personal survival training is a crucial aspect of preparing sailors and their boats for various races and passages, including coastal, offshore, and oceanic journeys. This training is available to sailors worldwide, with numerous countries offering such programs, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States.
The specific requirements for personal survival training are outlined in section 6 of the Offshore Special Regulations by World Sailing. A model offshore course can be found in Appendix G of these regulations.
It’s essential for sailors to be aware that many sailing events may necessitate that some crew members hold a current certificate from an approved personal survival training course.
To ensure compliance, sailors should review the Notice of Race for their specific sailing event well in advance, as it may specify training requirements and recommendations. Personal survival training may also be known by other names such as Sea Survival, Safety at Sea, or similar terms.
How Personal Survivor Training Works in Canada
Our personal survival course is designed for experienced sailors who are planning to participate in coastal and offshore races and passages, typically falling under Offshore Special Regulations categories 3-4.
This one-day course combines classroom instruction with practical sessions. The curriculum covers various essential topics, including personal safety equipment, man overboard procedures, emergency communications and signals, search and rescue protocols, weather awareness, heavy weather and storm sail handling, damage control and fire management, and hypothermia and cold water immersion.
The course is approved by Canadian Sailing, and participants who successfully complete it receive a Personal Survival Course certificate which is valid for five years.
Meanwhile, the offshore personal survival course is a more comprehensive two-day program designed for experienced sailors preparing for offshore and oceanic races and passages, typically categorized under Offshore Special Regulations categories 0-1-2.
This course also combines classroom instruction with practical hands-on sessions. The curriculum covers similar topics as the CPSC but includes more extensive training in areas such as emergency signals, lifejacket and life raft usage in a pool environment, damage control techniques, and weather forecasts specific to offshore conditions.
Participants who successfully complete the course receive the Offshore Personal Survival Course certificate which is valid for five years.