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The Offshore Personal Survival Course (2 days) is
for experienced sailors who are participating in offshore and oceanic
races and passages, typically Offshore Special Regulations categories
0-1-2. The course includes classroom and practical sessions. Topics
covered include personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency
communications & signals, search & rescue, weather forecasts,
heavy weather & storm sails, damage control & fire,
hypothermia & cold water immersion. Practical, hands-on sessions
include using lifejackets and life rafts in a pool environment; damage
control; emergency signals. This 2 day course is Sail Canada
- World Sailing Approved. Participants who successfully
complete the course receive an Offshore Personal Survival Course
certificate, valid for five years.
Background
Sailors around the world take offshore personal survival training
(a.k.a. Sea Survival, Safety at Sea) to prepare themselves and their
boats. Offshore personal survival training courses are offered for
sailors in many countries, including Australia, Canada, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the
United States. Some sailing event organizers recommend or require
offshore personal survival training for participating crews. World
Sailing specifies offshore personal survival training requirements in
section 6 of the Offshore Special Regulations, and outlines a model
course in Appendix G of those regulations.
In British Columbia, the Vic-Maui
International Yacht Race and the Van Isle 360 International Yacht
Race require some crew members to hold current Offshore Personal
Survival Course (2 day) certificates, and the Southern Straits Yacht
Race, Swiftsure
International Yacht Race, and Patos Island Race require or
recommend personal survival training (half day, one day, two days).
Course Information
Comprehensive information about this course is available at Offshore
Personal Survival Course. Please pay extra attention to the
Participant Requirements which are available at OPSC
Participant Requirements.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at sas@bcsailing.bc.ca.
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