Equivalent Sailing Qualifications

Small Boats Used Inshore

USNSA / ASA / US Sailing
Mate A / Any introductory sailing course / N/A
Dinghy Sailor Skipper B-DS / Basic Small Boat Sailing
(ASA 110) / Small Boat Sailor
(all wind speeds)
Keel Boat Skipper B-KBS (Keelboats without auxiliary power) / Basic Keelboat
(ASA 101) / Basic Keelboat Skipper
Skipper B-CS & B-CSN
(Keelboats with auxiliary power)
(N indicated night qualification) / Basic Coastal Cruising
(ASA 103)
(No night) / Basic Cruising Skipper
(No night)

Large Boats and Boats Used Offshore

USNSA / ASA / US Sailing
Skipper B-KBS qualification and Crew (C) designation / Basic Keelboat
(ASA 101) / Basic Keelboat Skipper
Skipper B-CS qualification and Senior Crew (SC) Designation / Basic Coastal Cruising
(ASA 103) / Basic Cruising Skipper
Skipper B-CSN qualification and Watch Captain (WC) Designation / Bareboat Chartering
(Intermediate Coastal Cruising)
(ASA 104) / Bareboat Skipper
Cruising Skipper D-CS / Advanced Coastal Cruising
(ASA 106) / Coastal Passage Making with Coastal Navigation
Senior Skipper D-SS
(Awarded by CNET/USNSA Only) / Offshore Passage Making
(ASA 108) / Offshore Passage Making with Celestial Navigation
Master Skipper E-MS
(Awarded by CNET/USNSA Only) / N/A / Offshore Passage Making Instructor
Master Ocean Q-MO
(Awarded by CNET/USNSA Only) / N/A / N/A

Special Designators

USNSA / ASA / US Sailing
Navy Sailing Instructor (I)
(Used with appropriate qualification level) / Instructor (I) / Instructor (I)
Navy Sailing Instructor Trainer (IT) / Instructor Evaluator (IE) / Instructor Trainer (IT)
Racing Skipper (R)
(Special designator used with a qualification level) / Introductory Racing Sailor / Level II
Sailing Program Director (SPD) / N/A / N/A


Equivalent Sailing Qualifications

(continued)

Qualifications Explained

(A) Mate / Minimum qualification to crew on small sailing craft
B-DS Dinghy Skipper / Qualified to handle small center board sailing craft in local waters
B-KBS Keel Boat Skipper / Qualified to handle a small keel boat sailing craft in local waters.
B-CS Day Sailing Cruising Skipper / Qualified to handle small sailing craft with auxiliary power in local waters. Boat may have some ships systems.
B-CSN Cruising Skipper / Qualified to handle small sailing craft with auxiliary power in local waters. The N signifies that person has been certified for sailing at night and reduced visibility.
(C) Crew / Individual with no formal training aboard a large sailing vessel.
(SC) Senior Crew / Individual with formal training aboard a large sailing vessel and has met all the PQS requirements for Crew.
(WC) Watch Captain / Individual who has met all PQS requirements for Watch Captain.
D-CS Cruising Skipper / Individual qualified to command a sailing vessel in designated or coastal waters. Qualification includes night experience and demonstrated navigation knowledge and skills. Any course developed for this certification must be approved by the DONS.

Navy Sailing Special Qualifiers

(I) Instructor / Qualified to train, recommend and/or certify individuals at their Individual sailing qualification level or lower provided they have appropriate experience in vessel used in training.
(IT) Instructor Trainer / Qualified to train and certify sailing instructors at their Individual sailing qualification level.
(SPD) Sailing Program Director / Individual who has been trained in the safe operation of a sailing program and has demonstrated the knowledge, maturity, skills, and leadership necessary to run such a program.
(R) Racing / A member who also has a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of yacht racing rules, techniques, and has served in the capacity of skipper or crew while racing. This designator is used in conjunction with any of Navy sailing qualifications. This designator is awarded at the local level.

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