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Independent study · no certification. Details

Compass Revision is independent and is not affiliated with, approved by, or endorsed by Sail Canada, Transport Canada, ISED, CanBoat, CHS, or the Canadian Coast Guard. It does not award certification, a PCOC, or an ROC(M).

Compass Canada study companion

Basic Cruising Study Companion

Direct answer

Independent Canadian preparation for basic cruising terminology, sailing decisions, Canadian rules and aids, safety, weather, and skipper responsibilities. Independent knowledge preparation mapped to a published standard. Compass is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sail Canada. Completion does not award certification, demonstrate on-water competence, or replace recognized instruction and assessment. Actual Sail Canada Basic Cruising certification, not this Compass companion, may be accepted as proof of competency under current Transport Canada rules.

Price
$24.99 once
Course size
10 modules
Access
Lifetime access
Format
Independent online study companion
Preview the free module

Product tour

Try the revision loop here

This working, course-specific sample uses the same three primary steps and feedback timing as the revision app: learn the idea, use Practise for immediate help, then Test at the end.

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Learn · teaching first

Orient to the Boat, Not the Person

From Canadian Boat Terms and Parts

What you will learn

Use bow, stern, port, starboard, forward, aft, ahead, abeam and astern from one stable vessel-centred reference frame.

Explanation

Clear boat language starts by fixing every direction to the vessel. A crew member can turn around; the boat's port and starboard sides do not swap.

Bow and stern name the forward and after ends of the vessel. Forward or fore means towards the bow; aft means towards the stern. Port is the vessel's left side and starboard its right side when looking forward. These are boat-fixed labels, so a person facing aft still stands on the same port or starboard side.

Ahead, abeam and astern locate something relative to the vessel: beyond the bow, roughly at right angles to the fore-and-aft line, or beyond the stern. Windward and leeward use the wind as their reference and may change as the vessel or wind changes; port and starboard remain fixed.

Translate a call from a changing viewpoint

The helm faces forward while a crew member at the mast faces aft. The helm calls, 'Take the port jib sheet forward and keep it clear of the companionway.'

Sense check: The crew member now faces the stern, but the vessel's port side has not moved.

Common mistake

Using left and right when port and starboard are required creates observer-relative ambiguity.

Recap

  • Bow and stern are ends; forward and aft are directions along the vessel.
  • Port and starboard are fixed vessel sides.
  • Ahead, abeam and astern describe relative positions.
More ways to revise

Flashcards, audio and interactive tools remain optional support inside the module; they do not replace the Learn → Practise → Test route.

Course route

Learn the knowledge, then take it afloat with an instructor

1Free

Canadian Boat Terms and Parts

Hull, rig, sails, controls, directions, and clear Canadian sailing language.

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2Full access

Sailing Forces, Points of Sail, and Trim

True and apparent wind, points of sail, sail shape, balance, and first trim responses.

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3Full access

Manoeuvres and Crew Calls

Tacking, gybing, heading up, bearing away, stopping, and concise crew communication.

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4Full access

Knots, Lines, and Loads

Core knots, cleats, winches, line care, chafe, and loaded-line hazards.

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5Full access

Docking, Auxiliary Power, and Engine Awareness

Slow-speed plans, wind, propeller effects, spring lines, engine checks, and abort points.

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6Full access

Anchoring and Mooring

Ground tackle, scope, holding ground, swing room, setting, monitoring, and mooring checks.

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7Full access

Canadian Collision Regulations

Lookout, safe speed, collision risk, sailing encounters, responsibilities, lights, and sound awareness.

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8Full access

Canadian Aids and IALA Region B

Canadian lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water, special, bifurcation, and regulatory marks.

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9Full access

Equipment, Weather, and Cold-Water Safety

Federal equipment context, marine forecasts, warnings, cold shock, hypothermia, and conservative limits.

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10Full access

Emergencies, Skipper Duties, and Practical Readiness

Crew overboard, grounding, flooding, fire, distress communication, skipper responsibility, and course boundaries.

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What the companion includes

Clear knowledge and practical boundaries

  • Original lessons and explanations
  • At least 18 explained questions and 12 flashcards per module
  • Three 40-question mixed knowledge assessments
  • Canada terminology, jurisdiction, and primary-source context
  • Practical-awareness prompts clearly separated from assessed knowledge

Not included

  • Sail Canada certification or an official examination
  • A Pleasure Craft Operator Card or ROC(M) certificate
  • Instructor-observed practical assessment
  • Copied textbook, chart, manual, or examination content
  • A guarantee of school, examiner, or charter-operator acceptance

Editorial record

Primary-source review

Original content is reviewed against published Sail Canada standards and current Canadian government sources. Provincial and local requirements must be checked separately.