Intermediate Cruising Study Companion

Readiness is a set of evidence, not a feeling and not an enrolment receipt. A useful review names what the standard requires, what it recommends, what experience it expects for success and what still needs to be demonstrated on the actual boat.

The Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising standard describes liveaboard training after Basic Cruising and expects learners to operate as skipper and crew by day in moderate conditions on a 9 to 12 metre sloop. Its required prerequisites include Basic Cruising, Basic or Coastal Navigation, ROC(M) with DSC endorsement, and proof of pleasure-craft operator competency. It separately recommends recognised first aid with CPR and Intermediate Coastal Navigation. Keep required, recommended and useful evidence in different rows so one cannot silently substitute for another.

The standard also says that, to prepare for success, a candidate should have experience equivalent to at least ten day sails as skipper and should consistently demonstrate the knowledge and skills from Basic Cruising and Basic Coastal Navigation. That is preparation guidance, not a universal legal threshold or a guarantee of competence. Ask what was done, when, on what type of boat, in which role and conditions, and what a competent observer could verify.