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SAS Requirements
SAS Skippers Courses_SailingSAS Certificates of Competence (Skipper’ Tickets) Inland Waters Skipper to Yachtmaster Ocean

To skipper a sailing boat over 9 meters in South Africa you are required by law to hold an appropriate Certificate of Competence.  SA Sailing is the only body that SAMSA has authorised to issue Certificates of Competence for sailing boats. 

The Certificates of Competence are:

  • Day Skipper:  The holder is qualified to skipper a sail boat at sea from sunrise to sunset    Local waters are defined as 15 nautical miles from his home port, or 25 miles from his home port provided he is no more than 15 nautical miles from an approved safe haven.
  • Local Waters Skipper:  The holder is qualified to skipper a sail boat at sea by day or by night in the local waters as defined for day skipper.
  • Coastal Skipper:  The holder is qualified to skipper a sail boat on any coastal passage within 40 nautical miles of the coast by day or by night.
  • Yachtmaster Offshore:  The holder is qualified to skipper a sail boat on any extended or ocean passage.
  • Yachtmaster Ocean:  This qualification is a badge of honour which indicates that the holder has mastered celestial navigation.
Because of the progressive nature of the qualifications from Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Ocean, it is preferable to follow the sequence of qualifications. However the following are mandatory:
  1. You must be a Day Skipper to apply for a Local Waters Skipper certificate of competence.
  2. You must be a Coastal Skipper to apply for Yachtmaster Offshore.
  3. You must be a Yachtmaster Offshore to apply for a Yachtmaster Ocean.
In other words, there are only two points of entry into the scheme - Day Skipper (for the less expereienced) and Coastal Skipper (for the very experienced).

Although it is beneficial to attend a SAS approved sailing school, this is not mandatory.  Candidates with the required experience and knowledge may make application directly through any SAS office for an examination.

 

  DAY SKIPPER LOCAL WATERS SKIPPER COASTAL SKIPPER YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE
Miles
200
400
800
2500
Night Hours on watch
2
8
24
48
Voyages
One night entry into the candidate’s home port
Three night entries into the candidate’s home port
Three trips of at least 60 nautical miles each
Three overnight trips of at least 100 nautical miles each as skipper

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