Offshore Passage Making

US SAILING Offshore Passagemaking Certification Open Water Sailing

The pinnacle of US SAILING courses, OPM prepares graduates to voyage anywhere in the world, safely and efficiently. In fact, many of our graduates are out cruising the Seven Seas – including circumnavigations – right this minute! Students will spend a minimum of 6 days at sea, including voyaging a minimum of 250 miles at more than 50 miles offshore, and will log over 600 nautical miles. Each student will skipper the vessel for at least one day, covering a minimum of 100 miles.

 

Sailboat with cover of 'Passage Making' book in the upper-right corner

Topics Covered Include

  • Voyage planning and preparation
  • Vessel preparation
  • Development and utilization of effective watch systems
  • Advanced weather forecasting
  • Effective navigation including electronic and celestial methods
  • Proper use of a Single Sideband radio
  • Decisive command presence
  • Safe boat handling in a variety of sea conditions
  • Use of storm sails
  • Heaving-to and running off before the wind (scudding)
  • Deployment and use of sea anchors/drogues
  • Deployment and use of liferafts
  • Choice of, and successful completion of appropriate crew overboard maneuvers and recovery systems
  • Handling emergencies at sea such as fire, water intake, dismasting and loss of steering
  • Diagnosis and repairs of various boat systems (rigging, mechanical, electronic and plumbing)
  • Planning and completing landfalls in unfamiliar harbors

Format

  • 6 days and 5 nights underway.
  • 600 miles total (minimum) 250 must be at least 50 miles offshore

Tuition

$3,500 per person

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for Offshore Passage Making Certification are Coastal Passage Making and Celestial Navigation Certifications. In addition, a valid US SAILING recognized CPR and First Aid certification is required before OPM certification can be issued.

Certification Requirements

Offshore Passage Making Certification requires the successful completion of the following knowledge and skill requirements. These requirements are expected to be performed safely with confident command of the boat in waters of the open ocean with a wind speed of at least 15 knots. The passage must be a minimum of 600 nautical miles with a minimum of 250 nautical miles to be sailed at least 50 nautical miles offshore. During this passage each candidate must serve in the capacity of skipper for a minimum of 100 nautical miles.

Textbook

Cover of 'Passage Making' book

Passage Making, US SAILING
Included in cost of class.

Price: $3,500