To all Sail Canada Celestial Navigation and Offshore Instructors:
This note is intended to update Sail Canada Celestial Navigation and Offshore Cruising instructors about some recent changes to Sail Canada standards.
In order to reduce barriers to Canadian sailors seeking formal offshore training, having consulted Celestial navigation instructors in January 2026, the Cruising sub-committee has approved the following changes to relevant standards:
- Sail Canada is introducing a new Emergency Navigation standard. This standard is intended to enable an offshore sailor to find their way safely to land even if all electronic navigation devices have failed. It covers obtaining a position through a noon sun sight, latitude from Polaris, as well as other emergency navigation techniques for estimating position and determining a course to steer.
- With the introduction of this Emergency Navigation standard, prospective offshore skippers can meet the prerequisites for Offshore Cruising certification by obtaining either Sail Canada Celestial Navigation or Sail Canada Emergency Navigation.
- All Sail Canada Celestial Navigation instructors can qualify themselves as Emergency Navigation instructors by reviewing the standard, and writing and self-marking the Emergency Navigation exam. The Cruising Sub-Committee encourages feedback from Celestial Navigation instructors on any improvements that should be made to the Emergency Navigation materials. Please direct feedback to cruising@sailing.ca.
In parallel, Sail Canada is reducing barriers to Offshore Cruising Instructor certification by a modest change to the sailing experience requirements. Prospective instructors can meet the new requirements by logging:
- A total of 1500 nautical miles of passage making as skipper or watch keeping crew accumulated on offshore passages of not less than 200 miles each.
- A minimum of three separate offshore passages with at least two as: i) skipper, or ii) as a SC offshore student, or iii) as an offshore instructor candidate team-teaching with a qualified SC offshore instructor.
Sail Canada Offshore Cruising Instructors will still be required to hold the Sail Canada Celestial Navigation standard.
These changes are effective as of July 1, 2026. Translation to French is currently pending review. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
