Self Study Qualifications

[John Casey]

Any comments on Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons products vs those available from other North American sources?

As I'm "away on business" long-term I'll be doing mostly self-study and challenging exams from afar whenever possible, and therefore not able to benefit from the experience and instruction from people at the local squadrons.

I have access to a local yacht club, but their resources are limited.

My wife and I are on a 5-year plan to start a cruising lifestyle and eventually cut the dock lines.

Thanks.

[frank_f]

I think that would depend on what courses you are looking at and how disciplined you are.

The CPS courses are self-contained for the most part. Having said that, the CPS courses are designed for classroom interaction so there isn't a lot of forum or on-line help if you get stuck. This may have changed since I haven't taken a course for a few years.

[John Casey]

Frank, based on the CPS catalogue, I will be looking at most of them, but understand that I will need to get a good deal of practical application for the more advanced stuff.

I should be able to do my off shore course here in July.

[frank_f]

There's really not much 'practical' from a practical point of view.

The voyages that you are given are all paperwork and you usually get an answer book so you can check how you did and where you went wrong.

The only practical ones that I know of are the Junior Navigator and Navigator. For those, you need a sextant and some clear skies (day and night) .

The CPS courses are normally done in the winter because, in Canada, there isn't much else to do. The CYA courses however are hands on, on the water courses that most folks take in the summer.