Most students take about two months to complete the course.

It takes about eight hours to read the course material. The exercises at the end of each section, and the practice cruises take about another 10 hours to complete. Add four hours for review and study for a total of 24 hours. At three hours a week, this works out to eight weeks.

Of course, one of the big advantages of an e-learning program like coastalnavigation.com is that you can work through the material at your own pace. It's important that you progress at a speed which allows you to understand and practice what you're learning, while retaining the material you've covered earlier. Too fast and you may not acquire the necessary skills. Too slow and you may have trouble remembering what you've learned.

You can register as a student by e-mail or by calling a toll-free phone number. The registration fee can be paid by Visa or Mastercard. Click below to see more information on how to register.

[How to Register - American Edition]
[How to Register - Canadian Edition]

When you register as a student, a user name and password is sent to you by e-mail. These allow you access to the course material. All you need is a computer, a printer, an Internet connection, an e-mail account, and a Web browser. Version 4.0 or higher of Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator is recommended.

This course teaches you the theory and practical skills needed to safely navigate a sailing or power cruiser in coastal or inland waters.

You learn how to read a nautical chart, plan and plot your course, determine your position, understand tide and current tables, and much more. See the Table of Contents for a complete outline of the course contents.

[Table of Contents - American Edition]
[Table of Contents - Canadian Edition]

When you register as a student you're assigned a coastalnavigation.com instructor. Your instructor is certified to teach the CYA Coastal Navigation Standard and has years of teaching and boating experience.

You can get prompt e-mail assistance from your instructor whenever you need it.

[Meet the Instructors - American Edition]
[Meet the Instructors - Canadian Edition]

You are provided with all the materials needed to complete the course, except for a sharp pencil with a good eraser. These materials are sent to you by post or courier when you register.

A course plotter is a type of ruler that allows you to plot a line on a chart in a specific direction, or find the direction of a line or between objects. The course plotter your receive is made of durable acrylic.

Dividers allow you to measure distance on a chart, or transfer latitude and longitude co-ordinates to and from the chart. Our metal dividers come in a plastic case.

A nautical training chart is provided for plotting exercises.

This course teaches you how to navigate in coastal and inland waters, the conditions in which you're most likely to be cruising aboard a chartered sailboat or powerboat.

As well, proof that you're achieved the CYA or ASA Coastal Navigation Standard can help you demonstrate to charter operators that you have the experience and knowledge needed to get a boat back safely and intact.

The Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) is the national governing body for yachting in Canada. Its training division is responsible for all training programs offered by the CYA, including dingy, cruising (including coastal navigation), windsurfing, and certification of judges and race officers.

coastalnavigation.com follows the curriculum of the CYA, and you can achieve the CYA Coastal Navigation Standard upon successful completion of the exam. This Standard is recognized worldwide.

The Coastal Navigation Standard comprises 17 learning objectives. These are outlined in the course Table of Contents, and reference is made to each objective as it is covered in the course material.

The American Sailing Association (ASA) is an association of sailors, professional sailing instructors, sailing schools and charter companies. Its education system consists of Certification Standards for students and instructors. American Sailing Association Certification provides documentation of an individual's achievement and is recognized by many national authorities, charter and insurance companies.

coastalnavigation.com follows the curriculum of the ASA, and you can achieve the ASA Coastal Navigation Standard upon successful completion of the exam.

The Coastal Navigation Standard comprises 16 learning objectives. These are outlined in the course Table of Contents, and reference is made to each objective as it is covered in the course material.

There are no prerequisites for either this course or the CYA or ASA Coastal Navigation Standard.

Ideally you should have some experience at the helm of a power or sailboat. However, some students have never stepped aboard a boat and have successfully completed the course. You need only know basic arithmetic and have a willingness to learn.

The American Edition of this Internet course follows the ASA Coastal Navigation Standard. The Canadian Editions covers the curriculum of the CYA Coastal Navigation Standard.

Both editions were designed, written and illustrated by two boating and navigation instructors. Both are ASA and CYA certified with many years of teaching experience.

For years, this course content has been used in the classroom to teach coastal navigation and prepare students for the exam. The instructors boast that of students who've chosen to write the exam (a large majority), more than 90 per cent have passed.

An important part of this course is learning how to plot your course and position on a nautical chart. Plotting takes practice to develop both accuracy and speed: Time spent at the chart table is time not spent steering the boat away from danger, or enjoying the view!

The course contains 13 plotting exercises as well as two practice cruises. Plotting exercises fit on a letter-size sheet of paper: you simply print the pages to do the plotting. Cruises are plotted on the training chart you receive in your student kit.

Plotted answers are provided for the exercises and cruises so you can check your work.

When you are ready to write the exam, notify your instructor by e-mail. The exam and materials needed to complete it will be sent to you.

An invigilator must be present when you write the exam to guarantee that you follow the exam requirements as stipulated by the CYA. The invigilator is someone of your choice who is impartial, responsible, and willing to be present while you write the exam.

There is a three-hour time limit on the exam. Details of the exam requirements are posted in the student-only section of the coastalnavigation.com site.