Society for the Education of American Sailors - We're All About Sailing

Introduction

The Skipper Certification Process is how authority is granted for skippering specific boats in specific sailing locations. SEAS Monmouth owns several boat types which are available for use by club members, and these boats are located in several different sailing areas. To maximize the safety of the skippers, crew, and boats, we have created a Skipper Certification Committee (SCC), which has instituted policies and procedures for granting members the authority to skipper the boats in various sailing areas. To carry out its certification responsibilities the SCC needs to evaluate two distinct things:

  • An individual's skill, knowledge, and experience in the various sailing waters where the boats can be operated. All are tidal waters: Shrewsbury River, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay, Arthur Kill Strait, and the New York Harbor.
  • An individual's skill and experience operating the club's boats, which range from 18' daysailers to a 30' Catalina sailboat with an inboard diesel engine. Skippers can operate the boats at different levels depending on the boat's location and the desired sailing area.

Given the different kinds of boats and sailing waters offered by our club we have defined five (5) skipper levels.

We have attempted to provide as much detail as possible about the requirements for attaining each level. However, ultimately it is a judgment call that the SCC is making, and they reserve the right to deny certification to any person who in their view does not have all of the necessary crew management, sailing and seamanship skills, and experience, even if they meet the requirements "on paper." Conversely, the SCC may also waive specific requirements if they feel the candidate can safely manage a boat and crew in the designated waters. Lastly, certification is dependent on attending a Skipper Information Session in the current year. This requirement applies to all levels of skippers and must be re-fulfilled annually.

The Certification Process

Apply

If you desire to become a SEAS skipper and think you qualify at a certain level after reading the requirements, send your Skipper Certification Application Form, and two completed Skipper Referral Form forms, from two skippers, along with all other necessary documentation via email to Skipper Certification Committee. The coordinator will forward your request to all the committee members and will also send you an acknowledgement, which will include an anticipated timeline of the stages during this process (generally several weeks). When the committee has reviewed your application and documents, you will be notified of the result, including any additional requirements the committee may have, such as the need to schedule on-water Checkout sails with SCC approved On-water Checkout Skippers. The final certification will be made by the SCC based on reviewing the recommendation in the On-water Checkout Report.

Skipper Certification Process

For further details view the Skipper Certification Process excel flow document, or the Skipper Certification Process procedure document.

Once you have been conditionally approved by the SCC the following occurs.

Checkout Skipper Assigned

After the SCC has voted yes to your continuing in the process, and the SCC coordinator has notified you of the decision, the SCC coordinator will coordinate with the Boat Reservation Coordinators to find a checkout skipper. Also, the coordinator will discuss with the prospective checkout skipper any specific concerns or instructions from the SCC regarding testing or instructing you during the checkout. You may be required to have a second checkout with a different skipper, depending on your experience level, and/or the outcome of the first checkout, especially if additional training was recommended. These decisions will be made by the SCC.

You will coordinate with the prospective checkout skipper to solidify a time and date. If an agreement can’t be reached, you will notify the SCC coordinator, who will find another checkout skipper.

On-Water Checkout

You will get checked out on all aspects of operating the boat in the designated waters. This will include departing from and returning to the boat’s slip, operating the engine and sails, and general seamanship. A “checkout” in broad terms means assessing your knowledge and skills, which generally requires testing your knowledge of the boat and sailing waters, and having you demonstrate certain operations. Keep in mind that by the time you reach the point of a checkout you are expected to have sailed on the boat in its home waters many times. Refer to the Requirements, Suggested Knowledge and Experience Self-Checklist for the particular skipper level to reacquaint yourself with the requisite skills and knowledge.

Post Checkout

Once the Checkout has been completed, the Checkout skipper will summarize his or her assessment and recommendations to the SCC coordinator, who will forward them to the entire SCC. When the committee makes its decision, the coordinator will contact you with the result. A minimum of two skippers on the SCC must vote yes to the certification being requested. These votes will be based on either first-hand sailing experience with the applicant or the recommendations of the checkout skipper(s) after Checkout.

Post Approval

With a successful Checkout and approval by the SCC committee you will be granted a skipper certification for that level. You will then have the authority to reserve and skipper the particular boat in the waters designated by the skipper level. This change in your status will be communicated by the SCC coordinator to the Boat Reservation Coordinators, who will appropriately update the skipper authorization database.


Skipper Level Descriptions

All skippers must possess a State of NJ Boating Safety Certificate (BSC) as required by law. See NJ Boating Saftety Certificate Course for more details.

All skippers must attend a Skipper Information Session in the current year. This requirement applies to all Levels of skipper and must be renewed every year.

  • Level 1 Skipper - Daysailers (Americans and Harpoons) on the Shrewsbury River

  • Skipper can sail and navigate the American and Harpoon daysailers within the confines of the Shrewsbury River, excluding passing under any bridges.
    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 1 Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 1 Skipper Checkout Criteria

  • Level 2 Skipper - Catalina Capri 22 (Sandy Hook Bay)

  • Skipper can sail and navigate in Sandy Hook Bay between the Navy Pier, Sandy Hook, and the Highlands Bridge. This level EXCLUDES:

    • Going past a line drawn from the Navy Pier to the tip of Sandy Hook
    • Anchoring out overnight

    Additional authority is required for passing under the Highlands Bridge into the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers
    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 2 Capri Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 2 Capri Skipper Checkout Criteria

  • Level 3 Skipper - Catalina Capri 22 (Raritan Bay)

  • Skipper can sail the Capri in Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Navesink River, Shrewsbury River, passing under Highlands, Sea Bright, and Oceanic bridges.

    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 3 Capri Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 3 Capri Skipper Checkout Criteria

  • Level 3 Skipper - Catalina 30 SEAS The Breeze

  • Skipper can sail the Catalina in Raritan Bay and its tributaries, the Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, Lower New York Bay and going into Rockaway Inlet, Upper New York Bay, and the Hudson River up to the Morris Canal, Sandy Hook Bay and its tributaries. Authority to pass under bridges.

    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 3 Catalina Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 3 Catalina Skipper Checkout Criteria

  • Level 4 Skipper - Catalina 30 SEAS The Breeze

  • Skipper can sail the Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay and its tributaries, the Arthur Kill Strait and Kill Van Kull Strait, Newark Bay, Lower New York Bay going into Rockaway Inlet, Upper New York Bay, and the Hudson River up to the Morris Basin Canal. Authority to pass under bridges. In addition to the above-designated areas, sailing is permitted in any navigable waterways that are within 150 statute miles of the home port and within 10 statute miles of land. Certified Level 4 Catalina skippers are also authorized to make overnight reservations. This does not imply sailing or motoring at night. It means being authorized to have the boat away from its home slip overnight. Refer to Boat Usage Policy for more information about overnight reservations.

    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 4 Catalina Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 4 Catalina Skipper Checkout Criteria

  • Level 5 Skipper - Charter Boats - SEAS Monmouth Events

  • Skipper can charter a cruising boat greater than or equal to 30ft LOA and participate in a SEAS Monmouth group charter event. The skipper must independently be able to meet the charter company's requirements, which vary by charter company, and be approved by the charter company to skipper their boat.

    Requirements, suggested knowledge, and experience - Level 5 Monmouth Charter Skipper Self-Checklist
    Examination Criteria - Level 5 Monmouth Charter Skipper Checkout Criteria