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USNSA Qualifications and Equivalent Qualifications

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Small Boats Used Inshore

U.S. Naval Sailing Association	American Sailing Association	U.S. Sailing Association
Mate A	Any introductory sailing course	N/A
Dinghy Sailor Skipper B-DS	Basic Small Boat Sailing (ASA110)	Small Boat Sailor (all wind speeds)
Keel Boat Skipper B-KBS (Keelboats without auxiliary power)	BASIC KEELBOAT SAILING STANDARD (ASA101)	Basic Keelboat Skipper
Skipper B-CS & B-CSN (Keelboats with auxiliary power) (N indicates night qualification)	BASIC COASTAL CRUISING STANDARD (ASA103) (No night)	Basic Cruising Skipper (No night)

Large Boats & Boats Used Offshore

U.S. Naval Sailing Association	American Sailing Association	U.S. Sailing Association
Skipper B-KBS qualification and Crew (C) Designation	BASIC KEELBOAT SAILING STANDARD (ASA101)	Basic Keelboat Skipper
Skipper B-CS qualification and Senior Crew (SC) Designation	BASIC COASTAL CRUISING STANDARD (ASA103)	Basic Cruising Skipper
Skipper B-CSN qualification and Watch Captain (WC) Designation	BAREBOAT CHARTERING / INTERMEDIATE COASTAL CRUISING STANDARD (ASA104)	Bareboat Skipper
Cruising Skipper D-CS (If curriculum and program are approved by CNET/USNSA)	ADVANCED COASTAL CRUISING STANDARD (ASA106)	Coastal Passage Making with Coastal Navigation
Senior Skipper D-SS (Awarded by CNET/USNSA only)	OFFSHORE PASSAGEMAKING STANDARD (ASA108)	Offshore Passage Making with Celestial Navigation
Master Skipper E-MS (Awarded by CNET/USNSA only)	N/A	Offshore Passage Making Instructor
Master Ocean Q-MO	N/A	N/A

Special Designators

U.S. Naval Sailing Association	American Sailing Association	U.S. Sailing Association
Navy Sailing Instructor (I) (Used with appropriate qualification level)	Instructor (I)	Instructor (I)
Navy Sailing Instructor Trainer (IT)	Instructor Evaluator (IE)	Instructor Trainer (IT)
Racing Skipper (R) (Special designator used with a qualification level)	Introductory Racing Sailor	Level II
Sailing Program Director(SPD)	N/A	N/A

Qualifications Explained

(A) MATE	Minimum qualification to crew on small sailing craft.
B-DS DINGHY SKIPPER	Qualified to handle small centerboard sailing craft in local waters.
B-KBS KEEL BOAT SKIPPER	Qualified to handle a small keel boat sailing craft in local waters.
B-CS DAY SAILING CRUISING SKIPPER	Qualified to handle small sailing craft with auxiliary power in local waters. Boat may have some ships systems.
B-CSN CRUISING SKIPPER	Qualified to handle small sailing craft with auxiliary power in local waters. The N signifies that person has been certified for sailing at night and reduced visibility.
(C) CREW	Individual with no formal training aboard a large sailing vessel.
(SC) SENIOR CREW	Individual with formal training aboard a large sailing vessel and has met all the PQS requirements for Crew.
(WC) WATCH CAPTAIN	Individual who has met all PQS requirements for Watch Captain.
D-CS CRUISING SKIPPER	Individual qualified to command a sailing vessel in designated or coastal waters. Qualification includes night experience and demonstrated navigation knowledge and skills. Any course developed for this certification must be approved by the DONS.

The following qualifications are awarded by the DONS/USNSA only

D-SS SENIOR SKIPPER	Individual who has met all PQS requirements for Senior Skipper D-SS qualified to command a large sailing yacht offshore.
E-MS MASTER SKIPPER	Qualified to command and race a large sailing yacht offshore under all conditions.
Q-MO MASTER OCEAN	Honorary title based on long term offshore experience.

Navy Sailing Special Qualifiers

(I) INSTRUCTOR	Qualified to train, recommend and/or certify individuals at their Individual sailing qualification level or lower provided they have appropriate experience in vessel used in training.
(IT) INSTRUCTOR TRAINER	Qualified to train and certify sailing instructors at their Individual sailing qualification level.
(SPD) SAILING PROGRAM DIRECTOR	Individual who has been trained in the safe operation of a sailing program and has demonstrated the knowledge, maturity, skills, and leadership necessary to run such a program.
(R) RACING	A member who also has a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of yacht racing rules, techniques, and has served in the capacity of skipper or crew while racing. This designator is used in conjunction with any of Navy sailing qualifications. This designator is awarded at the local level.