2025 SCYA US SAILING Safety at Sea
Event Location:
California Yacht Club CYC
Southern California Yachting Association Presents
US Sailing Sanctioned
International Offshore Safety at Sea Course
August 16 – 17, 2025
Hosted by
California Yacht Club
4469 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
UPDATE (July 2025) Online prerequisite courses are no longer required for OPTION 1: Two-Day Hands-On training! See details below.
Who is this Course for?
- Safety at Sea Courses are for everyone: Cruisers, Power Boaters & Sailboat Racers
- Crew members of long-distance and international offshore races, long-distance cruisers, or persons requiring the International Offshore certificate that complies with World Sailing guidelines for Personal Safety (World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Appendix G compliant).
Why take a US Sailing Safety at Sea Course?
- Ever wonder what you would do if someone fell overboard from your boat?
- Do you have a plan to deal with heavy weather if you can’t reach a safe harbor?
- Are you interested in selecting the right emergency communications equipment or storm sails, but you’re not sure what to buy?
- US Sailing is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Sailing and the only organization in the United States sanctioned by World Sailing to issue Safety at Sea certificates.
- This event is a US Sailing certified International Safety at Sea course and all participants will be issued a Safety at Sea certificate.
Safety at Sea Course Facts
- The Safety at Sea certificates are valid for five years from the date of issue.
- Moderated and taught by experienced, lifelong sailors who include some of the top names in sailing and safety.
- Appropriate for a wide range of boats and experience levels — small, big, monohulls, multihulls (and powerboats, too) — that are sailed and operated anywhere — nearshore and offshore.
- Sanctioned with the approved curriculum by US Sailing, with special attention to conditions and challenges of the host organization’s sailing area.
- More than 2,500 sailors attend safety courses around North America every year and many bring their families and crews.
International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands-on Training
- Attendees who complete the prerequisites and hands-on training will receive a World Sailing-compliant US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea with hands-on training Certificate.
- Complies with World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival Course guidelines; ISAF
- SER Categories: 4.3.1 and 4.3.2
- World Sailing OSR Categories: 0, 1 and 2
- Meets required certification for ARC, Newport to Bermuda, Newport to Ensenada, TransPac, Pac Cup, etc.
- US Sailing Safety at Sea Certification good for 5 years from the date of the course. US Sailing Membership ID is required to issue certification.
- ALL attendees registering for one-day, OPTION 2 or OPTION 3, who are seeking to receive a US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Hands-on Training Certificate that meets World Sailing Guidelines for Offshore Personal Survival MUST have taken the prerequisite online units within 365 days prior to attending (details on prerequisites below.) NO EXCEPTIONS.
Topics
Typically covers 8-10 units from Giving Assistance, Personal Safety Gear, Care and Maintenance of Safety Gear, Fire Safety, Crew Overboard, Cold Exposure, Crew Health, Marine Weather, Heavy Weather, Storm Sails and Reefing, Damage Control, Search and Rescue, Signals, Emergency Communications, and Life Rafts plus hands-on training that includes topics such as boarding a life raft (in a pool), working with inflatable life jackets, pyrotechnics, firefighting, etc.
Learn more from US Sailing Safety at Sea Certified Moderator, Captain Debbie Huntsman, why Option 1: Two-Day course is highly recommended for first-time certificate seekers.
Certificate Options
- OPTION 1: Two-Day—First Time Certificates RECOMMENDED + bonus content (Sat & Sun, Aug. 16-17, 2025) NO PRE-REQUISITES!
- OPTION 2: One-Day, Hands-On ONLY—First Time Certificates (Sunday, Day 2, Aug. 17, 2025)
- OPTION 3: One-Day, REFRESHER—Existing Certificate Holders (Sunday, Day 2, Aug. 17, 2025)
Prerequisite Online Units
- PREREQUISITES ARE NOT REQUIRED IF TAKING OPTION 1: TWO-DAY HANDS ON! (Update as of July 2025.)
- NO EXCEPTIONS. Perquisite online units must be dated within 365 days prior to completing the International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands-On Training (option 2 – one day, and option 3 – refresher). This requirement was mandated by the Safety at Sea SubCommittee for any course held from January 1, 2021 onwards. These prerequisite online units are NOT included in the registration fee for any of the course options.
- OPTION 2: First Time Certificates: Complete the Online Safety at Sea Offshore Course (units 1-15) before taking a hands-on (1-day) course. The Safety at Sea Offshore certificate must be dated within 365 days of taking the hands-on course.
- OPTION 3: Existing Certificate Holders: Holders of existing International Offshore Safety at Sea with hands-on training Certificates (not an Offshore Certificate) less than 7 years old, may attend a Refresher Safety at Sea hands-on ONLY (1-day) course. This certificate has a World Sailing logo on the left side. Below is how it reads on the certificate.
- OPTION 3: Existing Certificate Holders: You must take Online Safety at Sea Offshore Course Upgrade (units 11-15) before attending the Hands-on Training REFRESHER (1-day) course. Upon completion of hands-on training and verification of the completion of the online course, US Sailing will issue you an International Offshore Safety at Sea certificate.
- Certificate Lookup: SCYA is responsible for verifying attendee’s prerequisite certifications using this US Sailing tool,https://www.ussailing.org/education/adult/sas-attendance-lookup/
Certification Pricing
| OPTION 1 Two-Day w/ Hands On —First Time Certificates RECOMMENDED (Sat & Sun, Aug. 16-17, 2025) |
OPTION 2 One-Day Hands On ONLY —First Time Certificates (Sun, Day 2, Aug. 17, 2025) |
OPTION 3 One-Day, Hands On ONLY REFRESHER —Existing Certificate Holders (Sun, Day 2, Aug. 17, 2025) |
|
| Early Bird Registration (ends 05/31/2025) |
$450 | $425 | $300 |
| Regular Registration (ends 07/15/2025) |
$475 | $450 | $325 |
| Late Registration (ends 07/31/2025) |
$500 | $475 | $350 |
| Two-Payment Eligible* (Early Bird Registration Only) |
✓ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Prerequisites Required? | NO | YES | YES |
| Bonus Content | ✓ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Continental Breakfast (Sat, 08/16/2025) |
✓ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Lunch (Sat, 08/16/2025) |
✓ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Happy Hour, Dinner & Networking (NO HOST – Sat, 08/16/2025) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Continental Breakfast (Sun, 08/17/2025) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lunch (Sun, 08/17/2025) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands-on Training Certificate |
✓ | ✓ | — |
| US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Refresher Course Certificate | — | — | ✓ |
*We are offering a two-payment installment plan for those registering for OPTION 1: Two-Day with Hands On as follows:
- Installment payment #1: $225 due no later than May 31, 2025.
- Installment payment #2: $225 due no later than July 15, 2025.
- Saves $25 off regular registration fee.
- NO REFUNDS available for the two-payment installment option.
Moderators and Instructors
US Sailing Approved Moderator and Instructor
Captain Debbie Huntsman, as a product of her father’s intensive MacGyver training, embarked on a role as a boating safety education instructor in 1997. Since then she has continuously honed her seamanship skills, prioritizing safety and fun in her sailing endeavors. Huntsman has dedicated over three decades to serving the sailing community in various capacities with state, federal, and non-profit agencies. She races skippering many buoy races but loves the challenges and adventure of distance sailing. She has sailed along the Gulf Coast, most of the west coast of the U.S. and Baja Mexico and loves the splendor of offshore sailing. Huntsman worked with marine law enforcement, first responders, patrolled San Diego Harbor after the 9-11 attacks, and found her way to Safety at Sea, where she applies her sailing and training experiences.
Second-Strong Moderator and Instructor
Captain James Lee is a former member of the engineering faculty and offshore sailing instructor at the US Naval Academy. He is an ABYC Master Technician and holds a USCG Master license with sailing endorsement. Lee’s servant leadership is evidenced by his extensive involvement in the sailing community, including his current role as Commodore of King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach, CA. He actively sails his Excess 11, LA MER, and Wauquiez 40S, MARE’ZIA, serves as charter and delivery Captain and is a certified sailing and powerboat instructor. He also writes and speaks nationally about sailing in North America and Europe.
Captain Leslie Washburn, raised sailing the Great Lakes, is a USCG licensed captain with a 50GTS MMC. She has accrued over 20,000 bluewater miles through cruising, chartering, and deliveries, crossing both the Atlantic from west to east and the Pacific. As a competitive sailor, she has achieved podium finishes in both buoy and distance races, including the overall Chicago NOOD Championship, Verve Cup, Mackinac Cup, and N2E. With participation in over 27 Chicago to Mac regattas, she has also secured her membership in the Old Goat Society. Her resume, however, doesn’t capture her experiences of navigating Force 10 conditions in the Atlantic with an injured crew or surviving a wreck on a South Pacific reef. With her extensive ocean experiences, Leslie is set to share tales, discuss preparations for unforeseen events and offer insights.
Instructors (in no particular order)
Dave Robertson has over 50 years experience as a sailboat rigger/outfitter in Marina Del Rey. The Southern Californian who has an extensive sailing pedigree has been involved in sailing safety for three decades. Dave has sailed worldwide — the Atlantic, South Pacific, competing in major international ocean racing as well as enjoying cruising. Dave humbly says about his vast experience, “I don’t know everything, but I know enough people to find out just about anything.”
Dr Christian Sloane MD, FACEP grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley where he was on the sailing team racing dinghies and big boats which he continued after college. He attended medical school at UCSD, graduating in 1997 followed by a residency in emergency medicine. Dr. Sloan is an emergency physician in the department of emergency medicine at UC San Diego. Additionally, he is the medical director for Mercy Air Services in San Diego and Imperial counties. He and his wife are currently owners of an Amel Super Maramu, and sail around Southern California.
Captain Marie Rogers has actively been boating for nearly 30 years. She holds a US Coast Guard 50 Ton Master’s license preforming yacht delivery along the California coast, Mexico to California and from California to Hawaii and back. Marie has been a boating instructor since 2012 serving Women on the Water for instructional coastal cruising to Catalina Island. She served as Commodore for Los Angeles Yacht Club in 2019, as Director for Southern California Yachting Association from 2020 to present and as Director for US Sailing Association from 2022 to present.
John Jourdane is one of the most experienced offshore sailors in the world today. Jordan has sailed over 300,000 miles. He has crossed between the West Coast U.S. and Hawaii 54 times, has crossed the Atlantic Ocean 12 times, and sailed around the world 3 times, including 2 Whitbread Round the World Races. He is also the author of Icebergs, Port and Starboard and Sailing with Scoundrels and Kings. John also teaches Weather for Sailors classes across the U.S. and Canada.
Ernie Richau, veteran ocean racer, has been very busy sailing as navigator on Ragtime, the legendary boat reborn for Transpacific 2025. The team has been hitting the water hard to get things dialed in. Richau will be back to join the presenters at California Yacht Club to help participants better understand weather and how to better use it for safe passage and for advantage.
Jeff Gunn retired from the U. S. Coast Guard in 2002 after an extremely rewarding thirty-one year career, serving his last fourteen years in Southern California waters. He was involved in many exciting law enforcement and search and rescue cases.
As a part-time instructor at the Maritime Institute in San Diego and as a Master Instructor Trainer with the National Safe Boating Council, Captain Gunn teaches instructor level boat control courses on a national level. Jeff was awarded a Letter of Commendation in 2006, from the National Water Safety Congress for his accomplishments and contributions to boating safety.
Captain Jeff has been a member of the California Boating Safety Officers Association since 1995, and currently serves on the executive board. Through this association and his Coast Guard career, he maintains a solid working relationship with agencies throughout California, especially the LA County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol, LA County Lifeguards and LA County Fire Station 110 in Marina del Rey.
Course Syllabus & Schedule
The SCYA US Sailing sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course schedule is posted below and subject to change. Those registered will receive an email with updated event information as it becomes available.
Event Sponsor
We are proud to partner with Mustang Survival for this event. They will be providing exciting and awesome raffle prizes!
Questions?
Contact Jodi Masters-Gonzales, SCYA Vice Commodore @ vicecommodore@scya.org. Please allow a 48-hour response time. Please help us spread the word! Share this event with other sailors and club members. Download event flyer below.
Event Refund Policy
- All refunds are subject to a non-refundable, 10% processing fee on the original registration amount.
- NO REFUNDS for registration via the two-payment installation plan (no exceptions).
- Full refund (less 10% processing fee) through May 31, 2025.
- 50% refund (less 10% processing fee) through July 15, 2025.
- 25% refund (less 10% processing fee) through July 31, 2025.
- NO REFUNDS after July 31, 2025 as we are obligated for registered headcount per the food/beverage contract with the host facility.
- To request a refund, please send an email to: Jodi Masters-Gonzales, SCYA Vice Commodore @ vicecommodore@scya.org