Coastalnavigation.com

[weephee]

Hello. Is anyone familiar with this course. It is an on-line course that covers the following:
reading a chart, finding your position, plotting a course, navigational aids, tide & current, 100s of illustrations, interactive movies, plotting exercises, quizzes, practice cruises, plotting tools & charts included.

Students who write and pass the exam are awarded the CYA standard. The CYA Standard is recognized world-wide,

8 hours of reading material and most students complete the course in approx 2 monts.

Cost of the course is $260

Any comments appreciated. Thanks

[Brezzin]

I'm not sure what the Canadian version is but you may be better off with a local Power Squadron class on coastal Navigation. The $260. Sounds like a lot of money for a book you can get from Amazon ( Weekend Navigator 13.00)
As far as the CYA Standard. What is that? Never Heard of it. I figure if you got there you must have a clue.

[cb32863]

I took an ASA 105 Coastal Navigation class last year. Was 6 evenings of 3 hours each and cost $199.00. I think you can find better for less money & complete the course sooner personally. 2 months seems a very long time to me.

[jackdale]

Disclaimer - I am a CYA and ISPA instructor.

Actually the $260 is a reasonable price, when compared to other online / corresponding courses.

CYA = Canadian Yachting Association, the official yachting organization in Canada. They coordinate the Olympic challenge. As well they have a recreational component.

One big advantage of CYA is that, with the exception of the navigation courses, a practical demonstration of boating skills on the water is required. Power Squadron courses are all theory. I expect that this is case because CYA instructors, who are professional instructors not volunteers, carry a couple of million dollars worth of liability insurance. International Sail and Power Association courses have practical assessments at all levels. They are not volunteers either and carry liability insurance.

BTW - the ASA used the CYA standard as a basis for their's; the wording used to be almost identical. This has changed somewhat.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by cb32863

I took an ASA 105 Coastal Navigation class last year. Was 6 evenings of 3 hours each and cost $199.00. I think you can find better for less money & complete the course sooner personally. 2 months seems a very long time to me.

Remember the OP is Canadian. There are some differences between navigating in US and Canadian waters. Chart datum is different; as is the calculation of tides and currents, which even vary by region in Canada. St Lawrence currents are calculated differently than West Coast currents. Canadian chart symbols are slightly different from US charts. Most of our charts are metric.

My CYA navigation class is 24 hours long, including the exam.

[jackdale]

To the OP

Both instructors are CYA certified. The curriculum is consistent with the CYA standard, and the exam procedures follow CYA guidelines.

Since the school is Ottawa based they may offer classroom sessions, which in my experience are more successful.

[lickingcardboard]

Originally Posted by cb32863

I took an ASA 105 Coastal Navigation class last year. Was 6 evenings of 3 hours each and cost $199.00.

Where did yo ufind this ASA Class, thanks

off to amazon for a book

[Mikester]

As a newer sailor interested in chartering and ultimately owning my own sailboat I have completed several CYA courses, Basic Cruising and Coastal Navigation.
I took Coastal Nav last fall / winter over approx 12 weeks and found the course both challenging and rewarding and very worthwhile.
The course instructor (if there is one ) is critical to an understanding of the practical and hands on side of any course.
We have now chartered both in Canada's North Channel and the San Juan Islands and are heading to the Abocos islands in the new year.
The boost to my confidence from both courses is likely the greatest benefit.
MSterl

[cb32863]

Originally Posted by lickingcardboard

Where did yo ufind this ASA Class, thanks

off to amazon for a book

From the ASA website.

[cb32863]

Originally Posted by jackdale

Remember the OP is Canadian......

Yes, realized that. He asked for opinions so I gave him my experience......