CYA Courses

Berkana Ventures offers instruction under the BC Sailing Flag for the CYA Learn to Cruise series of classes. Our live aboard courses are fun and experiential with a focus on the practical aspects of safety, sailing, seamanship, and navigation. They are not for the virtual adventurer. The boat is fully provisioned and ready to go, and we will provide a recommended 'to bring' list. Courses can be based out of Coal Harbour in Vancouver or Barkley Sound on Vancouver Island.

Click to see our current price list. Please contact us to schedule a course.

Basic Sailing Course (5 Days)

• Basic Cruising (Day Skipper) covers the skills required to cruise safely by day in local waters as either skipper or crew of a sailing cruiser of 20-30 feet, in moderate wind and sea conditions.
• Basic Crew (Competent Crew) standard enables the graduate to be able to cruise safely by day in local waters as a crew of a sloop rigged keelboat, 20-30 feet, in moderate wind and sea conditions.

Intermediate Sailing Course (5 Days)

• Intermediate Cruising (Bareboat Skipper) covers the skills required to safely cruise a keelboat of 8 - 12 metres in familiar waters.
• Prerequisites: Basic Cruising Standard
• Note: Your CYA Log Book containing the Intermediate Cruising Ticket is accepted world-wide for Bare Boat Chartering Contracts. Use it to sail the Caribbean, Greek Isles, or anywhere else!

Advanced Sailing Course (7 Days)

• Advanced Cruising (Coastal Skipper) covers the skills needed to skipper or crew a sailing cruiser of 8 - 15 metres, in both day and night conditions in coastal waters in any weather.
• Prerequisites: Intermediate Cruising and Coastal Navigation Standards; First Aid Certificate and a VHF radio certificate recommended.

Offshore Sailing Course__2008 Hawaii Vancouver Return was a great success . Please Enquire for further Courses.

• Offshore Standard covers the skills needed to be able to safely act as skipper and crew in a sailing cruiser on an offshore passage requiring celestial navigation.
• Prerequisites: Advanced Cruising and Celestial Navigation Standards; VHF radio certificate; First Aid Certificate; and CPR certification. Completing the Advanced Navigation Standard is highly recommended.
• A minimum of four participants is required for this course.

The Pleasure Craft Operator's Card (PCOC), legally required in Canada by 2009, as well as the Coastal Navigation Standard, are also available as an addition to any course.