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Australian Sailing Safety & Sea Survival
Two days on what to do when it goes seriously wrong offshore, including a liferaft session in the pool.
Safety & Sea Survival is not a learn-to-sail course.
It teaches sailors how to manage serious emergencies.
Australian Sailing currently describes the full course as approximately 16 hours, normally over two days, including practical exercises with lifejackets, liferafts and distress equipment. The certificate is valid for five years.
Topics can include:
Safety & Sea Survival Refresher
Australian Sailing also provides a refresher pathway for eligible certificate holders.
The refresher is currently listed as approximately eight hours.
- Who it suits
- Anyone sailing out of sight of land, and mandatory crew on many offshore races.
- What it is not
- Not a racing-only course, despite the reputation. A short-handed cruising couple has a stronger case for it.
Other Australian Sailing courses
Tackers Sailing Courses
Australian Sailing’s junior program, built around fun and water confidence first and sailing technique second.
OutThere Sailing for Teenagers
For teenagers who have outgrown Tackers and are not ready for an adult course.
Australian Sailing Dinghy Courses
The most widely available learn-to-sail route in the country, and the fastest way to real wind awareness.
Australian Sailing Keelboat Courses
Start Crewing, Start Helming, Start Skippering — a stable boat and a natural bridge toward yachts.
Australian Sailing Powerboat Courses for Sailors
More relevant to sailors than the name suggests: nearly all rescue and support work happens from a powerboat.
Australian Sailing Instructor Pathway
The domestic route into teaching, and where most Australian sailing instructors begin.
Which course should you actually book?
Three questions — your experience, the boat you want to sail, and your goal — give you a starting course and the schools that teach it near you.