qualifications
six pack qual can be used by resident of u.s. but successive license only by a citizen. enquiries to head office of coast guard is very tedious and you will probably have to wait a long time for reply to e.mails and mail. find you local coastguard auxillary, excellent and helpful. can be found giving evening classes free of charge on navigation up to certification standards, etc. all very professionally organized. commercial schools are another source but remember they are commercial. myself, here in u.s., i would take the auxillary coast guard courses initially. if in a rush to get commercial, plenty of your own homework and a commercial school, easily found on the web. if you want quality and are determined to make a success of a new career or serious hobby, there two or three excellent sailing academies on the south coast of england, sponsored by the government, royal family, royal navy, charities, etc.,etc. in my research re sailing qualifications, i found these to be the best courses. not so laid back as in the u.s. after all, three months 'boot camp' is the equivalent of ten years of casual experience and maybe the occasional course. you will find several royal yaghting association qualifications. if you enlist in, say, the united kingdom sailing academy, you will surpass the coast guard six pack in knowledge and experience. if you want to use this for your qualification here, you will have gained your milage, etc. on your course in your log book - the british are scrupulous in the standard of entries in log books, so hard luck if anyone thinks they can take any short cuts!! - the knowledge you gain there will see you easily through the uscg exams excepting a little homework on inland water navigation here in the us as the rules of the road are different - this should be no problem. boss sailing academy is another excellent sailing school. uksa works to all levels from amatuer to high commercial qualifications. most instructors are ex-royal navy. no, you will not be mustering in a parade ground at 6.00 am in sub-zero temperatures every morning for personal kit inspection! the three month course includes half living on board, half on land. another advantage of these courses is that you will be learning on the tidal waters of the solent and english channel and french coast which sooner or later depending on your future ambitions, you will come across. like everything re sailing, once you have the experience, it is always there even fifty years later. if you book a summer course, you will be there for the royal regatta at cowes - a feast and experience you will never forget! yes, i am british, but my opinion there is completely objective. there was an american subscriber to this site some three years ago who went on the three month course and could say not enough good things about it. 'nothing like it here in the states' he said. hope some help.
