Yachting Australia

Why do I have to re-validate my SSSC certification?
ISAF requires that training is undertaken within five years of the start of Category 1 races and above.  The certification is required as Yachting Australia Special Regulations for Category 1 races and recommendations for Category 2 races are based upon the international regulations regarding training.  

When should I get my SSSC re-validated?
You do not need to revalidate your SSSC certificate unless you are intending to compete in a Cat 1 or 2 race. It is entirely up to you when you revalidate your certificate bearing in mind that you may not be eligible to compete if you do not hold a current certificate. Your SSSC certificate is valid for a period of 5 years. 

I am a SSSC Instructor, do I need to re-validate my SSSC?
Yes. In order to instruct SSSC, you must be registered with Yachting Australia and hold a current SSSC certificate.  If you have not delivered a SSS course in the past three years you are required to take the Instructors course.  More information can be found under 'How to become an Instructor'.


How and where do I re-validate my SSSC certificate?
You must attend either a full SSSC course, or the SSSC Update course (there are certain criteria that need to be met in order for you to enrol in the Update course) delivered by a certified SSSC instructor.

Courses are available through SSSC approved Yachting Australia Training Centres where a qualified SSSC instructor will deliver the course. You can search for a SSSC approved Yachting Australia Training Centre on the Yachting Australia website.

Do I need to undertake the Wet Drill Component of the SSSC re-vaildation Course? 

Yes.

If I am planning to attend the Update Course what do I need to present to be able to enrol?
In order to enrol  / attend the Update Course, you will need to present: 

• a completed Yachting Australia Self Declaration Form (showing 2500 offshore nautical miles in the last 5 years).
• evidence of having held a SSSC certificate recently (current or in the past. eg a print out from your Yachting Australia MySailor record showing the expiry date to be not less than 1 year)

If you have not met both of these criteria then you will need to undertake the full Safety and Sea Survival Course.


What constitutes Offshore miles?

What do I do if I've lost my SSSC certificate? 
You can get another copy from Yachting Australia or print out your Yachting Australia MySailor record. If you require your login details for MySailor, please contact your Member Yachting Association.


If I've lost my current SSSC certificate, do I need to physically produce it to do the SSSC Update course?
No, you can get your SSSC certificate number and expiry date information from the Yachting Australia website at SSSC search.  You will need to print this information and bring it with you as you will need your certificate number to complete the enrolment form (as your certificate number will remain the same, make sure you write it correctly on the enrolment form).

I have competed a Sea Safety and Survival Course and Mysailor account is showing as "Recommended". Does this mean I am an approved SSSC certificate holder?

Where can my SSSC Instructor conduct the wet drill?

The purpose of the wet drill is for participants to have a simulated experience using liferafts. The wet drill can be done in any warm water environment that offers circumstances as close to reality as possible. There is no designated venue that Yachting Australia endorses but the requirement of deep water (such that participants can't touch the bottom) is necessary.

Different venues offer different experiences. There is no one venue that can offer everything to participants. For example, an indoor swimming pool may facilitate the opportunity to experience darkness, noise and possibly rain. Undertaking the drill in a natural marine environment such as a bay or river etc gives the participant the opportunity to experience current, swell and wind.

The wet drill can even be done from a yacht so you and your crew can experience it in the context of the vessel they will be sailing on. Talk to a SSSC approved Yachting Australia Training Centre if this is your preferred option.
 

Can out of date flares be used for the flare drill 
 

No, Yachting Australia, in the interests of safety, does not allow out of date flares to be used.