The catalyst for the expansion of the Basic Keelboat program came from a significant cross section of sailing schools from across the nation. They met at US SAILING's Community Sailing Conference at Dana Point, California, in January 1993 to discuss how to develop a system of universally accepted standards and credentials, and the Commercial Sailing Committee was formed.

Purpose
1. Promote recreational sail training
2. Promote membership/participation in US SAILING
3. Develop, maintain, and regulate the highest possible standards for
    sailing education in the U.S.

4. Bring new people into the sport of sailing. Provide a series of
    progressive training programs to produce safe, competent sailors
    who enjoy the sport. Focus shall be to provide standard levels of
    achievement beginning with basic lessons and allowing progression
    to ocean passagemaking.
5. Provide a forum for commercial sailing schools, yacht clubs, colleges
    and other schools that use the Keelboat Certification system

Function
The Commercial Sailing Committee (CSC) serves the interests of those individuals who desire to learn to sail larger keelboats. To meet this need, the Commercial Sailing Committee is responsible for the US SAILING effort in providing clear standards, certification, and support materials for member sailing schools and organizations to utilize in this pursuit. This effort includes school standards as well as Instructor and Instructor Trainer standards and certifications.  

The Commercial Sailing Committee:

• Provides, maintains, and regulates sail training and certification standards for member schools and instructors - including training materials, textbooks, tests and logbooks - specifically to support, improve, and maintain the high quality and standards of the US SAILING Keelboat Certification System. This includes involvement in new member access, existing member quality and monitoring oversight, and in product improvement and expansion.

• Develops, maintains and regulates instructor and instructor trainer standards and evaluative courses;

• Develops, maintains, and regulates professional standards for member schools, instructors, program directors, program evaluators and facilities;

• Informs US SAILING as to matters concerning sailing schools. Includes liaison and service on the US SAILING Training Committee as standing members. Includes inclusion on the National Faculty as standing members.

• Provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and concerns of those member schools that teach sailing to the public;

• Examines the trends and needs of recreational cruising sailors;

• Develops policies, recommendations, procedures, regulations, and programs to strengthen sailing schools and access to sailing education in the U.S. Includes responsibility for the “Guidelines For The US SAILING Keelboat Certification System”.

Agenda and Minutes