The Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations of 2007 states that all sailing vessels of 9m or more in length (and motor vessels of 15 horsepower or more) used for pleasure and recreation have to be listed or registered.

In order to get a CoF from SAS your yacht has been listed in your name on the SAS database. Listing requires proof of ownership as described on the application form.

If you wish to sail your yacht or power boat to a foreign country a SAS listing is no longer acceptable. You have in addition to get your vessel registered through SAMSA. For a fee SAS can assist you with your SAMSA registration. You are very welcome to go to SAMSA directly, but generally they seem to want yachties to work through SAS to cut down on the administration.

The safety requirements for a CoF or an LGSC are specified in the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations of 2007 as amended. Most of the safety requirements for pleasure vessels are detailed in Annexure 1 and 2 of these regulations.

The syllabuses for SAS Skippers tickets (more correctly described as Certificates of Competence or CoC’s) from Day Skipper to Yachtmaster have been totally revised to reflect changes in technology such as GPS.  We have also introduced a Local Waters certificate of competence for Day Skippers who want to progress to night sailing but do not yet have the night hours required for a Coastal Skipper.