Bluewater Cruising

Bluewater cruising is long-distance ocean voyaging under sail, days or weeks out of sight of land, the kind of passage the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean qualification prepares a skipper for. It demands a self-sufficient boat and crew: storm canvas and heavy-weather tactics, watchkeeping, celestial backup to electronic navigation, water and power autonomy, and medical and damage-control readiness far from rescue. It is distinguished from coastal cruising, which stays within day-sail of shelter.