6 Ways to Achieve Your 6 On-the-Water-Days Prerequisite for ASA 104 | Modern Sailing

6 Ways to Achieve Your 6 On-the-Water-Days Prerequisite for ASA 104

Are you an ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising certified sailor looking forward to ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising?

After completing ASA 103, Modern Sailing students are required to complete six on-the-water days as a skipper, co-skipper, or student to prepare for the challenge of ASA 104.

Below are six ways to fulfil the prerequisite:

1. Charter as the Skipper on Record

NOTE: 3 of your 6 on-the-water days must be as the skipper on record. A bareboat charter in your name  (including a Midweek Sunset charter) will count as an on-the-water day towards your ASA 104 prerequisite. (Club membership is required to charter.)

Are you chartering for the first time? Here are five articles you may find helpful:

2. Co-Skipper with a Modern Club Member

You can credit up to three on-the-water days towards your ASA 104 prerequisite as a co-skipper with an MSC club member. Please be sure to inform the front desk so we can track it. Learn more about co-skippering here: What Is a "Co-Skipper?" (You must be both fleet rated (Sportboat: 24'-26', Silver: 30'-32', Gold: 33' - 37', Platinum: 38'+, Catamaran: multihull) and site rated (Berkeley or Sausalito) for the boat you are co-skippering).

3. Receive a Private Lesson

When you spend 3 or more hours aboard with one of our instructors, this counts as 1 on-the-water day towards your ASA 104 prerequisite. Considering a Private Lesson? Discover 5 Reasons to Take Private Sailing Lessons on SF Bay.

4. Complete a Sailing Clinic

ASA 103-certified sailors are eligible to join the following clinics, each of which will count as 1 on-the-water day:

5. Race

Your participation in a Racing Clinic counts as two on-the-water days. 

6. Skipper a Privately Owned Boat

Do you own a sailboat, or know someone who does? When you skipper a sail aboard a privately-owned boat, we'll give you credit when you provide us with a detailed Sailing Resume. Please let us know the dates and locations of your skipper days, boat name(s), boat length, and owner's name. If the owner is someone besides yourself, please provide the owner's contact information for verification purposes. We'll give you credit for these on-the-water days when you provide us with an approved detailed Sailing Resume.

Do you have any questions about the ASA 104 prerequisite? Please reach out to our friendly office team by phone at (415) 331-8250 or send us an email. We're happy to help!

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  • John Boynton

    The class was terrific. I know you must get many compliments about your sailing instructors...But I must tell you that Robert is outstanding. Having taught SCUBA, I really appreciate the way he is so sensitive to all on board, dealing with each so well, knowing quickly their strengths and weaknesses making each feel special and cared for.

  • David Dolenc, Member

    I love sailing in the San Francisco Bay and greatly appreciate everything that MSC has to offer, the classes, clinics, club sails, racing and charters. I enjoy our supportive sailing community and use every opportunity to spend time on the water. After obtaining the certifications from MSC I did my first charter in Croatia in 2022 with my family. It was amazing and we’re looking forward to returning soon!

  • Warren Leiden, Member

    I try to get out on the water every week: out the Gate, around Angel, up Raccoon - I love it all. After 18 years as a member of OCSC in Berkeley, I learned to sail the bigger boats at Modern by taking ASA 103 and 104. My ASA 104 instructor Dave Russell was terrific. Also, Captain Bill Moreland has been very generous in giving informal advice whenever I’ve asked him. Thanks to Bill, I no longer have any anxiety about docking!

  • Emma & George Stubbs, Sausalito

    We just took our ASA 106 at a school in Rhode Island as we prepare for 6 months of cruising in the Caribbean. The class was great, but more than anything it made us really appreciate the quality of teaching and rigor at Modern Sailing. Even though we were the newest to sailing, the group seemed to think that we had the best fundamentals. We felt very well prepared and we see why Modern Sailing has the reputation it does.

  • John Kipping

    The meeting room was quite adequate and the location most convenient, but the course outline and instruction were outstanding. Modern Sailing is fortunate to have such a well organized instructor in Mr. Stan Lander who teaches very well from a rich professional background. Mr. Lander was generous with his time and patiently in helping students who needed more attention or time in understanding various aspects of the curriculum.

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