ASA Sailing Certification Courses

Have you completed ASA 101? With a solid understanding of sailing fundamentals under your life vest, you're ready to refine and expand your skills in ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising. This certification will prepare you to skipper daytime sailing expeditions in San Francisco Bay. The course curriculum includes:

Take your charter experience to the next level! If you've completed ASA 101 and ASA 103, and have at least six skipper days under your belt, you're ready to take ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising. This 3-day, 2-night course will prepare you for international charter vacations and overnights on San Francisco Bay. Among the many essential yachting skills taught, students will complete the course with in-depth knowledge of trip planning, night sailing, and boat systems.

The ASA 105, Coastal Navigation workshop offers advanced chart navigation instruction and prepares students to successfully complete the certification exam. Areas of study include chart reading, tidal current determination, dead reckoning, position fixes, running fixes, danger bearings, set and drift problems, and more. The class is intended to supplement the text rather than replace it, so plan on studying before the class begins.

Since ancient times, human beings have looked to the heavens to find our way around on Earth. It was only a few hundred years ago that we developed systems to plot latitude and longitude fixes based on the positions of celestial bodies, and the common practice of celestial navigation by means of a sextant emerged. The basic premise of celestial navigation relies on calculating angles between the observer, the horizon, and a predictable celestial body such as the sun, moon, or visible planets and stars.