With 25 knots of wind on a regular basis, strong currents, and heavy shipping traffic, San Francisco Bay provides the perfect environment for learning with one of the most challenging sailing venues anywhere in the world.
ASA courses provide internationally-recognized certifications which can empower you to:
-
Enjoy bay or coastal day sails
-
Experience multi-day sailing expeditions
-
Bareboat charter internationally
-
Reduce your boat insurance premiums
-
Sail across an ocean or around the world
How far do you wish to go? Call or email our office with your questions. Click the links below to view course details and schedule.
View our Schedule of Classes
View our Course Enrollment and Cancellation Policies
ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing
Learn the basics of keelboat sailing when you take ASA 101. During this course, you'll learn sailing terminology and its applications, knots, points of sail, rules of the road, introduction to docking, and more. All your class time (4 days) is hands-on training under the guidance of a US Coast Guard-licensed instructor. Read more...
ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising
After learning sailing fundamentals in ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, you're now ready to refine and expand your skills in preparation to charter 32' sailboats on your own. This course offers you the experience and skills you'll need to enjoy sailing in a variety condition with confidence. Upon successful completion of ASA 103, students who are members of Modern Sailing become eligible to charter boats up to 32’ in length from our fleet. Read more...
ASA 101/103, Basic Keelboat Sailing/Basic Coastal Cruising Combination Course
The ASA 101/103 combination course is a five-day intensive program, a fast track to quickly prepare you to charter boats up to 32 feet in length within San Francisco Bay. Upon successful completion of this combined course, students who are also Modern Sailing club members are eligible to charter boats up to 32’ in length from our fleet. Read more...
ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
Take your chartering to the next level! Gain experience handling larger monohull boats and sailing at night. This 3-day, 2-night course will prepare you for international charter vacations and overnight stay-cations on San Francisco Bay. Students who are Modern Sailing club members will be eligible to charter boats in our Platinum Fleet (38' and above) and Gold Fleet (33' - 37') for day sails and overnight charters. Read more...
ASA 104/114, Bareboat Catamaran Cruising
Prepare to charter internationally on multihulls with this 5-day, 4-night combination course to receive your ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising and ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran certifications. Read more...
ASA 105, Coastal Navigation
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. Read more...
ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising
Are you ready to discover ocean sailing and explore the coast? Our ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising course will give you the skills and confidence you’ll need for safe and successful coastal expeditions. Practice night sailing, chart navigation, electronic piloting, and anchoring. Learn float plan development, advanced sail trim, weather analysis, heavy weather techniques, emergency procedures, and more. Boat systems and troubleshooting are also covered, with an emphasis on the problem-solving skills that are essential to self-sufficient coastal cruising. Read more...
ASA 105/106, California Coastal Combination Course
This 7-day course combines ASA 105, Coastal Navigation and ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising certifications. With this course, you will discover ocean sailing and benefit from the wealth of knowledge that our instructors have gained from their own extensive cruising adventures. Read more...
ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran
Cruising multihulls are quickly becoming the preferred charter boat of the Caribbean and South Pacific. ASA 114 will introduce you to catamaran systems and boat handling skills and turn you into a competent multihull sailor. Read more...
ASA 118, Docking Endorsement
The winds and tidal currents of San Francisco Bay can be challenging to sailors not only when sailing out on the bay, but especially when maneuvering in and out of dock slips. Join us for this one-day clinic in which you will learn strategies and techniques to safely and efficiently dock an auxiliary powered sailboat in a variety of conditions. Read more...
