Are you ready to take your sailing knowledge and skills to the next level and complete one of sailing’s great rites of passage, a multi-day offshore voyage well beyond the sight of land in the open Pacific Ocean? If so, the Modern Sailing ASA 108 Offshore Passage Making course is for you.
The ASA 108 Offshore Passage Making certification represents the pinnacle of the ASA certification pathway and prepares sailors with the knowledge, experience, and confidence required for true offshore sailing and long-distance cruising. This course provides the opportunity to complete a real offshore passage, build advanced seamanship skills, and create a lasting entry in your sailing logbook.
Students will gain practical experience in yacht preparation for ocean sailing, offshore passage planning, watch standing, celestial navigation, weather interpretation and forecasting, storm avoidance, heavy-weather sailing techniques including the use of a trysail, storm jib, and drogue, radar and AIS use for collision avoidance, offshore first aid, emergency procedures, abandon-ship protocols, safety systems, and the seamanship practices required for extended ocean passages.
The course is taught by a highly experienced ASA instructor and USCG-licensed Captain, supported by an experienced USCG-licensed First Mate. Each vessel sails with a minimum of three students and a maximum of four, creating a small offshore crew environment aboard one of Modern Sailing’s blue-water capable 44 foot monohull.
The course begins in Sausalito and navigates out on the Pacific Ocean, sailing 100 nautical miles offshore and remaining out of sight of land for a minimum of 72 continuous hours. During this time students will stand watches, manage the vessel, navigate offshore, and gain real experience with the rhythms and responsibilities of offshore sailing. Following the offshore segment, the vessel will make landfall in Monterey. The course then continues with a northbound coastal passage back to Sausalito, with possible stops in Santa Cruz or Pillar Point Harbor (Half Moon Bay) depending on weather, conditions, and training objectives.
Candidates for this course must be in good health and physically prepared for life aboard a vessel underway continuously for multiple days and nights. Students must also meet all ASA prerequisites: ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, and either ASA 107 (Celestial Navigation) or ASA 117 (Basic Celestial Endorsement). Candidates should be comfortable demonstrating the knowledge and skills associated with these certifications.
The coveted ASA 108 certification is awarded to students who meet all course prerequisites, successfully demonstrate the required ASA 108 skills, and pass an essay-style written examination covering the advanced knowledge areas required for offshore passagemaking.
Due to the broad range of subjects covered in this course, there is no single textbook that addresses every topic in detail. A recommended reading list will be provided in the welcome packet upon enrollment. These resources will help support your preparation for the course and serve as valuable references for your future offshore sailing adventures.
ASA 108 Info Packet & Cancellation Policies
View the ASA 108 Offshore Passagemaking Course Info Packet here.
View the ASA 108 Cancellation Policies here.
2026 ASA 108 Session Dates
- September 07 - 13, 2026 from Sausalito
Don’t have your ASA 107 or 117 yet but still want to go? You have up to one year to take ASA 107 Celestial Navigation or ASA 117 Basic Celestial Endorsement after completing your ASA 108 to receive your certification.
Questions? Ready to Sign Up?
If you have questions or want to sign up, contact Modern Sailing at (415) 331-8250, office@modernsailing.com, or stop by our Sausalito office at 2130 Marinship Way; our Berkeley office at 1 Spinnaker Way. If you have completed ASA 106 and 107 with Modern Sailing you will be able to book online.
