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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  • Ray Arceneaux

    The vessel was clean and in fine condition - very nice boat for training, well-equipped.

  • Andrew Goble, San Francisco

    It has been wonderful sailing with MSC over the years. Please extend my thanks to the owners, management, and staff for unrequited professionalism and high standards in a charter fleet. I have sailed with several in my years and none nearly hold a candle to the quality of business and staff at Modern Sailing.

  • Lisa Butzer Wilde

    Thumbs up to (Club Skipper) Geoff (Love) and his wife Laura. I went on my first Club Sail on Sunday, January 18, 2026. They were terrific!

  • 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.

  • Sara Jane G.

    I've taken two classes at MSS&C and was very happy with the program. This is also a great club with lots of opportunities for camaraderie and practice on the water. The boats in the fleet are fantastic and kept in tip-top shape. I highly recommend for all sailors and would-be sailors!

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