ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing (Sportboat) | Modern Sailing

ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing (Sportboat)

2 weekends, Sat & Sun (9am - 4:30pm)

San Francisco Bay's famous wind, strong currents, and heavy shipping traffic offers sailors one of the most challenging and exciting sailing venues in the world. With the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz in the background, learning to sail in ASA 101 will give you the experience and skills you need to enjoy sailing in a variety of conditions - with confidence. This American Sailing Association course provides the skills you'll need to enjoy active participation as crew in the operation of a sailboat. Learn sailing terminology and its applications, essential knots, points of sail, navigation rules, docking basics, and more. Our Berkeley location offers this course on a 24-foot tiller-steered keelboat called a “J/24.”  

Your four days of hands-on training will be under the guidance of an experienced instructor who is US Coast Guard licensed and ASA certified. This course consists of some lecture and mostly hands-on training while sailing a J/24. This boat model is strong and sporty, and is in fact the most popular and prevalent one-design keelboat with a rich racing pedigree. The boat provides instant feedback to the helmsperson through its tiller steering (vs. wheel) and its low profile in the water. (In choppier waters, you may get wet!) The boat is fairly “manual” which means it's a process to rig it for the day's sailing, but also means you have many sail shaping and sizing options before departure or while underway. Class size is limited to three students.

Your official ASA logbook and Sailing Made Easy textbook are included with your purchase of this course and will be mailed to you. If you wish to pick up your books in person or if you sign up less than a week from the first day of your course, please contact our office. Optionally, you may purchase the Sailing Made Easy e-book directly from the ASA. Advance study of your textbook will enhance your success in this course.

Upon successful completion of ASA 101, you will be prepared for ASA 103, Sportboat Basic Coastal Cruising and well on your way to becoming a skipper on San Francisco Bay and beyond.

There are three ways to sign up for this course - by phone (510) 831-1800, email, or by clicking the link below.

View Schedule and Sign Up Online | Bundle & Save - Special Packages

Cost for Members: 
$1335
Cost for Non Members: 
$1745
Prerequisites: 
None.

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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.

  • Alisa Driscoll, Dual Site Member

    Here are some snaps of Our Saturday, August 20, 2022 Modern Sailing Expedition with Captain Robert Bivin, who was outstanding. Please convey photos and thanks to him. He is an outstanding individual, leader and sailing instructor. His knowledge and experience made us all feel safe and our Farallones Day Trip educational and just amazing. 

  • 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!

  • Salesforce (Ashley H.)

    Our team at Salesforce did the Corporate Regatta Team Buidling activity (August 2026). What a blast!! HIghly recommend for your next team activity. It's fun to be out on the water, but the skippers also did a great job of teaching us all the sailing basics. The race is set up well so that we all had a chance to try out different roles. We did it with 11 people across two boats but having more boats is also doable and would lead to even more competition.

  • Lucas Hendren

    Got my ASA 101 here, very professional and well run class.

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