So You Want To Learn To Sail?
“If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late.” - Pete Goss
“If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late.” - Pete Goss
Sailing is one of the best activities in which you could invest your time. We love sailing, and we love the many benefits it brings. Sailing allows you the opportunity to have unique holidays, experience new places, and take exciting journeys.
The very act of sailing is something which brings a sense of pride to the sailor and the joy involved in such a pursuit, we feel is unparalleled anywhere else. The old cliché of needing to be muscular like Popeye to be part of a crew or sail is a thing of the past. Sailing has no age barrier. You can sail all your life at all levels, fast or slow, cruising or racing. Sailing is also a wonderful activity to do both solo and alongside the entire family. If you have the chance to do so, you should absolutely learn how to sail.
Once you decide that you want to learn to sail you might be trying to navigate the sailing certifications available to you. This should help clear up the sailing education process. If you have some sailing experience you can always ask your sailing school about “challenging” a course. If they offer the challenge option you can sit for the test without taking the course and then demonstrate your abilities in a much more streamlined fashion.
If you are a beginner and have little to no experience you'll want to start with ASA 101. This is the basic sailing course. When you are done you will know how to sail a small sailboat.
PREREQUISITES: None
DESCRIPTION: Able to skipper a sloop-rigged keelboat of approximately 20 to 27 feet in length by day in light to moderate winds (up to 15 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards. Auxiliary power operation is not required. Get more details here
PREREQUISITES: Basic Keelboat Sailing (ASA 101) Certification, and the ability to demonstrate competencies in all knowledge and skills elements of that Standard. ASA recommends a minimum of 24 on-water sailing hours before undertaking ASA 103.
DESCRIPTION: Able to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered (inboard or outboard engine) keelboat of approximately 25 to 35 feet in length by day in moderate winds (up to 20 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of cruising sailboat terminology, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, intermediate sail trim, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather interpretation, safety and seamanship. Get more details here
PREREQUISITES: Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) Certification, and the ability to demonstrate competencies in all knowledge and skills elements of those Standards. ASA recommends a minimum of 80 on-water sailing hours before undertaking ASA 104.
DESCRIPTION: Able to skipper a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered keelboat of approximately 30 to 45 feet in length during a multi-day cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, routine maintenance procedures, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation including basic chart plotting and GPS operation, multiple-anchor mooring, docking, health and safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation. Get more details here
PREREQUISITES: None
DESCRIPTION: Able to apply the navigational theory and practices for safe navigation of a sailing vessel in coastal and inland waters. On-water coastal navigation skills elements are contained in the Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, and Advanced Coastal Cruising Standards, in progressively increasing levels of Detail. Get more details here
When you get to the point where you want to sail on multi-day passages and in all conditions ASA 106 will help prepare you for your journey. This is an advanced class and you will work on your seamanship at a much higher level than you have up to this point.
PREREQUISITES: Bareboat Cruising (ASA 104) and Coastal Navigation (ASA 105) Certifications, and the ability to demonstrate all knowledge and skills elements of those Standards.
DESCRIPTION: Able to skipper and navigate a sailing vessel of approximately 30 to 50 feet in length in coastal and inland waters, in any conditions, day or night. Knowledge of sail theory and steering forces, advanced sail control, weather prediction using clouds and instruments, boat systems maintenance, heavy weather precautions, safety and Seamanship. Get more details here
PREREQUISITE: None
DESCRIPTION: Able to apply celestial navigation theory and practices for safe navigation of a sailing vessel in offshore waters. On-water celestial navigation skills elements are demonstrated in ASA 108 Offshore Passagemaking. Get more details here
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” - Ernest Hemingway
Content From: How Do I Learn To Sail? By American Sailing