Purchase Course

ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing

Demonstrated ability to skipper a sloop-rigged keelboat of approximately 20 to 27 feet in length by day in light to moderate winds 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.

Textbook Sailing Made Easy - can be purchased at our office, ASA website or as an Ibook

Passing Students Receive

Signed Logbook
ASA 101 Certification Sticker
3mo trial membership to American Sailing Academy paid for by Afterguard. Must activate via the link sent with confirmation of your ASA 101 course completion, sent to you by ASA.

Schedule & Crew

This is a three-day Weekend Course, Friday 6pm-8pm lecture. Saturday -Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm Class spent mostly on the boat on the water sailing. The course Max is four students per boat with 1 instructor.

What Boats are Used

In this ASA Course, you will be learning to sail on one of our Ranger 23s unless there is special need for a larger vessel. We have 5 Ranger 23's with outboard enginers and 2 Cal 2-25s with inboard engines.

When You Complete this Course

Passing this course allows you to rent/charter the boats from our fleet for sailing in the Oakland Estuary. ASA 103 is required to sail outside the Estuary in open Bay waters. ASA 101 international certification certifies the sailor is prepared for protected waters for vessels 25' and under on light to moderate winds and flat seas. In San Francisco Bay waters, the only place near our fleet that fits that definition is the Oakland Estuary.

KNOWLEDGE

Basic Sailing Terminology

1. Describe and identify the following sailboat parts and their functions:

Hull | Deck | Transom | Keel | Mast | Boom | Gooseneck | Bow | Stern | Helm / Tiller /Wheel | Rudder | Cockpit
Cabin | Standing Rigging | Shroud | Spreader | Chainplate | Headstay / Forestay | Backstay | Stanchion | Lifeline
Pulpit | Winch | Cleat | Block | Fairlead | Fender | Docklines

2. Identify and describe the functions of the following sails, sail parts and sail controls:

Mainsail | Jib / Genoa | Head | Tack | Clew | Foot | Luff | Leech | Downhaul / Cunningham | Batten | Batten Pocket | Bolt Rope
Hank | Running Rigging | Halyard | Mainsheet | Jibsheets | Boom Topping Lift | Boom Vang | Telltale | Outhaul | Traveler
Shackle | Roller Furler

3. Define the following terms:

Port | Starboard | Forward | Aft | Beam | Ahead | Astern | Abeam | Windward | Leeward | Draft | Freeboard | Heel
Weather helm | Skipper | Helmsman | Crew

Maneuvers & Points of Sail

4. Explain and identify using diagrams the following maneuvers, points of sail, and other terms:

Head-to-Wind | No-Sail Zone | Closed Hauled | Close Reach | Beam Reach| Broad Reach | Run | Sailing-by-the-Lee | In Irons
Luffing | Port Tack | Starboard Tack | Tacking | Jibing | Stand-on | Give-way

5. Explain and utilize correctly the following helm commands and crew responses:

“Heading Up”
“Bearing Away”
“Ready About” —– “Ready” —– “Helms a-Lee” (or “Coming About” or “Tacking”)
“Prepare to Jibe” —– “Ready” —– “Jibe-Ho” (or “Jibing”)

Navigation Rules

For items 6 through 12, describe, using diagrams as appropriate, the applicable rules for a 25-foot recreational sailing vessel, as found in the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook. Identify the “stand-on” and “give-way” vessel in each situation.

6. Look-out, Rule 5.

7. Sailing vessels with the wind on different sides (starboard / port), Rule 12(a)(i)

8. Sailing vessels with the wind on same side (leeward / windward), Rule 12(a)(ii)

9. Sailing vessel on port tack cannot determine windward sailing vessel’s tack, Rule 12(a)(iii)

10. Overtaking (Rule 13)

11. Power-driven vessels approaching each other head-on (Rule 14)

12. Power-driven vessel with another power-driven vessel on starboard side (Rule 15)

13. Describe appropriate actions to be taken when sailing in the vicinity of commercial traffic, including responding to a danger signal.

Aids to Navigation

14. Identify and state the purpose of lateral aids to navigation by color, shape & numbering, including preferred channel markers.

15. Identify safe water, information and regulatory markers.

Safety Gear & Procedures

16. List the federally required equipment for a recreational sailboat of 25-feet in length.

17. Identify the location and color of navigation lights used by a recreational vessel of 25-feet in length.

18. Describe the purpose of a Float Plan, give examples of information contained therein and to whom it should be submitted.

19. Describe when and to whom boating accidents must be reported.

20. State the Federal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit for vessel operation.

SKILLS

Safety Equipment

21. Demonstrate the proper use of a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD).

Sailing

A Certified Sailor has successfully demonstrated his or her ability to:

Rig/hoist/set sails safely and correctly to obtain proper sail trim using the following lines and controls, if available on the practice vessel

22. Halyards and/or furling devices

23. Downhaul or Cunningham

24. Outhaul

25. Boom Vang

26. Mainsheet

27. Jibsheets

28. Winches

29. Traveler

30. Lower/furl/stow sails and coil/flake/stow lines properly

Without coaching or assistance, verbalize appropriate commands and demonstrate competence, safety and good seamanship in the role of Skipper / Helmsman during the maneuvers listed in elements 31 – 42. Honor all aids to navigation and use properly the basic Navigation Rules. Ensure sails are trimmed correctly and the vessel is in control at all times.

31. Depart dock or mooring fully ready to get underway safely

32. Select and maintain a given tack and course

33. Demonstrate how to get out of “irons”

34. Head Up

35. Bear Away

36. Sail Close Hauled

37. Sail on a Close Reach

38. Sail on a Beam Reach

39. Sail on a Broad Reach

40. Sail on a Run

41. Tack

42. Jibe

43. As crew, give appropriate verbal responses and perform correct actions during the maneuvers listed above.

Crew Overboard

44. Describe and demonstrate the correct actions to be taken while under sail from the time a person falls overboard until safely recovered.

Return & Secure

45. Return to dock or mooring

46. Secure vessel, using appropriate mooring/dock lines, fenders, etc.

Knots

Describe the purpose of, and construct without assistance in a timely manner, each of the following knots and hitches: