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ASA 103:
Basic Coastal Cruising
The gateway to bay area sailing, successful completion of ASA 103 allows use of Afterguard boats up to the south side of the Bay Bridge.
Learn to skipper a 25 to 32 ft sloop-rigged keelboat in moderate winds and sea conditions. Gain 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.
2 Evening Lectures + 4 Full Days Sailing. Evenings can be on Friday PM before the weekend course or same day.
+ Free 1/2 day (4hr) Graduation Sail (independent charter with your classmates)
An ASA 103 certification qualifies the holder to sail boats up to 31 feet in semi-protected waters and is recognized internationally. For San Francisco Bay, this means you’re cleared to sail within the Bay’s semi-protected microclimate near our base up to, but not beyond, the southeast side of the Bay Bridge.
Before the Course
Purchase the ASA 103 textbook Coastal Cruising Made Easy. Available at our office or through the ASA website as an ebook or hardcopy.
Read the book and complete the quizzes throughout to prepare you for the course and the terminology used.
Prerequisites:
ASA 101 Course + Graduation Sail
OR
ASA 101 Challenge
~ free ASA101 Grad Sail with enrollment in ASA103
Recommended Prep:
1. Join a practice Sail Sunday Sail within 1 month before class (at Afterguard or elsewhere)
2. 3x Logged Sails
a. 1x 101 Graduation Sail: Docking & Rules of the Road =2nd Sun Practice
b. 1x Sail Trim + Heave To + Reefing =3rd Sun Practice
c. 1x any Practice Sail
ASA 103 Multiple Choice Test
After successfully demonstrating 100% of the required on-the-water skills, you’ll take a written exam, which requires a minimum score of 85% to pass.
If you do not pass either the on-the-water or written evaluations, you’ll be invited to repeat the necessary portions.
Life Jacket and Safety Equipment
We can loan you a personal flotation device (PFD), also known as a lifejacket, along with other safety equipment. PFDs must be worn at all times when outside the cabin while the boat is underway. For your safety, put it on before the boat starts moving, especially when departing from or returning to the dock.
ASA Certification
Once you’ve passed the course, ASA will mail you a certification sticker to add to your logbook.
What's Included
What to Expect
Schedule and Crew Information:
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Meeting Location: Afterguard Sailing Academy, 1285 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606
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Course Duration: This is a 2 weekend course, normally, can schedule during the week.
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Times: Fri pm lecture from 6pm-8pm. Sailing Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm. If opt to do lectures same day as sailing then the lecture time for Saturday is 4:30-6:30
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Exam: The written exam takes place at the end of the last day of sailing. Students must demonstrate proficiency in hands-on skills to a respectable level before being permitted to sit for the written test.
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Crew Limit: Maximum of four students per boat with one instructor. Can have more than 1 ASA 103 course. If so will combine the lectures from the 2 courses.
What Boats are Used:
Training uses: "Together" Ericson 27, "Shangri La 2" Santana 30, "Simpatico" Pearson 31, "Passion" Pearson 32" or "Renaissance" Targa 10.1. Certification is for boats 23' to 32' Need inboard engines and a wheel choice for this course.
Additional Info:
The first evening workshop (6pm-8:30pm or 4:30-6:30) reviews the ashore knowledge as seen in the book. Practical knot tying and more is included in the timeframe. These are briefings for what is to happen during the sailing time. The second evening lecture is an introduction to navigation. Students are guided to set up a course, measure distances and approximate times between waypoints to follow a channel as a zero visibility exercise. San Francisco Bay has a reputation for dense fog. Best to know how to safely pass through it.
Very comprehensive course for new SF Bay Skippers or new boat owners. For those with years of self-taught sailing, we recommend challenging ASA 101, then start your professional training with part or all of the ASA 103 course. It fills in holes in skills and knowledge common to miss when learning on your own, from friends, or by racing.
Add Quick Stop COB option and practice those from ASA101. Improve your sail trim, jibing, docking techniques. Learn about tides and current when sailing to Treassure Island to anchor with a single anchor. Taking anchor bearings...
Holder of an ASA-103 certification is qualified to sail up to 30' boats in semi-protected waters, accepted world-wide. For San Francisco Bay sailing, ASA 103 allows sailing in SF Bay's semi-protected micro climate close to our base. This area includes up to, but not beyond South/East of the Bay Bridge! Crossing under bridges has proved a challenge for many with increased wind, traffic and colder by 15 degrees. Can act as first mate on First Sunday Practice Sails, as crew for 104 certified sailors... to get a feel for full Bay Sailing.
As you begin your ASA 103, now is the time to begin preparing your own 'sea bag' of sailing gear. Start the collection by acquiring real sailing gloves, a waterproof top layer (aka weather-proof or foul weather gear) and pants or bibs are great, but waterproof sailing boots/shoes are recommended for the top of your list. Sailing in the central Bay in summer is when most likely to get wet from wind blown spray. Foulies do help to keep you dry when sailing year round! Try our variety of personal flotation. Find what works best for you and get your own. Suggest an inflatable lifevest, preferably with a harness built in, best kind does not use metal near the heart. Also a 6' tether. Best kind of tether are made with a built-in bungie. Dress for this class according to the weather reports - might need a tech shirt to wick perspiration away from the skin, or a warm underlayer. Can view current or by the month predictions with links from our website front page using Accuweather monthly predictions.
After graduation:
~ your teacher will sign your official Logbook for ASA103 certification
~ ASA will mail you the ASA103 certification sticker to add in your official Logbook
~ can schedule the included free independent half-day practice session (4h) with your classmates, on one of vessels from the Ranger 23' to Passion 32'.
Boat rental - The skipper of the boat will need Boating and Waterways CA Boater's license. A Boat US towing membership.
A. must be scheduled within 30 days of class graduation,
B. have at least one but preferred all of your classmates joining you. This half-day bonus is per class (not per student) & independent practice means no teacher onboard :) If feel you need more coaching or support from a teacher, call the office to arrange. Can be the same or a different teacher from the instructor in your course. To
To get ready to take ASA 104, recommend at least one weekend of ASA105. Also logging 4-6 practice sails as skipper or an active crew member. If own your own boat, can log practice sails aboard your boat as well as ours. Afterguard member student's options: 1st Sunday Bay Sails; volunteer as a BK1 first mate (reinforce what you have learned by sharing with others your best version of how to be a qualified first mate), join the afternoon/evening Group Practice Sails weekly on Sundays); as a school member, can join the Afterguard Crew Group for more sailing opportunities with fellow members. Afterguard provides many low cost ways to log practice sails to settle and enrich the course information you've gathered so far.
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 1031 international certification certifies the sailor is prepared for protected waters for vessels 30-32', and under, in light to moderate winds and moderate seas.