Sailing in the bay towards the Bay Bridge and San Francisco

ASA 106 Course Description

ASA 106:
Advanced Coastal Cruising

Ocean Dreams Course: Confidence to Cast Off the Lines

Sailing in open waters means being prepared to take care of your boat, your crew, and get them both from point A to B safely. Sail down the coast toward Monterey, or for as far as the crew feels good, then sail back up our challenging stretch of the Northern CA Pacific coastal waters over 5 days. This class gives you an amazing opportunity to see some amazing sea life.

This is an ideal course for those interested in future cruising, sailing in open waters, or those who hold offshore goals or ocean dreams. It usually takes a day or two to get used to the way the ocean waves roll.

Note: ASA 105 is a prerequisite to complete 106 and be qualified as a skipper, but anyone can participate in a progressive capacity and retake the course as crew, 1st mate, navigator, or skipper. There are cost breaks for repeat attendance to build skill confidence in each position!

5 Days (additional 'Sea Legs' day available and recommended)

See Course Pricing

Offshore Packages

ASA Course Details

Class Dates & Booking

After completing this course, you may use Afterguard boats anywhere in the navigable Bay Area. Trips beyond Golden Gate Bridge require special permission.

ASA 106 Course Description

This advanced sailing course teaches students to safely skipper and crew a sailboat up to 50 feet on multi-day coastal passages, including overnight sailing. It covers trip planning, weather routing, watchkeeping, advanced navigation, and emergency procedures. Successful students will demonstrate the ability to manage a vessel and crew during 24-hour passages under varying coastal conditions. Completion includes both a written and practical exam.

Covered Topics

Vessel inspection (hull, spars, rigging, hardware, sails, engines, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, navigation equipment, and anchoring systems)
Voyage planning
Weather awareness: apps, radar, clouds, avoidance of fronts
Provisioning and cooking safely at sea
Sail set and trim for offshore sailing (day and night)
Watch keeping, and associated duties including regular engine and tankage checks
Fuel, water and battery conservation
Navigation, including all aspects of dead reckoning, weather checks, and log-keeping
Proper use of radar, GPS, and marine radio
Boat handling in open water in low to substantial waves, clear weather or reduced visibility
Crew overboard recovery maneuvers and offshore recovery
Handling emergencies such as torn sails, injury, fire, flood, unmasting, and steering loss
Storm sail selection, rigging and boat set up forstorm management
Preparing, stowing, and deploying a life raft
Ditch and medical bag prep
Making landfalls in unfamiliar harbors
Command and leadership skills

Course Format

Boat preparation sessions (1) day pre-5-day or 1 evening pre-2.5 day trips add to below
A series of (4) 2½ or (2) 5 day offshore trips on instructor boats. ASA 106 test 85%+
Plus, one tag-along voyage organized and led by graduate skipper (offered one to two times each month from April through November)
Taught aboard ocean certified yachts 32′ to 45′, mono and multi-hull
Completion of the ASA 106 Advance Coastal Cruising written exam for certification

Prerequisites

ASA 101 Basic Keelboat, 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, 104 Bareboat Chartering, and 105 Coastal Navigation Certifications
Optional: ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran certification or challenge for 106 courses done on the catamaran

Steps to Success

Qualification and Certifications that can be obtained during this program:
Offshore Crew, Offshore 1 st Mate-Watch Leader, Navigation Safety Offshore, Offshore
Navigator, 106- Offshore Skipper w/instructor, Tag-a-long Offshore Skipper organizing your own
crew/boat.

Before the Course

Purchase the ASA 106 textbook, Advanced Cruising & Seamanship. 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.

Tuition

$1,250m/$1500 (2 1/2-day weekend x 4) series per person/per passage with instructor + share

cost of charter for vessel and share of the trip costs + a Tag-along voyage renting a vessel

$2500m/$3000 (5-day weeks x 2 or (1) 5-day & (2) 2.5 trips)per person/per passage with an instructor + share of cost to charter the boat + a 2.5-day or 5-day Tag-along voyage renting and managing a vessel
$325m/$395 (1-day clinics x 3) – Clinic Options: Anchoring, Shipboard electronics (GPS, Radar, AIS & DSC), Heavy Weather Strategies, Sea Legs, COB drills day and night, COB live retrieval at dock and CPR refresher, optional Spinnaker use.
Log two (2) charters on Basic Bareboat Charter-level boats.
$1595 (5 day) Family/friend member participating as crew, not for qualification or certification

What's Included

ASA 106 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.

Graduation Bonus:

Enjoy a complimentary First Sunday Sail or a 25% discount on your first Bareboat Charter!

What to Expect

Schedule & Crew Information:

Meeting Location: Afterguard Sailing Academy, 1285 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606
Course Duration: Five consecutive days, primarily spent sailing on the water.
Crew Communication: As with ASA 104, students will be contacted in advance to coordinate provisioning.
Exam: The written exam takes place one evening while at anchor. Students must demonstrate proficiency in hands-on skills before being permitted to sit for the written test.
Crew Limit: Maximum of four students per boat with one instructor

Training Vessel:

This ASA 106 course is taught aboard a 35 ft or larger blue water-capable sailing yacht. Most often, it is conducted on Ohana, our well-equipped and comfortable 45-foot Beneteau.

Additional Info:

Food and Drinks

The food plan is arranged before departure, but personal snacks, caffeine, and a non-metallic water bottle are recommended. Metal bottles can interfere with the compass.

Boat Preparation and Orientation

In the months leading up to offshore season, both offshore boats undergo full service and major preparation. These pre-departure days serve as final checks and offer students a chance to become familiar with the vessel and its systems. This is essential for confidently handling extended passages, often with only two crew on deck at a time.

Boat Selection: Both a monohull and multihull are held in reserve. The final boat is chosen following Sea Legs outings for the ASA 106 group.
Systems Checks: Students will inspect and service sails, standing and running rigging, cotter pins, chafe protection, and mast components. This may include going up the mast to check antennae and lights.
Engine Checks: Confirm there are no leaks, verify the oil has been changed, and inspect fuel filters and coolant. Ensure spares are on board for all critical fluids and mechanical components. Tool and electrical kits should be complete and stored accessibly.
Head System: Pump out and flush all lines. Clean and inspect, and make sure a rebuild kit is on board.
Water System: Flush and refill the tank, load backup water in bottles, test the water heater if present, and verify the function of galley and head foot pumps. Bring rebuild kits for all manual pumps.
Anchoring Gear: Test the windlass and load four to six anchors. Inspect all gear for chafe. Ensure there is a system to measure rode length without removing it from the locker. All components must be in good working order, with shackles seized and two bitter ends secured.
Dinghy and Safety Equipment: Test the dinghy engine and load the selected dinghy and its motor. Load all required offshore safety gear, including crew overboard equipment and storm sails. Monohulls must carry a life raft.
Electronics: Check operation of all electronic systems. Review the maintenance log to confirm nav lights are LED. Perform a radio check and make sure all manuals are on board.
Interior: Clean the boat, check for leaks at ports, test all bilge pumps including manual ones, and confirm everyone knows how to operate them.
Electrical Systems: Trace the battery system and learn how to monitor it. Confirm power cords and adapters for shore power are available, including both 25 to 30 and 30 to 50 amp converters.
Galley and Cooking: Confirm propane or CNG tanks are full and functioning. Know how to operate the stove and oven. Load a backup cooking method. Inspect and inventory all galley equipment. Provisioning plans should include storage locations.
Refrigeration: Check that the refrigerator system is working, whether electric or dry ice.
Hull and Instruments: Schedule a diver to clean the bottom and confirm that the knotmeter is functional.

Why This Matters

Offshore sailing requires more in-depth planning and preparation than bay or coastal sailing. These days of hands-on boat preparation are an essential part of the ASA 106 curriculum. They help reduce anxiety, prevent seasickness, and foster trust and teamwork among the crew.

Preparing a boat for offshore use the first time can take six months to a year, depending on its original purpose. While our boats are well outfitted, the offshore gear is not kept on board until needed. ASA 106 students must know how every system works and where every piece of equipment is located before beginning a passage of 18 to 24 hours or more.

These preparation days help you become comfortable with the boat and your crewmates. The effort put into readiness can make your offshore sailing experience successful and enjoyable rather than stressful. The group will determine the start time of the passage based on tides and current. Tide waits for no one.

The ASA 106 written exam includes an essay section based on what you learn during this systems training, so active participation is critical.