American Sailing (ASA) Certified Courses
Want to learn from the ground up?
Start with BK1: Afterguard’s Competent Crew / First Mates course. For those new to sailing, combining BK1 with ASA 101 over 4+ days leads to better retention of skills and knowledge compared to jumping straight into ASA 101 in just 2+ days.
If you’ve actively sailed before, begin directly with the 2+ day ASA 101 course.
ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing 1
1 Evening Lecture + 2 Full Days
+ 1 Graduation Sail (join a weekly group practice)
Learning to sail starts with ASA 101.
Learn to skipper a 20' to 27' sloop-rigged keelboat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Get familiar with basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship, and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards.
ASA 102 Sail Trim
ASA 102 is a new addition to the ASA curriculum, filling a long-standing gap between ASA 101 and ASA 103 after 40 years.
Designed for sailors looking to strengthen their core skills, ASA 102 focuses on improving sail trim, close-quarters maneuvering, and effective teamwork on board. You’ll gain confidence and proficiency in making your vessel move efficiently and safely through the water.
Afterguard is proud to be one of the first schools on the West Coast to offer this exciting new course. ASA 102 is delivered over four full days, either across two weekends or during the week. Don’t see a class time that works for you? Contact us to discuss scheduling options.
ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising- Day Skipper
2 Evening Lectures + 4 Full Days Sailing
+ 1 Graduation Sail (independent charter with your classmates)
ASA 103 builds on the fundamentals of ASA 101 and opens the door to independent day sailing in the San Francisco Bay. Upon successful completion, you’ll be certified to charter Afterguard boats as far as the south side of the Bay Bridge.
In this course, you’ll learn to skipper a 25–35 ft sloop-rigged keelboat in moderate wind and sea conditions. Key skills and topics include:
-
Cruising sailboat terminology
-
Basic onboard systems and auxiliary engine use
-
Docking techniques and intermediate sail trim
-
Navigation rules and basic coastal navigation
-
Anchoring methods and weather awareness
-
Safety procedures and essential seamanship
Gain the confidence and competence to handle a cruising sailboat safely, and enjoy the freedom of exploring more of the Bay.
Looking to charter yachts world-wide for your next dream vacation?
Most rental companies ask for an ASA International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) to serve as proof of competency.
To obtain this, 101, 103, and 104 Bare Boat Chartering are required. ASA 118 Docking and 105 Coastal Navigation are also highly encouraged. Add 114 Cruising Catamaran or take a combo class to access popular charter multi-hull options in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, or elsewhere.
Armen Poghosyan
Wanted to let you know Pavlush and I just finished sailing around BVI in a 40ft cat. I have attached a photo for your alumni archives.
We are very grateful to you, Mary, Jim, and everyone at Afterguard for helping us achieve a dream.
ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
3-day live aboard trip
Preparation for this course begins with group coordination around provisioning and developing a shared sailing plan. During the course, students complete a two-night trip: one night spent at anchor with a rotating watch schedule, and a second night at a destination selected by the class.
Key skills covered include:
-
Five anchoring techniques
-
Four crew overboard recovery methods
-
Overview of onboard plumbing and diesel engine systems
-
Docking a vessel that remains afloat (no fixed pier)
ASA 104 is the most widely recognized certification by vacation charter companies and insurers for skippering boats up to 50 feet. It’s your essential step toward bareboat chartering and extended cruising.
ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
“Are we there yet?” “When will we arrive?” “What course should I steer?”—Coastal Navigation teaches you how to answer these questions with confidence.
While GPS and plotters are useful tools, they aren’t always accurate and can fail when batteries run low. This course teaches you how to validate electronic data and navigate confidently without it. You’ll learn how to quickly set a course in low-visibility situations such as fog, heavy rain, or nightfall, and what to do when the horizon disappears.
Topics include:
-
Reading and using nautical charts
-
Plotting courses and bearings
-
Correcting for wind, current, and magnetic variation
-
Dead reckoning and estimated positions
-
Navigation in restricted visibility
We recommend taking ASA 105 before ASA 104, or splitting the course—half before, half after—since the first real-world application occurs during ASA 104.
ASA 105 is a prerequisite for ASA 106: Advanced Coastal Cruising.
ASA 106 Advanced Costal Cruising
Sailing in open coastal waters demands the ability to care for your crew, manage your vessel, and safely navigate from point A to point B. This course offers exactly that, along with an unforgettable experience.
Sail down the coast toward Monterey (or as far as the crew is comfortable), then return north through the dynamic and challenging waters of Northern California’s Pacific coastline. Over five days, you’ll gain real-world skills in coastal passage-making while encountering incredible marine life along the way.
Perfect for aspiring cruisers, open-water sailors, or anyone with offshore ambitions or ocean dreams.
Since ocean swells take some getting used to, we recommend adding one or more “Sea Legs” days beforehand. For a full immersion, the course can also be extended to seven days by combining it with two days of ocean introduction.
Prerequisite: ASA 105 – Coastal Navigation
ASA 107 Celestial Navigation
4 Days in the Classroom + Field Trip with Sextants
Master the timeless art of celestial navigation—the same method used by explorers before and after Columbus to cross the world’s oceans. Still a required backup for Coast Guard and Naval navigation officers, celestial navigation is a deeply rewarding skill for serious sailors, ocean cruisers, and navigators.
You’ll learn how to calculate your position using the sun, moon, planets, and stars—then test your accuracy by comparing it with other navigation methods, including GPS. When electronics fail, you’ll be equipped to find your way with confidence.
ASA teaches Celestial Navigation in two parts:
-
Part 1: Noon sights and foundational techniques
-
Part 2: Full celestial calculations and chart work (covered in ASA 107)
Instructor Doug MacPherson has authored both basic and advanced celestial navigation books, available at our office or by mail.
Prerequisite: ASA 117
Required for: ASA 108 – Ocean Passagemaking
ASA 110 Small Boat Sailing
2 days over a weekend or as a weekday camp in summer
Available for kids of all ages. Great to learn to trim both boat & sails.
This fun, hands-on course is open to kids of all ages and is a great introduction to the fundamentals of sailing, including how to trim both the boat and the sails for optimal performance.
You’ll learn on our fleet of El Toros and other small boats, with the chance to try out different types and styles. For some, small boat sailing is a stepping stone to mastering larger vessels; for others, it’s an affordable and rewarding way to enjoy time on the water without the costs of owning a full-size boat.
A perfect starting point, or lifelong sailing option, for those who want to build skills and confidence on the water.
Prerequisite: none
ASA 111 Sailing Review
Has it been a while since you were certified? Take a sailing review as part of a course or as a separate course. The cost and time is based on your remembered skills and knowledge. The cost is a percentage of the certification course depending on how much can be reignited from prior experience.
Prerequisite: any ASA certification
ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran
Catamarans offer a smooth, stable, and elegant way to sail—and they’re increasingly popular in top charter destinations around the world. To qualify for international catamaran charters, this certification must appear on your IPC (International Certificate of Proficiency).
Afterguard’s three-day ASA 114 course is designed to transition monohull sailors to the unique handling and systems of a catamaran—which, in many ways, sails opposite to what monohull sailors are used to. You’ll learn how to work with wave patterns, handle docking and maneuvering, and practice advanced skills such as picking up moorings, covered on the third day.
This course is required to charter a catamaran on San Francisco Bay, and highly recommended for chartering in exotic or offshore destinations.
Prerequisite: ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising
ASA 116 Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement
Introduced by popular demand, this new ASA course offers a structured curriculum focused on the safe and confident use of dinghies and outboard motors.
Whether you’re using a rented yacht’s tender or managing your own, this course helps you avoid costly mistakes and gives you the practical skills to operate small craft with ease, from launching and landing to maneuvering in tight spaces.
Available by request, contact us to schedule your session.
ASA 118 Docking Endorsement
As the pros say, “You’re only as good as your last docking.” Most damage happens not out at sea, but in the tight spaces around marinas—where precision and control matter most.
This course focuses on the critical skills and techniques needed to dock safely and confidently, in a variety of conditions and boat types. You’ll learn practical tips and tricks used by professionals to manage wind, current, and momentum with ease.
If you already own a boat that feels challenging to handle, you’re welcome to bring it to class for personalized instruction.
This course pairs well before or after ASA 104: Bareboat Chartering, and is invaluable for anyone looking to improve their close-quarters handling.
ASA 108 Offshore Passagemaking
If you’ve dreamed of sailing beyond the horizon, this is the course that brings those dreams within reach. ASA 108 is your introduction to true offshore sailing, requiring all prior certifications, along with pre-course preparation and homework.
Over the span of a week, you’ll plan, provision, and prepare both boat and crew for an extended offshore passage. The course includes sailing over 100 miles from shore, beyond the reach of reflected coastal waves, into the rhythm of open-ocean swells, or the full force of offshore weather systems.
This is a hands-on, immersive experience in offshore seamanship, requiring you to manage every aspect of long-distance sailing:
-
Passage planning and weather routing
-
Gear stowage and provisioning
-
Crew management and watch rotation
-
Heavy-weather sailing and ocean navigation
Important: ASA 105 (Coastal Navigation) is required to be certified as skipper.
For those working toward offshore cruising goals, this course can be repeated in progressive roles: crew, first mate, navigator, and eventually skipper. Reduced tuition is available for repeat students building skills and confidence in each role.
