American Sailing (ASA) Certified Courses
Like to learn from the ground up?
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If you are totally new to sailing we suggest starting with BK1; Afterguard's 'Competent Crew/First Mate's' course. Those new to sailing retain more of the knowledge and skills delivered in BK1 & ASA 101 in 4+ days vs directly into ASA 101 in 2+ days. If you have sailed actively before, you may start with the 2+ day ASA 101.
ASA 101 Keelboat Sailing 1 -Basic
1 Evening Lecture + 2 Full Days
+ 1 Graduation Sail (join a weekly group practice)
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Learning to sail seriously starts with ASA 101.
Learn to skipper a 20' - 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
4 Full Days Sailing
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Introducing ASA 102, a new course which, after 40 years covers the gap in the ASA curriculum between ASA 101 and ASA 103.
ASA 102 is for any sailor interested in building their core sailing skills. This includes becoming more proficient at sail trim and close-quarter maneuvering. It also includes improving your crew skills and working together as a team to make your vessel move more efficiently through the water.
Afterguard is amongst the first schools on the west coast to offer ths exciting new course, which will be offered over 4 days, either 2 weekends or during the week. Please contact us if you don't find a scheduled class that meets your needs.
ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising -Day Skipper
2 Evening Lectures + 4 Full Days Sailing
+ 1 Graduation Sail (independent charter with your classmates)
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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 35 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.
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 &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.
ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
3 days + 2 nights onboard
We start the course prep with group communication for provisioning and sailing plan. The class requires 1 over-night at anchor with a rotating watch. A 2nd night is at a destination the students choose.
Students learn 5 ways to anchor, 4 tactics for crew overboard recovery, plumbing and diesel systems overview and how to dock afloat.
This is the most looked-for certification by vacation charter and insurance companies for boat rental up to 50 ft.
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3-day live aboard trip
ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
4 Days or Multiple Evenings
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Are we there yet? If not when? What course do I drive? Answer all these questions with Coastal Navigation! GPS is great, but does not always give the right answers and it can drain batteries quickly. Learn to validate what a plotter or GPS tells you. Learn how to navigate when the batteries to run such devices become too weak. Learn how to set a course quickly when fog rolls in, the rain pounds out visibility, the sun sets, or when you loose site of the horizon. A crew counts on the navigator and/or skipper to answer these questions correctly.
We actually recommended taking ASA-105 before ASA-104, or split half before and half after. The first full practical use is in ASA 104.
Costal Navigation is a required course for ASA-106.
ASA 106 Advanced Costal Cruising
5 Days (recommend additional 'Sea Legs" Day)
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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 course gives you an amazing opportunity to see some amazing sea life. This is also an excellent 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. We suggest 1 or more days of 'Ocean Intro' aka 'Sea Legs' days prior to this course. This course can be combined with two days of intro for a full 7 days at sea.
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Prerequisite- ASA 105
ASA 107 Celestial Navigation
4 Days Classroom + field trip to use sextants
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Master the art that aided those before and after Columbus across the oceans of the world. Celestial Navigation continues as a required back up for Coast Guard and Naval navigation officers. It is rewarding for serious navigators and ocean cruisers.
The game - how close can you get comparing other forms of navigation, including the GPS. The purpose - When GPS fails, you will be ready to compute courses to your destinations ASA - provides Celestial in 2 steps. Noon sites and basics then the full version ASA 107.
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Instructor Doug MacPherson has written his own books basic and advanced Celestial. Available at our office or can be sent to you.
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Prerequisite - ASA 117
Required before 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.
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We have a fleet of El Toros and a few other small boats to learn on so you can try them all out. Some use small boat as a way to be better at sail overall others as a first and last way to have access to the water without the high expense of an in-the-water boat.
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Prerequisite - none
ASA 111 Sailing Review
Has it been a while since you were certified? Can 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.
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Prerequisite - any ASA certification
ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran
The elegant way to sail. Catamarans are gaining in popularity for charter in fabulous locations. To qualify to rent one must have this course on your IPC, International Certificate of Proficiency.
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Afterguard's 3 day course prepares mono-hull sailors to sail a boat that is almost backwards to what they know of sailing. The waves and how to work with them. Picking up moorings are in our 3rd day. A must to rent a Cat in SF Bay, as well as wonderful places to sail around the world or offshore.
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Prerequisite - ASA 104
ASA 116 Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement
New ASA course by popular demand
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Need to request to schedule. There is a solid curriculum for this course to give confidence you will not be paying for a rented yacht's dinghy or making mistakes with one of your own
ASA 118 Docking Endorsement
​The pros say you are only as good as your last docking. The most damage is done in, and around marinas - not some adventurous tale of battles with wind and wave. Learn to dock like a PRO in just 3 days. There are a few very important tricks for pros we can show you to be able to handle a variety of boats. If your own boat is a challenge, bring it to class. This course fits well taken before after the ASA 104 Bare-Boat Chartering course.
ASA 108 Offshore Passage-making
7 Days
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Dreaming of sailing further offshore? If your dreams include sailing away, there is a course for you. This course requires all previous courses plus preparation homework. Join a course that includes sailing non-stop just over 100 miles from shore where the reflection waves fade, and it is just the rhythm of gentle ocean swells, or clashing weather systems that roll your boat. Plan, prepare a boat, provision for the trip, store all gear then sail out and back over the course of a week.
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Note: 105 is a pre-requisite to go to be qualified as a skipper.
One can participate in progressive capacity, and retake the course as; crew, 1st mate, navigator and finally skipper, if you are working up to your dreams to go cruising. There are cost breaks for repeat attendance to build skill confidence in each position!
