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ASA Sailing Courses...

Flexible choices...

We offer Monohulls and Catamarans. You can start on smaller boats and work up. You can participate in stand alone courses in the U.S. or cruising courses in the U.S. or in the Caribbean. Combine your course with a cruising vacation.

But that's not all. We offer a club with greatly reduced rates for members so you can practice what you learn. Come by yourself, or come with a group or family--we have what you need. 

Eric Smith   President

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ASA Sailing Courses

The ASA courses consist of a series of courses which are principally taught on the water in keel boats. A unique aspect is that the standardized curriculum is offered at 100's of sites throughout the U.S. and in the Caribbean. You can take the courses piece meal, or complete each of the 6 sections one at a time. At any time that you feel competent, you can take the test for that section and upon passing, your log-book is certified for that level. This certification is then recognized by most charter companies and, of course, by all other ASA facilities.
The SailScape courses are conducted on Monohulls or catamarans while you live aboard. Watch our registered member site for schedules and dates. for course dates. At any time, you may organize your own party of four or more, and we will organize a course at your convenience.

We offer SailScape members the opportunity to practice what they learn at greatly reduced costs. We also offer an opportunity for you to link up with other members for cruising and practicing so that you don't have to charter an entire boat--you can book a cabin and join others with similar interests. Finally, we plan special member only events which include offshore sailing, sailing in company, fun races, etc. See our member page for more information. 
Please call us at 1-800-YACHT20 for immediate information.

Course certifications available & Menu....

1. Basic Sailing

2. Coastal Cruising

3. Navigation

4. Charter ready

5. Live aboard, longer courses--a vacation course

6. On-line Application

Tuition & Details...

• All rates quoted are approximate and quoted for E-Coast courses, unless the course is pre-scheduled. (We will provide custom rates upon inquiry. The primary reason for this is because the rates are somewhat dependent on the type/size boat used.) Comparable Caribbean courses are also available for slightly higher rates

• Tuition for pre-scheduled courses is based on the 4 participant class size.

• If you form your own group, rates are as shown, per person.

• For Catamaran courses, add 10% to the rates.

• Course includes all materials, the boat and instructor, and over night aboard the boat (except for the 2 day, intensive navigation course).

• Courses are taught on substantial, up to date, cruising mono or multi-hulls with full live-aboard accommodations. Rates assume double occupancy, though we will try to accommodate singles when space permits.

• You supply: Linens, appropriate clothing, lunch and drinks for during the day. You're on your own for breakfast and dinner, except for the live aboard courses for 3 or more days where provisioning may be provided if shown. The boat is equipped with full live-aboard equipment including: Refrigerator/ice box, gas stove, complete cooking utensils and everything that you need for living aboard and learning about cruising.

Tuition varies according to class size (if you form your own group). These are approximate tuitions for the E. Coast bases. Caribbean rates are higher. (Call for a quote: 1-800 YACHT20) We also offer special week long courses which can include provisioning--read the article at our newsletter page:

• $550./participant for 2 participants (minimum class size)

• $455./participant for 3 participants

• $375./participant for 4 participants (maximum class size)

• NOTE: Friday evening sleep aboard is available for a minimum of $50.00, or $25.00/person.

Your reservation can be secured with a 50% deposit. Upon receipt of your reservation deposit, and confirmation of scheduling, the appropriate course materials and a suggested pre-study routine will be mailed to you. The balance of the fee will be due 2 weeks prior to the class. Return to main menu...

(When you visit our club page, you will get the schedule for weekly scheduled courses and more details.)

We offer Monohull and Catamaran courses. 

It's not all work!

...but you will get hands on experience.

It's like riding a bike. You're never to old to learn, and you never forget. This is a lifetime, family activity for all generations.

Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing (ASA 101)

This is a live-aboard cruising experience on a sailing yacht thirty feet or larger. You will learn about the operation and maintenance of on-board systems including the diesel engine, how to plan and provision for a cruise and how to handle a cruising yacht under power and sail in moderate wind and sea conditions.

The course is taught in three days (and two nights) living aboard.

It begins with Cruise Planning. You and your shipmates will plan menus, shop and provision the yacht, plan the cruise itinerary, set a duty schedule for sharing onboard chores and file a float plan.

Next you will be introduced to the location, operation and daily maintenance of the yacht's systems; Fresh Water, Fuel, Engine, Waste, Cooking and Electrical.

During the cruise, you will become familiar with the location, operation and purpose of each item of a cruising yacht's inventory of gear and equipment.

You will learn how to work as skipper and as crew while maneuvering the yacht under power and sail, including close quarter situations such as mooring, anchoring and docking.

Throughout, you will be drilled on safety, navigation, weather, terminology and deck skills. Again, it's not all work. There's ample opportunity to relax. It's so easy that in the end, we guarantee your success!

Tuition for this course is $595./participant plus provisions and cruising expenses (docking, mooring and fuel). Minimum class size is 4 participants, maximum is 6.

Note: Coastal Navigation (ASA 105) is recommended but not required.

Your reservation can be secured with a 50% deposit. the balance will be due 2 weeks prior to the class.
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While primarily a classroom course, we offer a supplemental on-the-water electronic navigation course using the Nobeltec program.. As part of the course, you will get the program operational on your own laptop.

Prerequisites: Simply the desire to learn how to navigate (some experience helps).

This is an intense course in charting and piloting which prepares you to navigate safely and confidently in all conditions of visibility.

The course is normally conducted entirely in the classroom over a (long) 2 day period and concludes with a take home examination. It is heavily weighted toward practice problems that are designed to both challenge and enforce the participant's knowledge of navigational theory.

Uniquely, we offer an on-the-boat course supplement which includes electronic navigation with an integrated GPS, chart plotter program..

Topics covered:

The use all the publications required to navigate safely and confidently:

- Charts, including symbols and conventions

- Federal requirements for recreational boats

- USCG navigation rules

- Tide and Current tables

- Lists of lights, buoys and fog signals

- Notices to Mariners

The proper use of navigational tools and instruments

Time, speed and distance calculations

Relative bearings and running fixes

The meaning and interpretation of compass deviation and variation

Tuition is typically $200./participant. Minimum class size is 4, maximum is 8
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So, where do you want to end up?

Prerequisites:

Basic Sailing (ASA 101)

Coastal Cruising (ASA 103)

Coastal Navigation (ASA 105)

This is an advanced course for individuals with the prerequisite ASA certifications and cruising experience who are seeking the qualifications to be certified for bareboat chartering. It is a live aboard cruise for learning and demonstrating your skills and self-sufficiency in all aspects of operating and maintaining the yacht and all its systems in all conditions.

The course is taught in five days and four nights of living aboard, practicing boat handling and sailing skills, proving your self-sufficiency and coping with Murphy's Law.

You will be coached and challenged in situations that every cruising sailor ultimately faces:

- Troubleshooting common problems

- Docking off the wind or down current

- Safety at sea

- Weather watching

- Navigation in limited visibility

- Kedging off

- Planning landfall in adverse conditions

- Sail selection, handling and trim

In addition, you will become comfortable using shipboard electronics and navigation instruments.

You should finish the course feeling confident that you can skipper a yacht of comparable size and handle those unforeseen circumstances.

Class size is 4-6, and typical tuition is $995./participant, plus provisions and cruising expenses.  
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"Learn 'n Cruise Vacations" is a new offering this year that evolved in response to feedback from our participants.

Some comments we've received:

- the class should be extended so that we can get more practice at what we learned

- the class was great, now can we go sailing just for the enjoyment

- I'm really into this, how soon can I get on to the next level

- Now that I've learned to sail, how can I get more experience

etc., etc., etc.

Now we have answers.

1. Learn to Sail 'n Cruise - now you can combine ASA Basic Sailing and ASA Coastal Cruising into an extended 5 or 7 day live aboard sailing adventure
2. Learn 'n Cruise  - now you can extend ASA Coastal Cruising to an extended 5 or 7 day live aboard sailing adventure
3. Learn to Cruise 'n Navigate - now you can combine ASA Coastal Cruising and ASA Navigation into an extended 5 or 7 day live aboard sailing adventure
4. Sailing Flotillas - If you've passed the prereq's and need experience before taking your ASA Bareboat Certification, or if you just want to sail and don't have the necessary qualifications to charter, we now offer you the opportunity to sail aboard a cruising yacht with other boats always nearby in a supervised environment.

The minimum crew/class size is 4 (plus captain/instructor). Tuition is typically $200./participant/day plus provisions and cruising expenses (dockage, mooring and fuel)

Personal Information:

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How do you get the best value in a cruising vacation or sailing course?

1. Get the best price, guaranteed! With our SailScape Club you can save 25% or more on your cruising vacation. 

2. A great price on average boats doesn't mean anything. Our boats are new and more luxuriously equipped than others and, we also broker charters anywhere.

3. A program with Great prices and Great boats also needs to have Great service. The entire Club experience is designed to give you superb service from us and our partners. From every aspect, we treat you as though you are a partner in the business! Want to know more?

  I want to see the advantages of membership

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Or use our handy form so we can get you information quickly!
1-800-YACHT20 (1-800-922-4820)  

Visit our main office, Annapolis site. Directions, maps, links, Sail the Chesapeake-itinerary, Best of Annapolis, America's Sailing Capital--and we're on the harbor.