Training


Training

American Sailing Association Training 

 
 

ASA Certification Classes

You must be registered as an NPSC Club Member to sign up for classes.

ASA-101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Standard

Prerequisites: None 
Objective: Be able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required. 
Boats Sailed: Catalina 16.5K and Hunter 216 
Course Time: Approx. 20 hours + exam 
Cost: $285 (includes 1 year ASA membership fee)

You must be at least 14 years of age to participate in this class; however, per MWR rules, you must be at least 16 to rent a small boat.

 

The ASA 101 course consists of 2 classroom sessions, 2 on the water days, and the final exam.

ASA101
 Part 1   Classroom  
 Part 2   Classroom  Parts 1 and 2 may be combined for weekend-only instruction
 Part 3   On the Water
 On-the-Water Instruction and A-Mate Exam*
 Part 4   On the Water  Optionally, A-Mate pairs may practice alone
 Part 5   Written & Practical Exams   Practical will follow written exams in multiple waves 

* The A-mate exam will be given at the end of Part 3. An additional 4 hours of sailing as an A mate is included in the course fee to be used for practice. See A Mate Rules.


 Course Flow

The academic sessions are normally taught on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. At least one class per year is scheduled for weekends only, and in that case parts 1 and 2 are combined on a Saturday.  The first on-water instruction (Part 3) occurs the following Saturday or Sunday.
Students are expected to practice during the week in between instructional periods and the exam session
(Between 3 & 4 and 4 & 5).
As A-mates, students normally practice with each other in West Basin or with an ASA-101 qualified individual.
 
See the event calendar for full class schedule.
 

Registration Instructions:

 

Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable. (Please note that if you are not already a member, you need to join in order to register for classes).


Family members that desire to take training must be registered up as a secondary member (spouse) or tertiary (dependent children) with a corresponding small addition to dues.  Fee covers spouse and all dependent children. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.

 

 

ASA-103 Basic Coastal Cruising Standard

Objective: Cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length in moderate winds and sea conditions. 

Prerequisites: 
  1. ASA-101 Certification + 20 additional hours AS SKIPPER on small keel boats
  2. If you are not COMPLETELY comfortable with your 101-level skills and knowledge, you should contact the 103 Training Coordinator or the Rear Commodore, Training to discuss this before registering for ASA-103.  We cannot offer refunds to students who drop out of the class due to an inadequate foundation.
  3. Maryland Safe Boating Certificate:  Computer based training available on-line
or

Boats Sailed: Catalina 250
Course Time: 4 weekend days, approx. 24 hours + exam 
Cost: $330 

 
You must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the classes; however, per MWR rules, you must be at least 18 to rent a boat with a motor. 

All pre-requisites must be met at least two weeks prior to the beginning of class or reservation will be canceled.
 
See the event calendar for class schedule.
 

Registration Instructions:

 

Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable.

The Training Commodore or ASA-103 Instruction Coordinator will contact you and register you for the remaining parts of the class. No other registrations are required by the applicant.

Secondary & family members that take training must be signed up as a secondary member with the $15 addition to dues. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.



Objective:  Able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no Sailing Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this Sailing Knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard. 


Course Time: 4 weekend days, approx. 28 hours + exam 

Cost: $250 

(Includes text, CD-ROM with lesson PowerPoint slides, NOAA 1210 TR chart, NOAA Chart No. 1 book, and the Exam). 

 

Students will need their own navigation tools (parallel rulers, protractor, divider, etc.) An example is this Weems and Plath Navigation Kit.
 
See the event calendar for class schedule.

Registration Instructions:

 

Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable.

The Training Commodore will contact you and register you for the remaining parts of the class. No other registrations are required by the applicant.

Secondary & family members that take training must be signed up as a secondary member with the $15 addition to dues. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.

All fees are based on the cost to NPSC and are subject to change.

  

 
 
 ASA ASA Challenges
You must be registered as an NPSC Club Member to challenge a standard.
 
 
NPSC offers ASA-101 and ASA-103 Challenges for members with sailing knowledge and experience who do not have those ASA certifications.  Please read this entire section before scheduling a challenge.  
 
While this option may be a more economical way to get your certification, it is not a substitute for structured training and experience.  It should only be considered by candidates who are familiar with the PRACTICAL AND WRITTEN STANDARDS published by the ASA, and found elsewhere on this site.  Many experienced sailors find it worthwhile to simply take the ASA courses we offer.  You may know a lot already, but we guarantee you will still learn SOMETHING more!
 
BEFORE YOU DECIDE whether to challenge a standard, you should obtain the appropriate text book, read it, and answer the review questions at the end of each chapter.  You should also sail on the appropriate boat with one of our certified skippers, (a social sail after a club meeting or the "crew wanted" forum are good options) and make sure your sailing skills are up to the level of the ASA, and that your practices are in line with the STANDARDS.  We use standard nomenclature and commands and responses, as specified by the ASA, in a deliberate attempt to facilitate harmonious sailing within a diverse group.  You will be expected demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ASA prescribed standard terms and commands during the challenge.  The evaluator will not have time to "instruct" you on the ASA standards during the challenge, it is simply a verification for candidates who are already familiar with the standards. 
 
SCHEDULE your challenge only after you are sure you are ready to challenge one (or both) of the standards by contacting the Rear Commodore, Training.  He or she will arrange a mutually convenient time for you and an instructor to complete the challenge.  Challenges will be combined with one or two other candidates whenever possible. 
 
FEES:  Candidates who challenge ASA-101 will pay a flat $100 fee, which includes an ASA membership for one year, plus applicable boat rental.  ASA members who challenge ASA-103 will pay a flat fee of $50, plus boat rental.  Boat rental fees will be split among all candidates who participate, and are posted on the "Boat Info" page.  We regret that we are unable to offer refunds for incomplete or unsuccessful challenges.   (Fees current as of the 2015 calendar year)
 
 

 ASA "Docking Made Easy" Video

 
 
 
 

 ASA "Docking Under Power" Video

 

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)