Hoofer Sailing Club

ASA 105: Photos by Mark Gillespie

What is the American Sailing Association (ASA)?

ASA is an organization which provides standards and curriculum for sailing instruction.  They have been around since 1983 and represent about 85% of sailing schools in the country.  They have certified over 7,500 instructors and over 260,000 students in the last 27 years.

What does ASA certifications provide to you as members?

The ASA curriculum focuses on keelboat instruction and provides a set of curricula that is recognized by most chartering organizations and sailing clubs throughout the country.  Being ASA certified allows you to take the sailing skills you have learned here at Hoofers and apply them elsewhere to continue your sailing education and/or be able to charter (rent) a boat.  ASA certifications are also recognized internationally.

What levels of ASA certification are there?

ASA 101 - Basic Keelboat - 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.

ASA 103 - Basic Coastal Cruising - able to 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.

ASA 104 - Bareboat Cruising - the individual can act as skipper or crew of a 30 - 50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.

ASA 106 - Advanced Coastal Cruising - able to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing vessel about 30 to 50 feet in length. This is a day and nighttime Standard in coastal and inland water, in any weather.

ASA 105 - Coastal Navigation - 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.

What levels can we offer here at Hoofers?

Given our place on an inland lake, we offer ASA 101 and 105 courses in Madison.  We will offer ASA 103, ASA 104, and ASA 106 courses on Green Bay, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior during the summer and in Florida and the Caribbean during the winter.

How much will these classes cost?

ASA 101 will cost $125 for students and $200 for non-students ($400 - $500 at a commercial school).  ASA 105 will cost about $160 ($175 - $250 at a commercial school).  Finally, we hope to be able to offer ASA 103 and 104 for about $400 - $600 ($800 - $1500 at a typical commercial school) on either Lake Michigan and/or Lake Superior. 

How can I sign up to get ASA 101?

To keep the costs for members to a minimum, we are not directly teaching ASA 101 courses (typically 20-24 hours), but will be offering ASA 101 test-outs (4 hours).  If you already have a J-rating or a Keelboat Crew rating, you can sign up for one of these test-outs.  They will be offered as demand allows with the first ones scheduled for next weekend.  You can sign up for these classes in the Outdoor Programs Office (Monday-Friday 9-5) and in will soon be able to sign up for them online as well.

How do I prepare for ASA 101?

The best way to prepare for the written exam is to read and study the ASA Sailing Made Easy book.  We have set up a library of them available for 1 week loan in the Boathouse or you can purchase a copy in the Outdoor Programs Office.  You can also take a "Cruising Skills Classroom" before taking the test.  If you earned your J-light rating before we revised the curricula this year, also be sure to review the new ratings sheets (http://wiki.hoofersailing.org/education/progressforms) to ensure you can perform all of the skills listed and sign up for a J-lesson if you cannot (items such as heave-to, quick-stop MOB, sounds and signals and rules of the road were added).

How do I found out about test-out dates and other ASA course information (including 103/104 and 105 announcements)?

You should sign up for the "ASA Interest" mailing list.  Didn't know we had email lists in the club?  Well, to sign up for email lists, log into the lessons website at http://lessons.hoofersailing.org and click "My Account".  Next, click the "Email Preferences" tab and you can then choose the various club email lists you wish to be a member of.  They are a great way to communicate with members and you are able to post to all the discussion lists, so in addition to finding out about ASA course information, they provide a great to find sailing buddies, crew or just talk about sailing.  Email lists are open to all current and former members who left the club in good standing.

Test-outs will also be posted on the lessons website, but as mentioned above, you must sign up in the Outdoor Programs Office.

This all sounds wonderful, but I don't have my J or Keelboat Crew rating yet.  What do I do?

Continue to take J-lessons until you have completed the skills on the checklist.  If you are not currently taking J-fleet lessons, be sure to sign up for one of the new lessons offered this year (established by the Education Committee this past winter), Intro to Keelboat Sailing, which will teach you the basic necessary to begin taking J-fleet lessons.  You can also learn the necessary skills by taking large keelboat lessons and earning your crew rating.

Will you be offering full ASA 101 courses in the future?

Depending on demand and boat availability, we might offer full ASA 101 courses, although the cost would likely be somewhat higher.  ASA 101 courses are typically offered in 20-24 hours and are usually done over a Friday-Saturday-Sunday, although other schedules are definitely possible.

Who do I contact if I have any other questions?

Please feel free to contact the club's ASA Coordinator, Randy Mullis at asa@hoofersailing.org