ASA 103 - Coastal Cruising Course

ASA 103, Coastal Cruising

Topics Covered:

Learn to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered 33′ keelboat by day in moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn cruising sailboat terminology, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, intermediate sail trim, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather, safety and seamanship.

We will ship the textbook to you in the mail when you confirm with deposit or full payment. Please plan to read the textbook and complete all the practice quizzes before joining the class on your scheduled day.

Knots covered: figure eight, clove hitch, bowline, square (reef) knot, round turn and two half hitches, cleat hitch, sheet bend, and rolling hitch.

The lesson begins at 9:00 AM each day with an introduction and listening to understand your expectations and goals. Your instructor will make a customized suggestion to meet your goals and use the logbook for a guideline and syllabus.

Classes are for 2 days and may adjust slightly due to wind and weather, but this is the general plan.

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 30-minute on-shore lunch break.​

Day 1:

8:45 a.m. – Check in at the sailing shop.
9:00 a.m. – Meet with your classmates and instructor
9:30–12:30 – Sailing theory, depart the dock, hands-on sailing skills, dock the boat.
12:30–1:00 — Lunch break on the shore
1:00–1:30 — Sailing theory
1:30–4:30 — Depart the dock, hands-on sailing skills, and dock the boat.

​Day 2:

9:00 AM – Gather with classmates and instructor
9:15–12:30 – Depart the dock, sailing skills, dock the boat
12:30–1:00- Lunch break on the shore
1:00–3:00 – Sailing theory, depart the dock, sailing skills, dock the boat.
3:00-4:30 — Sailing exam. Review the exam with a class summary.

• Safety equipment and life jackets PFD Type V
• ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising Made Easy textbook
• Allotted boat time
• Sailing instructor time
• Certifications upon successful completion of written exam, 80% or higher, and practical exams 100%.

We are open Memorial Day to Mid September. The lake level must be high enough to launch the boats.

Most of the summer the best wind is 10–15 knots out of the east on high pressure days—blue skies and light white fluffy clouds. This condition causes a thermal from the warming land pulling the cool air off of the lake.

The best sailing area is in the bay between the Dayton shoreline, Wild Horse Island, and Big Arm Bay where the winds are fairly consistent. However; this is Montana weather and it can change and there can be weather events that may change the daily schedule. We closely monitor this and will be sending you a confirmation 7 days before the lesson to verify the conditions are safe or if we need to reschedule.

Most of our classes will sell out. There is a minimum of 2 students required for the course. If the minimum is not met within 1 week prior to the course date, it will be canceled. We will contact you to reschedule to a different day.

You may cancel or no show, at any time subject to the following penalties:
Any cancellations more than 60 days prior to the start time of 10% of the payment collected.
Any cancellations between 60 and 30 days prior to the start time 50% of the payment collected.
Cancellation or no show, less than 30 days prior to the start time 100% of the payment collected.

Cancellations must be notified to us by phone or email and confirmed for approval. The penalties will be calculated from the date we receive your cancellation.
We may need to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or natural events outside the control of Go Sail Partners, LLC including but not limited to lake wind advisories, thunderstorms, heavy rain, extreme cold, or high wind areas. We send you a gift card of the value so you can book an alternative date.
We reserve the right to cancel a trip at any time without reason. If we cancel without reason, we shall return all collected payments paid by you.