Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

American Sailing Certification Courses

Learn to Sail on Flathead Lake in Dayton, Montana.

Get ASA Certified to Bareboat and Sail anywhere!

We only hire amazing, experienced, captains and instructors who are calm, patient, and use adaptable teaching styles. We offer beginner to advanced classes with ASA 101, ASA 103, and ASA 104 certified courses. 

  • Step 1: Define your Sailing Goals 
  • Step 2: Choose the class (101 beginner, 102 racing, 103 intermediate, 104 Advanced) or take all four!
  • Step 3: Pick the date and we will send you the books now.
  • Step 4: Study your textbooks and prepare for mostly hands on learning during your class.
  • Step 5: Graduate and Sail Anywhere as a skipper or crew.

During our 4-person classes you take the helm, learn by doing, and watching. Our goal is for you to gain confidence to command the vessel and have certifications to rent sailboats. 

At Go Sail Flathead Lake, our students go on to captain, instruct, bareboat charter, buy a boat, crew to gain experience, and/or all the above. No experience necessary!

We are looking for more staff as Charter Captains and ASA instructors. Come join the team and Workcation in Montana! No USCG required.  

Check out our courses available

From $660

Learn to Sail – Beginner course- You will get certified to rent a boat. *Prerequisites – none

2 days ( 9:00- 4:30 ) start time offered on Thursday OR Saturday

Meet your Captain for two days of expert instruction. Get ASA 101 Certified.

From $1,360

Learn to Sail – Beginner courses – You will get certified to rent a boat up to 33ft in length. *Prerequisites – none

4 days ( 9:00- 4:30 ) offered on Thursday – Sunday.

Thursday/Friday – Day 1/2 – ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1

Saturday/Sunday – Day 3/4 – ASA 103, Coastal Cruising

Earn the ASA certification to confidently sail anywhere. Meet your Captains for 6 day days of expert instruction. Get ASA 101 & 103 Certified.

From $1,400

Learn to Sail – Bareboat Charter– You will get certified to rent a boat up to 45ft in length. *Prerequisite 101 or equivalent experience.

4 days ( 9:00- 4:30 ) offered on Saturday & Sunday.

Saturday/Sunday – Day 3/4 – ASA 103, Coastal Cruising

Monday/Tuesday – Day 5/6 – ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising

Earn the ASA certification to confidently sail anywhere. Meet your Captains for 6 day days of expert instruction. Get ASA 103 & 104 Certified.

  • Most Popular!
From $2,060

Learn to Sail – Beginner courses – You will get certified to rent a boat up to 45ft in length. *Prerequisites – none

6 days ( 9:00- 4:30 ) start time offered on Thursday.

Thursday/Friday – Day 1/2 – ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1

Saturday/Sunday – Day 3/4 – ASA 103, Coastal Cruising

Monday/Tuesday – Day 5/6 – ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising

Earn the ASA certification to confidently sail anywhere. Meet your Captains for 6 day days of expert instruction. Get ASA 101, 103 & 104 Certified.

All of our classes are customized for the students in the class. We offer small classes of no more than 4 people so everyone gets a chance to practice all the skills.

Your safety, confidence, and enjoyment of sailing are our main priorities!

Class Timetable:

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

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, 30-minute on-shore lunch break.

Day 1:

8:45 AM – Check in at the sailing shop.
9:00 AM – Meet with your classmates and instructor
9:30–12:30 – Parts of the boat, 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, your 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 shore
1:00–3:00 – Depart the dock, your sailing skills, and dock the boat.
3:00-4:30 — Sailing exam. Review the exam with a class summary. Book your rentals with discounts.