ASA & U.S. Sailing

American Sailing Association- What it's all about

All Pacific Yachting and Sailing courses incorporate the highest standards of nationally recognized sail training-those of the American Sailing Association (ASA) and US Sailing.

ASA and US Sailing are both nationally recognized sailing certification and accreditation programs. These organizations, which include sailing schools, charter companies, sailing instructors and sailors, set competency standards for both sailing knowledge and on-the-water skills for sailors and instructors from basic to offshore sailing levels.

Certification simply means a person has demonstrated a standard of proficiency by passing both written and on-the-water skills tests (much like a drivers license). It provides a means for charter companies to assess a sailor's ability. There are tests for various levels of sailing from Basic Keelboat to Offshore Passagemaking.

The Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering standards meet the requirements of many chartering situations*. The Basic Keelboat certification is also a recognized State Safe Boating course. To earn ASA certification the sailor must pass a series of written examinations as well as an on-the-water examination of practical sailing skills. Because Pacific Yachting & Sailing is located in northern California, directly on the Pacific Ocean, we require all sailors that want to charter our boats have the Bareboat level of certification.

Certification at PY&S

At Pacific Yachting and Sailing, ASA is offered as an option, at additional cost. Whether or not you chose the certification option, qualified graduates of our Instructional Program receive Pacific Yachting and Sailing's Charter Certificate at no additional charge. This entitles the sailor to charter PY&S' sailing vessels. We recommend that the sailor maintain documented sailing time at least once every three months to keep current in their skills. To receive PY&S charter certification the student must successfully complete the Bareboat Course and an on-the-water skills test (Practical Checkout).**

Note- most students that complete 4 week-ends or 8 consecutive days- Basic Sailing & Seamanship, Basic Coastal Cruising, Intermediate Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat Chartering can satisfy the ASA practical requirements for the Bareboat level of certification. In other words, it's likely you will be able to take out a boat as a bareboat skipper, with experienced crew, after 8 days in most cases.

Our courses are designed to prepare the student to successfully challenge the certification standards for that particular skill level. Most of our students are able to pass the ASA practical skill requirements during course time. Some students, however, require an additional Review Course or two before they are ready to challenge the Practical Checkout. No two students are alike. We all learn at our own pace. Those with previous boating experience can pick up the fundamentals more quickly than those without previous experience. While there are no guarantees, on average, students at our sailing school are ready to charter on their own after they complete eight days of formal instruction.

*While certification provides a basis for chartering companies to evaluate a customer's competency, even with ASA or US Sailing certification many charter companies may require an on-the-water test of sailing skill (called a "practical checkout") before chartering.
**PY&S Charter Certification is available to others who successfully challenge the Practical Checkout.

Students can take the ASA written exams at any time after they have taken the appropriate practical course(s). Most students that are local come back after the 8 days of instruction (up to the Bareboat level) and take the 3 exams at one time. Students taking the 8 day consecutive liveaboard course usually take the written exams in the evening, after the practical class time. The exams are not open book. Local students that have done 8 consecutive days usually come back after the practical courses and sit for the written exams onboard one of our boats. The three exams usually take about 2.5 hrs. If you study the two text books, Sailing & Cruising Fundamentals (included in the packages below), you should be prepared to pass the written exams.

Please note: If you pass all practical qualifications with Pacific Yachting, you do not have to take the written exams to charter from us. ASA certification will turn the door knob to other charter companies. All Charter Companies have the choice to make you do a practical check-out, even if you do have your ASA Bareboat Certification. Most companies will reconize that you are certified and have chartered in one of the most challenging locations worldwide. You do have to have a crew member onboard our boats that is at least at the Basic Coastal Cruising level.

Optional Certification Cost:
Effective October 1, 2007, ASA will require all sailing schools to include a one-time $39 certification fee for students at the Basic Keelboat certification level (ASA 101)

ASA Materials Certification Cost: Package price

ASA Basic Keelboat(101), Basic Coastal Cruising (103) & Bareboat Chartering (104) written exams, the ASA Log Book, two textbooks- "Sailing Fundamentals" by Gary Jobson & "Cruising Fundamentals" by Harry Munns, one-time $39 certification fee = $189.00

ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising written exam (includes Coastal Navigation)-$50.

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Separate Costs for ASA materials-

"Sailing Fundamentals" by Gary Jobson- $25.07 (includes 9.25% tax)

"Cruising Fundamentals" by Harry Munns- $21.80 (includes 9.25% tax)

ASA Log Book- $25.00

ASA written exams $35.00 each

ASA Membership - $39.00 (mandatory to take the written exams)

Types of Certification Available

Pacific Yachting & Sailing offers nationally recognized bareboat (you are the Captain) charter certification called the American Sailing Association Certification.

Certification requires that the skipper pass a standardized on-the-water examination of sailing skills, called the Practical Checkout. The ASA Sailing certifications require, in addition, written examinations.

American Sailing Association

Five levels of certification are available at Pacific Yachting & Sailing; Basic Keelboat, Basic & Intermediate Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Chartering, Coastal Navigation and Advanced Coastal Cruising
Must pass Practical Checkout
Must pass written examinations

ASA Basic Keelboat Certification

Does not allow skipper to bareboat Pacific Yachting & Sailing charter boats.
In practice, most students who are interested in ASA Certification wait until they have completed the four primary (two day courses), and then test for Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat Chartering at the same time.

Most students who take the weekend or 6-Day course achieve the ASA Basic Keelboat standard during course time.

ASA Basic Coastal Cruising Certification

Must pass on-the-water examination
Must pass written examination
Does not allow the skipper to bareboat Pacific Yachting & Sailing charter boats, however some other charter companies may honor the certification.

* Because Pacific Yachting & Sailing is located on the Pacific Ocean, we require that all Skippers that want to charter have the ASA or US Sailing Bareboat Certification and have a first mate that has the Basic Coastal Cruising skills (not necessarily the certification)

ASA Bareboat Chartering

Must pass on-the-water examination
Must pass written examination
Most students can pass the Bareboat Chartering standard during course time.

ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising

Must pass on-the-water examination
Must pass written examination
Most students can pass the Advanced Coastal Cruising standard during course time.

ASA Coastal Navigation

Must pass written examination
This is the only ASA certification that is a take home open book exam.

Certification Procedures

On-the-water Examination

Practical Checkout Form is completed for each student and turned in to office
Six- or Eight-Day students must pass on-the-water examination to be certified. Students from out of the area may challenge the on-the-water examination during course time, typically on the final day of their class. If they do not pass the standard for BCC (6-Day) or BBC (8-Day) they can be certified to a lower level (e.g., BKB or BCC), assuming they meet the standards.

Written Examinations:
Written examinations cannot be taken home.
Student is given written examination(s) by office staff
Six- or Eight-Day students are given exams at beginning of course and allowed to work on them during their stay. They are encouraged to use instructors as resources for questions they have difficulty with. The examinations must be completed and given to office staff before the student returns home.
Weekend students are scheduled for written examinations after they complete their course.

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