Sailing Association certifications are internationally recognized and ensure the student a proven curriculum in a professional, supportive learning environment under the direction of a certified instructor.
Why Choose AYC?
- ASA Sailing School options are available to fit your individual needs.
- Anacortes Yacht Charters has an extensive sailboat fleet that allows the best boat choice for each course.
- The San Juan Islands are ideal for new boaters to develop their skills as you explore the many anchorages in the area. These sheltered waters offer a variety of conditions to further your confidence and enjoyment.
- Anacortes Yacht Charters offers those who graduate from our ASA Sailing School an immediate membership in our Captains Club that provides special discounts on AYC charters and other great benefits.
ASA 101/103/104
Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering
AYC offers the popular ASA 101, ASA 103 and ASA 104 courses combined in a 4-day/3-night series
Course Descriptions
This 3-course series is a hands-on opportunity for learning and skill-building while focusing on weather, duties of skipper and crew, seamanship, boat handling under power and sail, docking, anchoring, safety, VHF usage, and more.
ASA 101: Basic Keelboat Sailing – Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20’ to 30’ in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
ASA 103: Coastal Cruising – Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 32’ to 40’ in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
ASA 104: Bareboat Cruising – An advanced cruising standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as skipper or crew of a 32’ to 40’ boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.
4-Day Course
4-day Courses are held from Thursday 9am to Sunday 4pm.
Course instruction begins on Day 1 with a half-day classroom session of ASA 101 and progresses to your assigned sailboat for “hands-on” skills for the balance of the day. Day 2 through Day 4 continue your training on your floating classroom for ASA 103 and ASA 104 certifications aboard a 30-40′ sailboat with ‘hands-on’ skill building.
Gain sailing experience as you explore the San Juan Islands with one night spent at the marina in Friday Harbor, and one night ‘on the hook’ in an inlet or cove appropriate for conditions.
4-Day Course Includes:
- 4-days of sailing instruction
- 3-days of cruising in the San Juan Islands
- 3-nights of accommodation onboard the vessel
- Breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day, and one dinner on the night spent at anchor. Dinners are on your own when in port.
2025 Dates
| Month | Dates |
| April | 10-13, 17-20, 24-27 |
| May | 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 22-25, 29-Jun 1 |
| June | 5-8, 12-15 |
| Sept | 18-21, 25-28 |
| Oct | 2-5, 9-12 |
Course Fee
$1,900 per person, plus $20 per ASA certificate and a required $39 ASA fee.
Each class has a maximum of 4 students, and a minimum of 2 students is required.
ASA 114
Cruising Catamaran
Learn from an ASA Certified Instructor/Captain to skipper an auxiliary-powered sailing cruising catamaran of 38 to 48 feet in length during a multi-day liveaboard cruise in the San Juan Islands in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of catamaran structure, components and features, performance under sail and power, boat systems, seamanship and safety, heavy weather operation, and emergency response
2-Day Course Includes:
- 2-days of sailing instruction
- 2-days of cruising in the San Juan Islands
- 1-night of accommodations aboard the vessel
- Provisioning for breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day, linens and fuel. Dinner is on your own when in port for the overnight.
Prerequisite
ASA 101 – 103 – 104: The ability to demonstrate competencies in all knowledge and skills elements of those standards. Recent experience sailing on your own.
2025 Course Schedule
| July | Available on request |
| August | Available on request |
| September | Available on request. |
| October | Available on request |
Course Fee
$1,045 per person (in shared stateroom)
$1,195 per person (in private stateroom). $300 per person for additional person in stateroom (no course instruction or certification)
For students, add $20 per ASA certificate and a required $39 ASA registration fee (if required, students should be registered from prerequisite course participation), $33 Cruising Catamarans Made Easy text book, and $10 shipping (if required).
Each course has a maximum of 6 students, and a minimum of 2 students is required.
For All ASA 101, 103 and 104 Sailing Courses
Required Material: Sailing Made Easy, $29.95; Coastal Cruising Made Easy, $34.95; Bareboat Cruising Made Easy, $44.95 (plus S&H), plus study materials provided by AYC. Please have your study material completed prior to class to the very best of your ability.
Group Class Schedule: Bring a group of 3 or more students and we will make every effort to schedule class dates to meet your needs. Contact one of our friendly Charter Agents for details.
Graduate Perks: All students will immediately become eligible to receive a 5% discount off the Yacht Rate of their next charter within two years.
Cancellation Policy: We will be unable to offer refunds for any reason if cancellations occur within 45 days prior to class. For cancellations outside 45 days, 50% of the total amount will be forfeited.
Note: AYC reserves the right to cancel or change a class schedule or availability due to minimum enrollment requirements. Prices subject to change without notice.