Sailing Courses › ASA Advanced Learn-n-Cruise
Advanced Coastal Cruising Course. A unique and exciting adventure, cruising through the Caribbean islands to obtain your ASA 106 Certificate.
We run our ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising (106) cruises several times a year in the period from November through April. Since ASA 105 Coastal Navigation is a pre-requisite for ASA 106, we recommend that participants self-study for ASA 105, and offer guidance to self-study resources. We then administer the ASA 105 exam before or at the beginning of the ASA 106 course.
The courses are 6-days/6-nights, and operate in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The itinerary includes short open-ocean crossings, may include up to 48 hours of continuous cruising, or alternatively, 2 night sails.
Guests meet the Instructor at 0930 on the first day at the course at the Barefoot base in Blue Lagoon
The week is spent consolidating sailing skills, anchoring techniques, navigation, Rules of the Road, and basic maintenance skills, whilst sailing through a stunning cruising ground with beautiful anchorages and plenty of opportunity to explore ashore.
We provide pretty well everything you’ll need including food for most meals. Students are expected to share in meal preparation and clean-up duties. You just need to pack a few clothes – a swimsuit, your sandals, a rain-jacket and perhaps a light pullover for the night sails. Added expenses include the cost of a few evening meals which can be taken ashore, course textbooks, drinks, Customs clearance fees, National Parks Permits and mooring fees (if required), and the ASA examination fees.
Most of the boats in our fleet range in length from 34’ to 50’. Our Advanced Offshore Courses normally take place on a monohull in the 40-to-50 foot range, but on occasion may be delivered on a catamaran.
During the week your instructor will cover the curriculum for ASA 106 certification: Advanced Coastal Cruising Certificate
Course outline
While the specific itinerary will be determined based on wind and weather conditions, a typical itinerary is described below.
Day 1, Sunday
Complete 105 exam
Day 2, Monday
Day 3, Tuesday
Tuesday night: night sail to Canouan around the west side of Union Island
Day 4, Wednesday
Wednesday night: Crew overboard manoeuvers after dark, returning to the marina
Day 5, Thursday
Day 6, Friday
complete 106 exam
Day 7, Saturday
The course will end around noon on the 7th day (Saturday), to allow clients to connect with their international flights back home.
If structured as a 48 hour continuous cruise, the itinerary may involve a circumnavigation of St. Vincent or Carriacou.
Course objectives
During this course you will experience skippering at night as well as during the day, in all weather conditions. This course is challenging and intense but at the end we will have covered everything you need to meet the ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising standard.
Topics covered on this cruise include: standing night watch, use of chart plotters, weather analysis, handling emergency situations, night navigation and piloting, advanced anchoring techniques, performance tuning, reefing and heavy-weather sailing tactics.
ASA 104 (Bareboat Charter Certification) and ASA 105 (Coastal Navigation) are prerequisites for ASA 106 (Advanced Coastal Cruising).
If you do not already have ASA 105 (Coastal Navigation) you may self-study and write the exam as part of your 106 course. Note that self-study is mandatory as there is not time to teach the 105 material while out on the 106 course. We are happy to offer coaching and to mark your ASA 105 exam before or near the beginning of the 106 course, you must have prior knowledge of the 105 course material. If you need help during your self-study process, we are pleased to provide guidance via email. Our listing of ASA 105 self-study resources will assist you in finding the material you will need to prepare for the 105 exam. Alternatively, if you would prefer a classroom course for ASA 105, we encourage you to explore other ASA schools near you that offer ASA 105.
Price includes
