Learn the basics!
Through the Basic-Learn-n-Cruise Course we will start from the beginning and learn the basics.
Sailing Courses › ASA Monohull Learn-n-Cruise
ASA 101ASA 103ASA 104
Last-minute discounts available
ASA Monohull Learn-n-Cruise
Basic to Bareboat Cruising. Covering ASA 101, 103 and 104 on a week-long live-aboard cruise through the Grenadines.
Basic Learn-n-Cruise offers ASA 101, 103 and 104 certifications. ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising is recognised by most charter companies around as a charter credential, along with ASA’s International Proficiency Certificate.
As the most active ASA sailing school in the south-eastern Caribbean, and the longest-established (more than 20 years), we run ASA courses most weeks of the year. The course runs from a Sunday morning through the following Saturday afternoon, and during the week you’ll learn the basics of sailing.
Our courses are designed to help every student move as far along the continuum of sailing skills as possible, depending on their starting point and aptitude. Many guests with limited or no experience are able to progress as far as ASA 101 and some with exceptional aptitude may also earn 103 certifications. Guests who have significant prior sailing experience are frequently able to progress as far as ASA 104, as are students who already have ASA 101 or 103. However, novice sailors should not expect to earn 104 or 114 after a single week of sail instruction.
Whilst the aim of these cruises is to offer guests the opportunity to acquire one or more internationally recognised certifications on board an ocean-going yacht, we also remember that this is a vacation – and thus leisure time will be available for swimming, snorkelling, diving, or exploring ashore. The Instructor will run the course at the pace of the guests, with their safety and comfort of prime importance and guests will have every opportunity to participate in the planning of the itinerary and daily schedule. We will do our best to match up guests with similar objectives and to enable them to achieve the level of certification that equates to their experience.
Because of the small number of guests on board the yacht, instruction is highly personalized and therefore differing levels of experience amongst the guests does not necessarily present a problem. We provide everything you will need including linens and towels, snorkel gear and most food – you just need to pack a few clothes: a swimsuit, your sandals and a desire to learn and sail in this tropical environment.
For a perspective on how far a novice sailor can progress in a week, see Rob’s response: as a beginning sailor, how much can I learn in a week?
Course outline
A typical week
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Sunday
Meet, board, sail to Bequia
Most guests arrive the day before the course starts. Guests meet up with the Instructor around 10.00 a.m. on Sunday, and, after briefings, you'll board the yacht, stow your gear and be shown some of the basic on-board systems. After lunch, you'll set sail for Bequia, northernmost of the Grenadines.
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Mon–Fri
The high spots of the Grenadines
The sailing itinerary will be flexible according to weather conditions, but a typical 1-week cruise will take guests to all the high spots of the Grenadines – Bequia, the Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Union Island, Canouan – and will cover around 90 miles of cruising. Distances between most islands are short (from 2 to 5 hours) and there will be ample time for relaxation, swimming, snorkelling or exploring ashore.
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Each day
Sail, learn, anchor
We provide everything you will need including linens and towels, snorkel gear and most food. Students are expected to share in meal preparation and clean-up duties. During the week your instructor will offer the curriculum for three levels of certification: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat, ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, and ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising. How many of these certifications a participant will achieve depends on prior experience and aptitude.
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Saturday
Return around noon
The course will end on Saturday around noon, to enable participants to catch an afternoon flight if they are leaving the same day. Although no prior on-the-water experience is required, if you have a friend back home who has a yacht and can get you out on the water for a day, you'll find that this will be of great benefit.
Course objectives
Three things you'll do this week
Practice makes perfect
As we learn to sail on this course, we will practice constantly to assure that we are getting the feel for how to sail and how to do so in a controlled and safe manner.
Gain ASA formal certification
Once we have completed the week and performed all tasks correctly and to the satisfaction of our ASA Instructor and course requirements, we can gain our ASA certificates! In this Basic-Learn-n-Cruise course, we can potentially gain certifications for ASA 101, 103 and 104, the latter depending on the level of experience prior to the course.
Price includes
What's in the course fee
Included
- Fully-equipped yacht with ASA Instructor
- Food for 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 evening meals
- ASA Log book
- Fuel, ice, tank water
- Hull insurance
- Charter Licence
Not included
- Air fare and ground transfers
- Cruising permit – $14 per person
- Cleaning / disinfection fee of $250.00 per person
- Single supplement for single occupancy of a berth/cabin (refundable if we can match you with another person for double occupancy)
- ASA Membership – $59 per person (if not already held)
- Examination and certification fees, if passed – $30 each
- 3 evening meals
- Drinks
- Instructor gratuity at your discretion
Prepare before you arrive. Although no prior on-the-water experience is required, if you have a friend back home who has a yacht and can get you out on the water for a day, you’ll find that this will be of great benefit.