Complete
Sailing Course
Class
size is two to three people, classes taught year-round
If
possible, read the first 33 pages of Sailing Fundamentals before
the first class, and memorize as much terminology as you can!
Lesson
1-On The Water Orientation (2 hrs.)
- 1. Vessel/personal
safety
- 2. Parts
of the boat
- 3. Raising
the sails
- 4. Casting
off (leaving the dock)
- 5. Sailing
closehauled (upwind)
- 6. Coming
about (turning into the wind)
- 7. Port
and Starboard tacks
- 8. Jibing
(turning downwind)
- 9. Harbor
orientation
- 10. Introduction
to knots
Before
Lesson 2:
- Complete
lesson 1 handout
- Practice
knots (22, 23, 43, 123, 133, 174)
- Read
pages 36-63
Lesson
2-Fundamentals of Sailing (2 hrs.)
- 1. Review
of lesson 1 material- Rigging, Coming About, Jibing, Port and Starboard
Tacks, Knots (esp. bowline and figure 8)
- 2. Points
of sail
- 3. Heading
up and bearing away (falling off)
- 4. Tacking
review
- 5. Docking
safely
- 6. De-rigging
review
Before
Lesson 3:
- Complete
lesson 2 handout
- Review
safety procedures
- Review
"Crewing" handout
- Read
pages 67-80, 83-88, 106-107, 205-209 (glossary)
- Review
Rigging and Knots
Lesson
3-Single Handed Sailing & Close Quarters Maneuvering (Rules)
(2 hrs.)
- 1. Review
rigging and knots
- 2. Single-handed
tacking and jibing
- 3. Avoiding
collisions in tight situations
Before
Lesson 4:
- Complete
lesson 3 handout
- Read
pages 101-103, 131-134
- Review
pages 37-43,45-63, 77-81, 87
Lesson
4-Docking Under Sail (2 hrs.)
- 1. Review
rigging and knots
- 2. Review
Rules of the Road
- 3. Slowing
and stopping the boat under sail.
- 4. Docking
and casting off, windward and leeward docks
Before Lesson
5:
- Complete
lesson 4 handout
- Read
pages 91-99, 104-105, 111-112, 129-130, 166-174, 181-182
Lesson
5-MOB and Heavy Weather (2 hrs. )
- 1. Heavy
weather prediction & preparation, weather radio reports, storm warning
flags, internet weather sites, local weather hazards.
- 2. Reducing
sail, Heaving To and Reefing
- 3. Man
Overboard recovery methods
Before Lesson
6:
- Complete
lesson 5 handout q Read pages 111-130,
- Review
pages 24-25, 166-176, 181-183
- Read
handout "Getting a Lift"
Lesson
6-Anchoring and Ocean Sailing (3 hrs.)
- 1. Ocean
sail, steering by the compass
- 2. Using
telltales, holding a point of sail, and trimming sails to wind shifts
- 3. Introduction
to anchoring
Before Lesson
7:
- Complete
lesson 6 handout q Read pages 168-169,148-149
- Review
pages 112-118, 125
Lesson
7-Navigation and Safety Class (3 hrs)
This evening
class, offered once a month at each office, can be taken at any time.
It covers basic coastal piloting, chart selection and interpretation,
plotting a course, ded reckoning, using bearings, fog tactics and night
navigation, local hazards, chartering responsibilities, handling emergencies,
and cruising techniques. Required before chartering and before lesson
8. Dates in Newsletter or on our website.
Group
Daysail
This
is an opportunity to go for a sail on one of our charter boats with an
experienced member as "designated skipper". You'll get a feel for sailing
a larger boat by acting as crew and taking your turn at the helm. You
may bring guests for an additional $40 per person. (Students may substitute
Heavy Weather and Advanced Anchoring class for this.)
Before
Lesson 8:
- Arrange
to take ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Examination (Approximately 1 hour) Bring
your log book for instructor to sign.
- Read
pages 137-151, 154-160,163-165, 175-179, 184 (Review pages 15-33)
- Chart
a course for your Confidence Sail and prepare a float plan. (Talk to
instructor)
Lesson
8-Certification (3 hrs)& Confidence Sail
Given
on a 25-30' charter boat
- 1. Review
of safety equipment
- 2. Operation
of marine sanitation system
- 3. Through-hull
valve procedures
- 4. Introduction
to diesel engine use & care
- 5. Boat
handling under power; casting off and docking safely
- 6. Use
of furling headsail
- 7. Use
of marine stove
The Confidence
Sail is strongly advised to be scheduled immediately following Lesson
8. You will feel most confident at this time, and to help make this easier
we offer a 20% discount off this first charter if you book it for the
same day.
Required
Equipment: Wear white soled boating shoes on boats at all times. In addition
we suggest the following items for your sea-bag:
- Chart
Kit for Southern California
- Pacific
Boating Almanac
- Chart
#1
- Parallel
Rules, dividers and mechanical pencil
- First
aid kit
- Safety
harness and tether
- Foul
weather gear and sea boots
After
Lesson 8: When you have chartered a 25-30' sailboat at least twice, arrange
to take the ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising examination at any Marina Sailing
office (takes about an hour.) Remember to bring your Log Book along so
your instructor can sign you off when you pass it.
Before
Lesson 9:
Lesson
9- Night Sailing and Navigation (3hrs)
This
three-hour on-the-water class is given in the evening once a month at
each office, and is designed to help you navigate and practice your skills
sailing after dark. We'll work on recognizing lights and landmarks and
the use of triangulation of bearings to determine our position. Take this
class when you are comfortable with your navigation skills, and prior
to any night sailing charter, (after lesson 8.) Class dates are in
the Newsletter or the events calendar on our web site.
Heavy
Weather and Advanced Anchoring
This
four hour afternoon class is offered as an elective for those who wish
to take it instead of the Group Daysail or it may be taken as an add-on
for an additional $45. It is strongly recommended for those who plan to
sail to Santa Cruz Island or wish additional training in safely handling
challenging conditions. Take this class when you have done several daysails
and are comfortable with all your sailing skills. We cover advanced heavy
weather tactics, including reefing and reducing sail in a rough sea, use
of jacklines and safety harnesses, boat handling in rough conditions,
MOB recovery in difficult times and other related topics. In addition
we will cover advanced anchoring techniques with hands-on practice. Class
dates are in the Newsletter or on our web site.
A
Note About the Homework and Practice: This course covers a great deal
of material in a fast moving, concentrated form. To get the most from
the course and better enjoy your sailing activities, it is essential that
you carefully study the course materials, complete your homework exercises,
and practice what you learn. We recommend that you go out on daysails,
charter with your fellow students and friends, and/or get involved with
racing to master these skills. Check the message board on the website
to find crew or post there.
Congratulations!
Now that you have completed the Complete Sailing Course, passed both the
ASA 101 and ASA 103 exams (and had your instructor sign off your log book),
you have met the beginner and intermediate qualifications needed to take
advanced ASA classes. Your next step is the Bareboat Charter Certification
(ASA 104) offered in a fun weekend class at the island. Ask about signing
up for it at your local office. Class Dates are given in your quarterly
newsletter or on the web site Events Calendar. |