Complete Sailing Course - San Diego

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!

:: Printable Lesson Plan ::

Day 1 - Introduction to Sailing

1. Life jackets and Safety equipment
2. Boat handling under power
3. Pumping out holding tank
4. Parts of the Boat and sails
5. Rigging & safety check
6. Introduction to knots – the cleat hitch, bowline, figure eight, clove hitch
7. Hoisting the sails
8. Sailing close-hauled (upwind)
9. Coming about (changing tacks, bow through the wind)
10. Port and Starboard tacks
11. Jibing (changing tacks, stern through the wind)
12. Points of Sail
13. Heading up and Bearing away (falling off)
14. Right of Way Rules
15. Avoiding collisions in close quarters by tacking away, falling off,
16. going astern and luffing up to slow down.
17. Using telltales, holding course and trimming to shifts
18. Docking under power
19. Proper use of fenders
20. De-rigging and boat clean up

Day 2 - Heavy weather, Crew Overboard Recovery, Ocean Sailing and Anchoring

1. Review rigging and knots
2. Weather radio reports, Storm warning flags and local weather hazards
3. Plotting a course, use of charts, using parallels and dividers
4. Review Right of way rules
5. Sailing on a compass course
6. Ocean sailing and steering through waves
7. Reefing the main
8. Sailing on mainsail alone
9. Securing the jib
10. Sailing on jib alone
11. Man overboard recovery, figure 8 and quick stop
12. Anchoring
13. Picking up a mooring
14. Docking under power
15. De-rigging and boat clean up

Day 3 - Basic Coastal Navigation

1. Chart selection, reading and symbols and data
2. Aids to navigation, Lateral buoy system
3. Plotting positions, latitude & longitude
4. Plotting DR courses & compass correction
5. International & Inland Navigation Rules
6. Introduction to GPS
7. Review of knots, rigging, hoisting sails, tacking, jibing, reefing and docking
8. Man overboard recovery, figure 8 and quick stop
9. Docking under power
10. De-rigging and boat clean up

Day 4 - Certification Sail

1. Charter skipper’s responsibilities
2. The preflight checklist
3. Thru-hull fittings and marine plumbing
4. Inboard engine checks: fluids, belts, lines, etc.
5. Review of special boat systems
6. Marine Electronics, GPS
7. Review today’s skipper’s DR plot
8. Sailing the charter boat as skipper
9. Man overboard recovery, figure 8 and quick stop
10. Boat handling under power
11. Docking

Day 5 - 12pm-5pm On-the-water Confidence Sail

Skipper checks crew out on boat. Learn how to use the head, safety procedures and boat systems. Cast off, stow away fenders and dock lines, navigate course and switch crew positions every half hour from helm, jib trimming, mainsail trimming, navigator, and lookout person. Review of ASA 101-103 curriculum.

The 101 and 103 test can be taken at any time during normal office hours.

• 103 about 2 hours
• 101 about 1 hour

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.