Marina Sailing's Complete Sailing Course™ is designed for the new sailor and includes basic and intermediate instruction aboard sailboats 25-30 feet. Students learn to sail quickly and safely with our certified American Sailing Association instruction in ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing and ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising.

These two courses are combined into one comprehensive course which allows graduates to sail cruising sailboats from our fleet of over eighty sailboats from six Southern California locations. And, you will also have credentials to sail at any boat rental location around the world!
View our Complete Sailing Course outlines by clicking on the links, below. Then call any of our sailing schools to sign up and schedule your first lesson, or sign up today, online!
Course outline (PDF)
We start lessons every week at each location and we teach around your schedule. Saturday and Sunday are our preferred lesson days. If you're already signed up, scheduling a lesson is easy. You call call our office, or schedule a lesson online.
Upon completion of the course, you will earn 2 ASA certifications and one Marina Sailing credential which will allow you to start chartering boats from us immediately. The certifications and credential are:
This course combines a great deal of material and associated sailing experiences into a succinct but flexible schedule to better fit your lifestyle. Soon, the concepts that you learned will become second nature as you reinforce the skills learned by taking friends and family sailing!.
All classes are taught aboard boat except the Navigation Class (which is taught indoors) and cover the following topics in detail:
Sailing terminology
Docking and casting off under power The Complete Sailing Course properly prepares you to keep your mind on what matters. The Comprehensive instruction includes:
20-21 hrs. of "on-the-water" Instruction You can take this indoor class any time prior to your first charter. Periodic class dates are listed in your newsletter. Register as soon as possible so you can take advantage of your Confidence Sail charter discount.
You'll feel most confidant on your first charter if you take it the same day and immediately following the CSC Lesson #8. Marina Sailing encourages this Confidence Sail by giving you a 20% discount when you schedule your first day's charter on the same day as your Lesson #8.

Don't bring a boat! You'll use one of ours. That's why we're here. Wear boating shoes. That goes without saying but we say it again anyway. Later, you will want a few other items before navigation & chartering.

The time realize your dream of sailing is right now. So, make the leap and get the training you need to reward your friends and family (and yourself!) with sailing adventures along the beautiful Southern California coast and beyond.

Some handy links to local destinations:
'Eye On LA' reported Marina Sailing to be "One of the best bargains in Southern California." Marina Sailing is the affordable way to sail. So, get off your turf and go beyond the surf! A world of adventure awaits you...
ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course teaches the student to skipper a sloop-rigged keelboat of approximately 20 to 27 feet in length by day in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Knowledge of basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards. Auxiliary power operation is not required.. Tuition: $395.00
ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising is the next level of ASA certification following ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing. This two day on-the-water course covers the basic sailing skills for cruising sailboats in the 30' range, including federal equipment carriage and navigation lights requirements, safety at sea, emergencies such as man overboard, how to treat hypothermia, read and interpret nautical charts of local areas and safely operate auxiliary engines, anchoring, mooring, reefing and more. Includes text,and test fees. Tuition: $395.00
Spend a full weekend cruising or three days of island circumnavigation. This is the next important step in ASA Certification. A pre-departure seminar the first evening, then it's off to complete provisioning assignments and make ready for your trip to one of the offshore islands. Covered in the course will be night sailing, standing a watch, anchoring techniques, boat systems, maintenance procedures and valuable cruising knowledge.
This certification is a MUST
for those of you who
are planning a bareboat cruise in the Caribbean. A written exam is
given during the off-watch hours. Course includes, certification
and provisioning and two or three days of cruising. Student must purchase own textbook in advance of class for study: "Cruising Fundamentals" by Harry Munns can be purchased with online retailers.(e.x. ASA Online Store, ebay.com, etc.) Tuition: $395.00
for 2 day session and $495.00 for 3 day sessions. Prerequisite: ASA
#101 and #103.
In addition to the ASA 104 material, this course includes the ASA Cruising Catamaran Certification. Students will sail from Long Beach to Catalina and back onboard our catamaran. Classes begin at 7pm on Friday, and end 5pm on Sunday. Prerequisites: ASA 101 & 103. Provisions are included, Tuition: $475. Three day trips are $575 and start at 9am.
Twelve hours of classroom offered in 3 or 4 mid-week evening sessions or 2 six hour sessions on consecutive weekend days. A prerequisite for ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising, this course covers advanced coastal piloting skills, compass deviation, NOAA chart reading and detailed use of chart symbols, tides and currents, set and drift and other advanced navigational skills. Tuition: $195.00 (Also available as a home study course for $125)
Three full days on the water, for those experienced sailors who want to act as skipper and crew on boats up to 50' in coastal or inland waters in any conditions. Course covers advanced seamanship, weather, engineering and safety. Tuition: $595.00, includes provisioning. Prerequisite: ASA 101 to 105.
This course enables graduates to safely navigate a sailboat on an offshore passage. The Celestial Navigation Standard consists of three classroom sessions and one on-the-water session. The course covers proper use of sextants, sightings on celestial bodies, including Sun and Moon fixes and use of tables to determine position at sea. Tuition: $295.00
Want to further your ASA certifications and pave the way for a career in the sailing business? ASA Instructor Certification is the next step. Instructor ratings are the highest levels of ASA certification available. Prerequisites: 18 years of age, 3 years of sailing experience, documented teaching experience or ability to demonstrate an aptitude for clearly communicating sailing to the novice and advanced sailor. ASA Keelboat Sailing Instructor Clinic comprises two and a half days of on-the-water and the classroom evaluations. Personal membership in ASA in good standing is a requirement ($39.00 annually). Tuition: $250.00
This three hour class is designed to get you back in the swing of things. Review of club procedures, seacocks, docking, location and use of mechanical and electrical equipment, instrumentation and navigation, rigging, internal halyards, reefing lines, travelers, inboard diesel operation and helmsmanship under sail are covered. Dust off those deck shoes and let's go sailing! Classes offered in morning and afternoon session. Tuition: $55.00
This cruising seminar is recommended for anyone visiting the Channel Islands. The course consists of three hours of spectacular aerial slides of anchorages of Santa Cruz, excellent advice on the best anchorages and preferred location on the anchorage to set your hook, recommended anchorages in other than prevailing winds, anchor watches, cruise planning, information on landing permits, and fishing and diving. Tuition: $25.00
This three hour evening classroom session in coastal piloting covers chart selection and reading, plotting a course, dead reckoning, bearings, fog and night sailing, local hazards, chartering responsibilities, emergencies and cruising techniques. This class is FREE to all members
This three hour evening class will help you navigate and practice your night sailing skills. Night navigation can be difficult without proper knowledge of lights, night landmarks and triangulation. We will enjoy some nice evening sailing as we sharpen our skills. Tuition: $45.00
Taught aboard 36 to 42 foot boats, in this five hour class you will learn general boat handling, reaction time and docking of the big boats as well as fine-tuning sail trim, and be introduced to some new equipment and electronics found on larger boats. Scheduled in morning and afternoon sessions. Tuition: $125.00
Introduction to Heavy Weather is a three hour class on the water with an emphasis on man overboard drills, reefing and changing head sails while underway and learning to handle those blustery breezes. Tuition: $65.00
This full day class is for those experienced sailors who would like to try their hand at a twin engine alternative to travel the seas. Course aboard 24 to 42 footers covers detailed engine start up and operating procedures, docking and undocking, maneuvering the boat using gears and throttles, emphasizing that you don't need the wheel. Course also covers bringing the boat up to plane, quartering waves, adjusting speed for sea conditioning and boat handling at different speeds. Tuition: $175.00
In this full day on-the-water class, you will learn when to reduce sail area, proper reefing procedures, roller furling systems and sails, when to strap on your safety harness, making sure you have sea room, selecting a safe anchorage, bailing systems, tools and jury rigging, life rings and man overboard poles, keeping warm and dry, helmsmanship and how to handle heavy seas, how to read the weather conditions for advance warning on storms and squalls. Tuition: $125.00
This three hour course will prepare your mate for duties on your next cruise, including basic boat systems and operations, how to assist sailing the boat, sailing a compass course, picking up a mooring and anchoring (time permitting) and the invaluable and necessary man-overboard and emergency procedures. Tuition: $40.00
This class will show you how to solve most common problems and covers tools, Y-valves, holding tanks, engine problems, furling and halyards. It is time well spent for experienced and new sailors alike, even if you do not fancy yourself mechanically inclined. With a little guidance, you can do it! 4 - 6 hours. Tuition: $65.00
Become a CONTENDER! Now is the time to move from crew to skipper. If you have done some racing and want to improve, or even if you are totally new to the game, this full day on-the-water class will give you the skills required to compete in any of the Marina Sailing Race Series offered throughout the year. We will practice race starts, mark rounding, rules, sail trim and tactics. Tuition: $75.00
This class consists of four evening classroom sessions and a full day of on-the-water practice and racing. Racing fleets, in depth rules, starting, windward and leeward legs, rounding marks, sail trim, boat handling and responsibilities of the skipper and crew are covered. Tuition: $195.00
The most powerful of all sails, this course will teach you how to properly "Fly the Chute." This all day on-the-water course covers sails and gear, spinnaker packing, rigging, hoisting, gybing, trimming, dropping the chute and crew responsibilities. Tuition: $95.00 - Or Half day Class 1-5pm Tuition $55.00