ASA 104 CERTIFICATION
BAREBOAT CRUISING - ASA 104
Welcome to St. Augustine Sailing’s ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising Sailing Instruction class, where students will have the opportunity to learn aboard our fleet of 2019-2024 Jeanneau Yachts. To enroll in this sailing course, a minimum of 80 on-water sailing hours is preferred, ensuring that you have ample practical experience before advancing your skills. While joining our Crew Program is not mandatory, we highly recommend it as a valuable way to enhance your sailing abilities and accumulate the necessary sailing hours.
Additionally, successful completion of the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification and ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Sailing Certification are prerequisites for this course. Get ready to elevate your sailing knowledge and expertise with St. Augustine Sailing!
SUMMARY
Able to skipper a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered keelboat of approximately 30 to 45 feet in length upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, routine maintenance procedures, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation including basic chart plotting and GPS operation, multiple-anchor mooring, docking, health & safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation.
Our traditional ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising Sailing Course is completed entirely onsite at St Augustine Sailing – 3074 Harbor Drive, Saint Augustine, Fl – on the water, on the docks, and in the classroom over 2 days. Our sailing classes include textbook, logbook, training, testing, and certification.
At St. Augustine Sailing, we offer ASA Sailing Combination Courses designed to save you both time and money while maximizing your learning experience. These courses bundle multiple ASA certifications, providing an efficient pathway to becoming a proficient sailor. Additionally, if you’re looking for an immersive liveaboard experience, we offer options to sleep aboard our well-equipped vessels. This unique opportunity allows you to practice your new skills in a real-world setting, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow sailors, and experience life on the water firsthand. With our combination courses, you’ll gain comprehensive sailing knowledge and hands-on experience, all while enjoying significant savings.
CALENDAR
WHAT'S NEXT
After you have successfully completed ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising, which ASA Certifications should you take next?
SAILING KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS COVERED - ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
Cruise Planning
- Describe appropriate clothing and personal gear to pack for safety and comfort during a one-week cruise.
- Describe the required documents and procedures for customs and immigration when cruising to a foreign port of entry.
- Plan a menu and create a provisioning list for a one-week cruise.
- Describe the symptoms and first aid treatments for hypothermia and heat exhaustion / heat stroke.
- Describe the causes, prevention and treatments for seasickness.
- Describe the tools and spare parts that should be on board for a one week cruise.
- Describe variables that affect fuel consumption and cruising range under power, and calculate range based on average fuel consumption.
- Describe the minimum daily water requirements for all personnel on board as well as methods to conserve fresh water.
Systems
- Describe safe galley procedures to minimize dangers such as fire, scalding, and spillage.
- Describe proper marine toilet operation, including precautions to prevent malfunction, and describe proper holding tank pump-out procedures.
- Identify and describe the function of the fundamental systems and components of a marine diesel engine, including fuel, lubrication, cooling, and drive train.
- Describe safe fresh water tank filling procedures, including identification of correct deck fills.
- Describe power conservation measures and procedures to prevent running batteries down when anchored or moored overnight.
Emergencies
- Name four acceptable distress signals, per the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook, which are appropriate for a recreational vessel.
- Describe actions to be taken in the following situations: Collision with another boat, Running aground, Dragging Anchor, Flooding, and Fire.
- Describe actions to be taken in the following situations when the vessel is under power: Fouled propeller, Engine cooling water fails to flow, Engine fails in a crowded anchorage where using sails is not possible, Engine fails in and, a busy channel
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- Describe the information required and the procedure for typing a boat to a fixed dock in areas with a large tidal range.
- Describe the following multiple-anchor procedures and their purposes: Fore & Aft Moor, Forked Moor, Bahamian Moor, and Mediterranean Moor
- Describe methods and potential dangers of rafting vessels at anchor.
- Describe safe methods for towing and securing a dinghy / tender.
- Describe preparation of the vessel for heavy weather sailing including gear stowage, crew safety and appropriate sail plan.
- Describe the following courtesies and customs: Permission to board, Permission to come alongside, Courtesy in crossing adjacent boats when rafted, Rights of first boat in an anchorage, Keeping clear of regattas, Flag etiquette, and Rendering assistance to vessels in distress.
- Describe, using diagrams as appropriate, the applicable rules (steering & sailing, lights, and sound signals) for a 30-45′ recreational vessel, as found in the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook
Navigation & Weather
- Explain and identify the following coastal navigation terms, using a chart or diagram as appropriate:
Speed, Time, Distance, Tidal Range, Tidal Current, Track, Course, Heading Bearing, Fix, True, Magnetic, Variation, Deviation, Line of Position (LOP) - Describe the sea breeze and land breeze dynamics and their effect on sailing conditions.
- Identify conditions that may lead to the formation of radiation and sea / advection for.
- Describe actions to be taken in the following weather situations: Fog, Reduced Visibility, Squall, and Thunderstorm
- Explain and identify the following coastal navigation terms, using a chart or diagram as appropriate:
General
- Perform the duties of skipper and crew on a live-aboard coastal cruise.
- Locate and check the condition of all federally required equipment.
System Skills
- Perform a routine vessel inspection, ensuring that all systems and equipment are in working order, including: Fuel level, Fresh water level, Battery voltage, Electrical system, Navigation lights, Instruments and electronics, Bilge, Through-hull and seacocks, Standing rigging, Running rigging, Deck hardware, Ground tackle.
- Visually inspect the auxiliary engine. Check for correct engine oil level and potential problems such as leaking fluids or frayed belts; demonstrate safe engine starting, operating and stopping procedures.
- Inspect the raw water strainer for debris and ensure that the raw intake seacock is in the proper position for engine operation.
- Locate the emergency steering tiller and identify where it attaches to the rudder post.
- Operate the electric and manual bilge pumps to ensure the are functional.
- Demonstrate proper usage of the VHF radio, including hailing another station on Channel 16 and switching to a working channel.
- Demonstrate proper operation of the galley stove including fuel supply, lighting, and shutting down; simulate the proper way to extinguish a galley fire.
- Demonstrate the proper method of disconnecting and reconnecting shore power cables.
Under Power
- Demonstrate the use of spring lines in the docking and undocking process(e.g., pivoting the vessel away from the dock during departure).
- Maneuver the vessel in reverse gear, observing and explaining the effect of prop walk on the stem’s direction.
- Maneuver the boat in a confined space to include performing ‘standing turn’ maneuver, turning the vessel 180 degrees in a confined area using rudder position and gearshift and throttle control.
- Ensure vessel and crew readiness and use of the auxiliary engine to bring the vessel smoothly and under control to a stop next to a parallel dock or into a slip; secure the vessel using appropriate lines and fenders.
- Describe and demonstrate an appropriate person in water recovery (a.k.a. Man Overboard or MOB) maneuver while under power and describe methods to bring the MOB safely back aboard.
- Demonstrate one of the following multiple-anchor mooring methods as appropriate to local conditions, using correct procedures such as hand signals, safety in handling ground tackle, proper operation of windlass (if equipped) and use of a snubber or bridle. Raise anchors and get under way smoothly using correct procedures for the following: Fore and Aft Mooring, Forked Mooring, Bahamian Mooring, and Mediterranean Mooring.
Under Sail
- Sail a steady compass course within +/- 10 degrees with sails trimmed properly.
- Demonstrate the proper use of all available lines and sail controls (halyards, sheets, traveler, boom vang, outhaul, downhaul/cunningham, jib sheet, fairleads, etc.) to obtain maximum performance and comfort.
- Demonstrate the correct usage of a jibe preventer.
- Demonstrate proper reefing procedures while under sail or hove-to.
- Demonstrate two different MOB recovery maneuvers while under sail; starting from both close-hauled and a broad reach and selecting an appropriate maneuver for each initial point of sail.
Navigation & Weather Skill
- Plan a coastal passage from origin to destination, plotting course, distances, and waypoints. While enroute, keep a written log and plot DR positions on a chart, and calculate estimated times of arrival (ETA ) to waypoints.
- Obtain and interpret marine weather information; describe the impact that the present observations and forecast may have on cruising plans over a 3-day period.
- Obtain updated weather forecasts during a passage and compare with visual and measured observations.
- Take visual 2 or 3 bearing fixes using a hand-bearing compass.
- Determine the predicted depth above or below chart datum at a given time using tide prediction tables.
- Use a GPS or chart-plotter (if available) to obtain information and perform basic navigation functions such as position, course, speed, waypoints, eta, and tidal information.
- Pilot a boat into an unfamiliar harbor or anchorage by day using relevant nautical charts, publications and tidal information.
Knots
- Describe the purpose of, and construct without assistance and in a timely manner, each of the following knots: Figure-8, Square (Reef) Knot, clove Hitch, Round Turn & 2 Half Hitches, cleat Hitch, Bowline, Sheet Bend, rolling Hitch, and a Trucker’s Hitch.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend joining our Crew Program since it as a valuable way to enhance your sailing abilities, accumulate the necessary sailing hours, as well as a way to keep your sailing skill current – LEARN MORE
Additionally, you may be interested in joining our sailing club where you can be your own skipper aboard a selected vessel among our fleet.
Once you have passed your ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising you may find the following Endorsement Courses to be beneficial.
- ASA 118 Docking Endorsement (as a side note, if you join the Crew Program you will qualify under the direction of the instructor, this endorsement will provide you the opportunity to be dock the vessel.)
- ASA 119 Marine Weather Endorsement