ASA Sailing Lessons in the Caribbean - British Virgin Islands

Book your Caribbean sailing vacation in the incomparable British Virgin Islands and learn to sail at the same time! If you have never sailed before, you may expect to complete the ASA (American Sailing Association) Basic Keelboat and Coastal Cruising courses in one week. In order to be certified for "Bareboat Chartering", plan a minimum 10 to 12 day charter to complete all three sailing courses!

Each American Sailing Association course is approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administration (NASBLA) and the US Coast Guard as a recognized safe boating course. As such, each sailing course offered meets all requirements for mandatory education and licensing for every state in the US.

Notes:

Charter guests wishing to take sailing lessons in the British Virgin Islands may do so aboard any monohull sailboat. ASA Sailing courses are not offered aboard catamarans in the BVI.

Virgin Island ASA Sailing Courses are available for (minimum) one week, live-aboard yacht charters only. Day sailing classes are not offered nor do we arrange courses which singles may join in. The concept is to charter a yacht with an ASA sailing instructor for private lessons.

The following ASA sailing courses are available in Tortola:

Basic Keelboat Sailing Standard Course
Basic Coastal Cruising Standard Course
Bareboat Chartering Standard Course

ASA BASIC KEELBOAT SAILING STANDARD

Sailing Course Prerequisites: None
General Description: Upon completion of the Basic Keelboat Sailing Standard course, the successful candidate will be capable of sailing a yacht of about 20 feet in length, in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. No auxiliary power experience or navigational skills are required. You will gain experience on sailboats of more than 30 feet in length with auxiliary power.

Curriculum - Theory

• Identify and name parts of the sailboat
• Describe functions and use of various parts of the sailboat
• Define terms such as port, abeam & running rigging.
• Identify various sails and parts of of a sail.
• Explain sailing terms and points of sail such as "head to wind", etc.
• Apply basic navigational rules for prevention of collision.
  

Curriculum - Practical

• Hoist the sails, set luff tensions, coil and hang halyards.
• Act as helmsman or crew using proper commands and responses.
• Sail away from and back to a dock and a mooring.
• Sail the yacht to a windward/leeward course while performing tacks and jibes.
• Perform a successful man overboard procedure.
• Safely and properly secure a yacht to a dock and a mooring.
• Learn 6 basic knots and tie each in less than 20 seconds.

There is a great deal more to this course ... such as learning to sail backwards, identifying hull types and learning the proper actions to be taken when sailing in the vicinity of commercial ships ... but we'll wait until you are here to go through all the "fun" details!

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ASA BASIC COASTAL CRUISING STANDARD

Course Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification
General Description: Learn to sail safely in local and regional waters as both captain and crew aboard an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length in moderate wind and sea conditions.

Curriculum - Theory

• Acquire a greater knowledge of the names and parts of a sailing yacht.
• Learn fundamental safety procedures for fire prevention, proper refueling and battery recharging methods, the safe use and storage of flares as well as the purpose of lifelines, safety harnesses, PFD's, etc.
• Describe roller and slab reefing, reef grommets and reef points.
• Describe how to prevent undue magnetic influences on the compass.
• Interpret marine weather forecasts and apply to sailing plans.
• Identify the main responsibilities of the captain and crew.
• Describe the correct sail combinations to carry under specific and various sea and wind conditions.
• Identify various markings on a nautical chart such as water depth, various hazards, types of bottom, beacons, lights, etc.
• Describe a safe anchorage, identify suitable ground tackle and scope for both temporary and overnight anchoring. Identify the appropriate use of lights for overnight anchoring.
• Describe emergency procedures for various marine accidents.
  

Curriculum - Practical

• Demonstrate safe and proper winching techniques.
• Start an auxiliary engine using commonly accepted safety practices.
• Docking and mooring a sailboat while under power.
• Anchor and weigh anchor under power.
• Reef sail and shake out a reef while under sail, maintaining a proper course.
• Heave to and get under way again.
• Sail close hauled, reaching, running, tacking, and jibing, heading up, bearing away, luffing and reducing heel in all points of sail.
• Sail a compass course 5 minutes without varying more than 10 degrees from course.
• Secure a sailboat for an overnight stay on a mooring and on a dock.
• Timed knot tying.

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ASA BAREBOAT CHARTERING STANDARD

Course Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing & Coastal Cruising Certification
General Description: An advanced cruising standard for individuals with cruising experience. After completing the Bareboat Chartering Standard, the successful candidate can function as skipper and crew of a 30 to 50 foot yacht sailing by day in coastal waters. The bareboat chartering course includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.

Curriculum - Theory

• Planning procedures for coastal cruising including; fuel tank capacity and range under power and spare engine parts required for a one week sailing cruise, documentation and proper procedures required to cross international borders.
• Describe the sea breeze and land breeze effect and identify conditions which cause fog.
• Describe the use of a radar reflector.
• Outline what to do under various emergency conditions such as; the engine cooling water fails to flow, the engine fails in a crowded anchorage where safe sailing is impossible, the engine fails in a busy channel.
• Describe the procedure for tying a sailboat to a fixed dock in areas with large tidal variations.
• Describe the proper operating procedures for a marine head.
  

Curriculum - Practical

• Perform routine maintenance procedures on an engine.
• Maneuver a sailboat under power in a confined space.
• Stop the bow of the yacht within 4 feet of a fixed marker in various conditions while under power and pick up a mooring ball.
• Demonstrate basic procedures and use of VHF radio.
• Demonstrate proper procedures for towing a dinghy.
• Sailing a compass course with sails set while reaching and running.
• Plot a course, determine compass heading and ETA.
• Read a nautical chart and identify corresponding landmarks and aids to navigation.
• Take a fix from your sailing yacht using visual bearings.
• Pilot a sailboat into an unfamiliar harbour or anchorage by day using a nautical chart and tidal information.

When you arrive in the British Virgin Islands for your American Sailing Association course, your ASA instructor will take over from the get go to make you feel comfortable and welcome. Learning to sail is definitely one of the most fun and constructive things you can do during your sailing vacation. Sit back, have fun and sail the magnificent British Virgin Islands! ... You'll have a ball!

We want to take ASA sailing lessons in the British Virgin Islands!
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Need more information about ASA sailing lessons in the Caribbean?
Call or write our BVI yacht charter specialist!

Phone: (284) 495-4168 Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Bareboats BVI