About the Course
This is sailing 101; no prior experience is required! The goal of the course is to take a student with no prior sailing experience to a level where they feel comfortable sailing a 20to 28-foot sailboat as a skipper (sailor in charge) in favorable sea conditions.
This 3-day course runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. We start each day in the classroom, spending about two hours of lecture where we incorporate video, whiteboard diagrams and sailboat models to explain the fundamentals of sailing and to teach seamanship skills that we will be practicing on the water. We typically break for lunch from 11:45 am to 12:30 pm, and then the rest of the day is spent sailing our Colgate 26 (our 26-foot sailboat designed specifically for sailing instruction) practicing all the necessary skills and maneuvers to competently sail a keelboat of this size. This means you will be spending at minimum 4 and a half hours a day sailing and practicing maneuvers!
At the end of the course, there is a brief examination, and each student receives an official American Sailing logbook and the American Sailing 101 Basic Keelboat Certification.
Read more about our courses and what to expect on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Topics Included in ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing
Parts of the Boat and Terminology
We begin the course by learning the new language of sailing and sailboat parts. We then go through the sailboat from stem to stern, learn directions, parts of the sail, and maneuvering terminology.
Basic Sailing and Safety Maneuvers
Throughout the course, we practice sailing at all angles to the wind and refining our sail trim. On days 2 and 3, we practice Crew Overboard Recoveries and Heaving To.
Sail Theory
One of our most important topics is "sail theory," which explains how a sail works and the physics behind it. We explore lift, attached flow as well as pivot points and centers of effort.
Sailing Strategy and Windshifts
Once we have a full sailing day under our belts, we go back to the classroom and work through the idea of sailing strategy; how to get from point A to point B most efficiently using windshifts to our advantage and accurately judging laylines.
US Coast Guard Navigation Rules and Regulations
Day three focuses on the legal and safety aspects of sailing a keelboat. We cover federally required safety equipment, rules of the road, light and sound signals and aids to navigation.
And more!
Throughout the course, our sailing instructors cover a myriad of additional topics, such as sailing knots, rigging, approaching a mooring under sail, navigating coastal waters, sailing by the lee, and much more, going far beyond the basic required ASA 101 curriculum.
For a full list of the concepts and skills required to achieve the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing certification in Boston Harbor, please visit the official ASA 101 certification page at ASA.com.
Still Wondering What It Means To Be “ASA Certified?”
Read more about the American Sailing Association’s main mission and why certification matters in our blog post, "Understanding ASA Certification: What it is, How to Get it and Why it Matters".
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ASA 101 get you?
ASA 101 certification grants you basic sailing skills and a strong understanding of safety practices. It enables you to skipper (operate as captain) a sailboat in familiar waters, giving you the confidence to navigate and control a boat effectively.
How many days is ASA 101?
ASA 101 courses are usually conducted over 2-3 days. This time frame allows for a balanced combination of classroom learning and high-quality, on-the-water training, giving you the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
While we do offer an ASA Challenge to test out of the course, skipping ASA 101 is not recommended. ASA 101 provides crucial foundational knowledge for safe and confident sailing. It covers fundamental concepts that are essential for understanding sailing principles and operating a sailboat properly.
What other ASA-certified courses are offered at First Reef Sailing?
In addition to ASA 101 Basic Keelboat, First Reef Sailing offers the following ASA courses in Boston, Massachusetts:
