ASA 101, 103 & 104: Keelboat Sailing, Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat Cruising

Get bareboat charter certified on a learning vacation! 

Limited to 4 students, 2 minimum

You'll spend a week living the cruising life in beautiful Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park while you learn to sail!  *Some classes are fully liveaboard and some trips are set with the schedule below.

Typical Schedule

Fri - Sun : Sailing Instruction 9:30 - 5 daily. Students are responsible for their own meals & accommodations in Seward.

Mon - Weds : Students will stay aboard S/V Merlot and get hands-on cruising experience, sailing and anchoring in different anchorages for 2 nights.

*Fully liveaboard courses will begin on Friday at 9:30am with some instruction and safety aboard the boat, provisioning for all meals, and then setting sail for the full 6 days. You'll anchor somewhere new each night, getting out further to see more. Students will share the cooking duties aboard.

ASA Certifications:

101: Keelboat Sailing,

103: Coastal Cruising, and

104: Bareboat Cruising

Here is a summary of what you'll cover in this fast track course:

Learn to skipper a 20' - 35'  (auxiliary powered) keelboat by day, in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn basic and cruising sailing terminology and get hands-on practice learning sailboat parts and functions, helm commands, sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather, safety and seamanship.  Learn about provisioning, boat systems, auxiliary engines, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring / mooring, docking, emergency operations, weather, and more. 

The first 3 days will be 9:30am-5pm based in Seward, with the boat as your classroom. We'll spend a few hours at dock in the morning covering sailing terminology, points of sail and navigation rules and in the afternoons go sailing and put those skills to use.  For days 4-6, we'll leave the harbor after provisioning in Seward on day 4 and anchor out somewhere new for 2 nights aboard.  With small classes of 4 students and hands-on learning, you'll leave feeling confident in your sailing abilities.  

Lodging in Seward and meals are on your own the first 3 days/nights. Students will provision for and cook group meals aboard the boat days 4-6.

The boat is your classroom. Practice sailing on 2 or 3 different boats!
Our 28.5 Hunter, Encore, is perfect for learning the basics. Our Beneteau Firsts provide practice using upgraded instruments, advanced sail trim, and other cruising comforts. The 38' Farr, Azzurra, is a speedy racing sailboat, perfect for learning more advanced sail trim, abundant sails for all types of wind, and tiller steering.

Summer 2026 Basic to Bareboat Schedule
May 8 - 13

June 19 - 24 *Liveaboard

July 17 - 22

July 28 - Aug 2 *Liveaboard with optional Alaska Cup race Aug 1 & 2

Some classes fall on our local William H. Seward Yacht Club's race days. Racing is a great way to test your knowledge of navigation rules, sailing terminology & commands, points of sail and sail trim. Consider it a crash course on learning to sail!  Students of these classes will get hands-on practice crewing in a race. Your WHSYC Race day membership fee of $25 is included.

All students of this course will also get 10% off a future weeklong bareboat charter with us!