Training
Enlisted Sail Training (E-5 and below, only)
Prerequisites: None
Objective: Be able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
Boats Sailed: Catalina 16.5 and as crew, Luders 44
Course Time: Approx. 20 hours + exam
Cost: Free
The Enlisted Sail Training course consists of 4 classroom and on the water sessions, and the final exam.
| Enlisted Sail Training |
| Part 1 |
Classroom
- Safety: PFD, checklist, safety gear, sit in boat, weather
- Introduction to wind, POS, tasks, steering a boat, mainsheet, jib, dock lines
- Introduce handling lines, winches, types of cleats, and clutches
- Knots: Cleat, bowline, figure 8, clove hitch, square |
On-the-water
- Boat orientation: intro to boat rigging, nomenclature, stowage procedures
- Proper use handling lines, winches, cleats, dock lines, and snubbing
- Short boat ride to familiarize students with boats, wind, and sailing (Instructors doing 90% of tasks)
- Demonstration of twisting boat if time permits |
| Part 2 |
Classroom
- Introduce leaving from and returning to the dock, dock line snubbing
- Introduce stopping and starting the boat while under sail (safety position, heave to, into the wind)
- Introduce points of sail: 'close hauled' and 'reach'
- Introduce tacking; Review various tasks on the boat |
On-the-water
- Practice leaving from and returning to the dock
- Practice stopping and starting the boat while under sail (safety position, heave to, into the wind)
- Practice points of sail: 'close hauled' and 'reach'; Practice tacking; Practice rigging and derigging boat
- Practice various tasks on the boat
- Practice right of way rules when appropriate and identify navigation aids in the sailing area; Sail a butterfly course
- Practice knots, nomanclature, and safety (review of prior session) |
| Part 3 |
Classroom
- Introduce sailing downwind: understand 'run' and importance of not sailing on that point of sail
- Introduce the concepts indicate a boat may jibe
- Introduce controlled jibe
- Introduce right of way rules and navigation aids for A/B sailing area
- Review of all previous skills |
On-the-water
- Practice sailing downwind: understand 'run' and importance of not sailing on that point of sail
- Practice and describe the indicators that a boat may jibe
- Practice controlled jibe
- Practice points of sail: 'close hauled' and 'reach'
- Practice stopping and starting the boat while under sail (safety position, heave to, into the wind)
- Practice tacking
- Sail a square course
- Identify right of way rules and navigation aids for Pax A/B sailing boundaries
- Practice rigging and derigging boat
- Practice leaving from and returning to the dock, dock line snubbing
- Practice knots and safety (review of all prior sessions) |
| Part 4 |
Classroom
- Introduce crew overboard recovery utilizing quick stop method
- Introduce getting boat out of the 'no go zone'
- Introduce turning boat with sails and body weight
- Review of all previous skills |
On-the-water
- Practice crew overboard recovery utilizing quick stop method
- Practice getting boat out of the 'no go zone'
- Practice turning boat with sails and body weight
- Practice all points of sail, tacking, jibing, and stopping/starting boat
- Practice rigging and derigging boat
- Practice leaving from and returning to the dock, dock line snubbing
- Practice knots, safety, right of way rules, and navigation (review of prior sessions)
- Practice all OTW sailing skills introduced to date |
| Part 5 |
Classroom -- Written & Practical Exams |
On-the-water -- Practical will follow written exams in multiple waves |
Additionally, regular SPAR Yawl training will be offered to establish basic crew skills and practice sailing on the Luders 44' yawl.
Students will "learn the ropes" and perform tacking, gybing, points of sail, crew overboard, and other key maneuvers. Four sails will be raised, used, and lowered: Main, Jib/Genoa, Mizzen, and Mizzen Staysail. Depending on winds, training will focus on light (<5 kts) or moderate (5-15 kts) sailing and sail trim. If winds are light, the Drifter sail will also be used.
Proper use of crew commands and responses, crew coordination, and safety protocols for operating a large sailboat will be stressed. All crew positions will be rotated to ensure every member gains experience at all positions:
Bow lookout
Jib/Genoa sail trim
Main sail trim
Mizzen sail trim
Mizzen staysail trim
Helm
At least one sailing session is required as part of the Enlisted Sail Training Squadron A-Mate Crew qualification.
Members with sufficient experience may graduate to racing the yawls during sanctioned racing events, if desired.
American Sailing Association Training
Certification Classes
You must be registered as an NPSC Club Member to sign up for classes.
Prerequisites: None
Objective: Be able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
Boats Sailed: Catalina 16.5
Course Time: Approx. 20 hours + exam
Cost: $285 (includes 1 year ASA membership fee)
You must be at least 14 years of age to participate in this class; however, per MWR rules, you must be at least 16 to rent a small boat.
The ASA 101 course consists of 2 classroom sessions, 2 on the water days, and the final exam.
| ASA101 |
| Part 1 |
Classroom |
|
| Part 2 |
Classroom |
Parts 1 and 2 may be combined for weekend-only instruction |
| Part 3 |
On the Water |
On-the-Water Instruction and A-Mate Exam*
|
| Part 4 |
On the Water |
Optionally, A-Mate pairs may practice alone |
| Part 5 |
Written & Practical Exams |
Practical will follow written exams in multiple waves |
* The A-mate exam will be given at the end of Part 3. An additional 4 hours of sailing as an A mate is included in the course fee to be used for practice. See A Mate Rules.
Course Flow
The academic sessions are normally taught on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. At least one class per year is scheduled for weekends only, and in that case parts 1 and 2 are combined on a Saturday. The first on-water instruction (Part 3) occurs the following Saturday or Sunday.
Students are expected to practice during the week in between instructional periods and the exam session
(Between 3 & 4 and 4 & 5).
As A-mates, students normally practice with each other in West Basin or with an ASA-101 qualified individual.
See the event calendar for full class schedule.
Registration Instructions:
Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable. (Please note that if you are not already a member, you need to join in order to register for classes).
Family members that desire to take training must be registered up as a secondary member (spouse) or tertiary (dependent children) with a corresponding small addition to dues. Fee covers spouse and all dependent children. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.
Objective: Cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 25 to 35 feet in length in moderate winds and sea conditions.
Prerequisites:
- ASA-101 Certification + 20 additional hours AS SKIPPER on small keel boats
- If you are not COMPLETELY comfortable with your 101-level skills and knowledge, you should contact the 103 Training Coordinator or the Rear Commodore, Training to discuss this before registering for ASA-103. We cannot offer refunds to students who drop out of the class due to an inadequate foundation.
- Maryland Safe Boating Certificate: Computer based training available on-line
Boats Sailed: Catalina 250 and Skyline
Course Time: 4 weekend days, approx. 24 hours + exam
Cost: $330
You must be at least 16 years of age to participate in the classes; however, per MWR rules, you must be at least 18 to rent a boat with a motor.
All pre-requisites must be met at least two weeks prior to the beginning of class or reservation will be canceled.
See the event calendar for class schedule.
Registration Instructions:
Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable.
The Training Commodore or ASA-103 Instruction Coordinator will contact you and register you for the remaining parts of the class. No other registrations are required by the applicant.
Secondary & family members that take training must be signed up as a secondary member with the $15 addition to dues. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.
Objective: Sail a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered 30'-45' sailboat during a multi-day cruise upon inland/coastal waters in moderate/heavy winds and sea conditions. Learn about provisioning, boat systems, auxiliary engines, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring / mooring, docking, emergency operations, weather, and more.
Prerequisites:
- ASA-103 Certification + 60 additional hours AS SKIPPER on intermediate sized keel boats
- If you are not COMPLETELY comfortable with your 103-level skills and knowledge, you should contact the Rear Commodore, Training to discuss this before registering for ASA-104. We cannot offer refunds to students who drop out of the class due to an inadequate foundation.
Objective: Able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no Sailing Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this Sailing Knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard.
Course Time: 4 weekend days, approx. 28 hours + exam
Cost: $250
(Includes text, CD-ROM with lesson PowerPoint slides, NOAA 1210 TR chart, NOAA Chart No. 1 book, and the Exam).
See the event calendar for class schedule.
Registration Instructions:
Go to the Event Calendar and find the Part 1 for the class you wish to take. Click on the Register Now button to register for the class. Answer all questions that are applicable.
The Training Commodore will contact you and register you for the remaining parts of the class. No other registrations are required by the applicant.
Secondary & family members that take training must be signed up as a secondary member with the $15 addition to dues. To register for the class they must sign in with their own account.
Objective: Learn basic docking skills for boats with single inboard or outboard engines. Discover the basic theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury.
All fees are based on the cost to NPSC and are subject to change.
ASA Challenges
You must be registered as an NPSC Club Member to challenge a standard.
NPSC offers ASA-101 and ASA-103 Challenges for members with sailing knowledge and experience who do not have those ASA certifications. Please read this entire section before scheduling a challenge.
While this option may be a more economical way to get your certification, it is not a substitute for structured training and experience. It should only be considered by candidates who are familiar with the PRACTICAL AND WRITTEN STANDARDS published by the ASA, and found elsewhere on this site. Many experienced sailors find it worthwhile to simply take the ASA courses we offer. You may know a lot already, but we guarantee you will still learn SOMETHING more!
BEFORE YOU DECIDE whether to challenge a standard, you should obtain the appropriate text book, read it, and answer the review questions at the end of each chapter. You should also sail on the appropriate boat with one of our certified skippers, (a social sail after a club meeting or the "crew wanted" forum are good options) and make sure your sailing skills are up to the level of the ASA, and that your practices are in line with the STANDARDS. We use standard nomenclature and commands and responses, as specified by the ASA, in a deliberate attempt to facilitate harmonious sailing within a diverse group. You will be expected demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ASA prescribed standard terms and commands during the challenge. The evaluator will not have time to "instruct" you on the ASA standards during the challenge, it is simply a verification for candidates who are already familiar with the standards.
SCHEDULE your challenge only after you are sure you are ready to challenge one (or both) of the standards by contacting the Rear Commodore, Training. He or she will arrange a mutually convenient time for you and an instructor to complete the challenge. Challenges will be combined with one or two other candidates whenever possible.
FEES: Candidates who challenge ASA-101 will pay a flat $100 fee, which includes an ASA membership for one year, plus applicable boat rental. ASA members who challenge ASA-103 will pay a flat fee of $50, plus boat rental. Boat rental fees will be split among all candidates who participate, and are posted on the "Boat Info" page. We regret that we are unable to offer refunds for incomplete or unsuccessful challenges. (Fees current as of the 2015 calendar year)
ASA "Docking Made Easy" Video
ASA "Docking Under Power" Video