A 4-day immersive progression from total beginner to confident coastal skipper.

• Days 1–2 (ASA 101 — Basic Keelboat): Master sailing fundamentals aboard Galene. You’ll learn rigging, points of sail, main and jib trimming, steering, tacking, gybing, knot tying, docking under sail/power, and crew-overboard recovery procedures.

• Days 3–4 (ASA 103 — Basic Coastal Cruising): Transition to coastal operating skills. You’ll cover auxiliary diesel engine operation, outboard/dinghy considerations, coastal chart navigation, plotting courses, weather monitoring, anchoring techniques, and onboard vessel systems.

Schedule: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily. Departs from and returns to The Tides Inn Marina in Irvington, VA each afternoon (non-liveaboard).

Included:

• 4 full days (~28 hours) of hands-on instruction on 36' monohull Galene

• Official ASA 101 & ASA 103 textbooks and study materials

• Written exam proctoring and official ASA certification application fees

• All fuel, marina fees, and boat operating expenses

• Use of life jackets (PFDs) and safety equipment

• Online prep courses

Not Included:

• Overnight accommodations (lodging available nearby at The Tides Inn or local inns/rentals)

• Daily lunches/meals ashore

Galene is a classic 36-foot fiberglass monohull from the late-1960s, thoughtfully updated with modern sailing systems while retaining her timeless character. She is wheel-steered (not a tiller), equipped with an inboard engine for smooth departures from the dock to open water, and features a mix of traditional and self-tailing winches plus a roller-furling jib—making her an ideal platform for hands-on sailing instruction.

Course Minimums To ensure a realistic and collaborative crew dynamic, all ASA group courses require a minimum of two students to run.

Risk-Free Booking Guarantee You can confidently secure your preferred dates today. If a combo session does not meet the two-student minimum by 14 days prior to departure, we will contact you immediately with three flexible options:

• Free Transfer: Move your reservation to any future confirmed course date.

• Full Refund: Receive a 100% refund of your payment.

• Private Upgrade: Apply your balance toward upgrading the session to a private 1-on-1 instruction course.

Check-in details

We meet in the Tides Inn main lobby at the start of your class. You may park in the resort’s main parking lot. Your instructor will meet you in the lobby.

What to bring

- Non-Marking Deck Shoes: Closed-toe shoes with white or light-colored rubber soles to prevent slipping and protect the boat's deck. Avoid flip-flops or black-soled sneakers.

- Quick-Dry Layers: We recommend synthetic fabrics (polyester/nylon) rather than cotton, which stays cold and heavy when wet.

- Windbreaker or Rain Jacket: Essential for protection against spray and wind chill, even on sunny days.

- Sailing Gloves: Highly recommended to prevent blisters and rope burns during repetitive tacking and jibing drills.

- Polarized Sunglasses: Crucial for cutting glare on the water to see navigation marks and wind shifts.

- Hat or Visor: We recommend a clip or chin strap to keep it secure in high winds.

- Sunscreen: High-SPF, waterproof formula. Note: we discourage "spray-on" sunscreen as it makes the deck dangerously slippery- you will be asked to apply spray-on sunscreen on the dock only.

- Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated; we recommend an insulated bottle to keep water cool all day.

- Course Materials: Bring your Sailing Made Easy textbook.

Special requirements

Participants should be comfortable in a marine environment and willing to participate actively.

Courses canceled due to named storms or otherwise extreme weather will be rescheduled or fully refunded. We offer free cancellation within 48 hours of booking. After that period, cancellations for any reason will forfeit a 50% deposit.