Courses take place in our classroom and aboard our 36’ sailboat at Carter’s Cove Marina in Weems, VA
We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality student experience. Our facilities are clean and comfortable. Our sailboat is immaculately maintained, fun to sail, and held to the highest standards of safety. Our class sizes are small with only 2-4 students to ensure that each student receives personal attention and plenty of valuable, hands-on time at the helm. It is our mission to create a supportive learning environment where everyone feels safe to develop their skills. With over two decades of experience, owner/instructor Clay Dingledine is professional and personable.
ASA CERTIFICATIONS
We offer certification courses for the American Sailing Association (ASA), a worldwide standard in sailing education. Each course is made up of on-the-water instruction as well as classroom training. Your instructor will prepare you for the ASA exam, which you will take at the end of each course in order to receive your certification.
There are lots of great local lodging options in the area. For an immersive training experience where you spend the night aboard, check out our multi-day trips- which also provide opportunity for ASA certification.
ASA 101- basic keelboat sailing
2 days, $575 per person
ASA 101 takes place over 2 days from 9:30am-4:30pm. A typical day starts in the classroom introducing or reviewing concepts on the white board for about an hour. You’ll then head to the boat and go sailing - rotating between acting as skipper and crew. You’ll learn basic sailing terminology, parts and functions of the boat, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards. This course includes access to a free Intro to Sailing online video course. By the end of the second day you will be steering a 36’ sailboat under power and sail. You will also be well-prepared for the ASA 101 certification exam.
course schedule 2025
Courses offered March - November
ASA 102 (optional)
OFFERED upon request
Why? The ASA 102 is an optional course geared toward sailing smaller boats and tactics that would be useful for racing. Sail & Surf Adventures is focused primarily on cruising sailing- usually on boats over 26 ft and sometimes for several days at time. Captain Clay is certified to teach the 102 course and does upon special request; however, it is not a part of our regular curriculum.
ASA 103- basic coastal cruising
3 days, $775 per person
Build upon your foundation from the 101 course. ASA 103 takes place over 3 days from 9:30am-4:30pm. Build upon your foundation from the 101 course. In this course we introduce the inboard diesel engine and discuss basic mechanics, talk more extensively about sail trim and how to handle various weather conditions under sail, as well as how to anchor. We discuss basic navigation tactics as well as some tips and tricks for docking. Synthesize your knowledge and skills by picking a location on the chart and discussing how to sail there and back- what challenges might we expect to encounter, and how long do we expect it to take? It’s at the 103 level that the individual techniques of sailing start to synthesize and be applied to more extensive day trips.
course schedule 2025
Courses offered March - November
ASA 104- bareboat cruising
3 days, $775 per person
ASA 104 takes place over 3 days from 9:30am-4:30pm. Have dreams of sailing for multiple days at a time, spending the night on the boat, and reaching destinations beyond line of sight? Join us for a 104 course and learn all the skills necessary to make that happen. You will learn to handle a 30-50’ sailboat in moderate to heavy conditions, setting sails, reefing, and docking in variety of circumstances. We will practicing anchoring, and navigating using paper charts and an electronic chart plotter. On day 2 the class will plot a course and sail to an nearby harbor, where you’ll dock at a sea-side restaurant for lunch before return to our homeport. This is perfect preparation for chartering a boat, or taking your own boat on a multi-day cruise on inland coastal waters.
course schedule 2025
Courses offered March - November
no courses scheduled
ASA 105- coastal navigation
2 days, $575 per person
ASA 105 takes place in a classroom setting over 2 days from 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn how to navigate like a true sailor. We teach essentials to navigation- in person, and on paper. We believe this is the way to build a solid foundation. Chart plotters and GPS are powerful tools used to supplement our basic knowledge of positioning, current, leeway, and visual aids to navigation. You will also gain an understanding of electronic chartplotters and how to use them.
course schedule
Courses offered March - November
call or email to request a date
ASA 106- advanced coastal cruising
2 days / 1 night aboard
You will learn all the essential skills for provisioning a boat, navigating at night, and handling a variety of weather conditions, as well as how to effectively handle emergency situations onboard. ASA 106 courses are scheduled by request.
course schedule
Courses offered March - November
call or email for availability
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to seeing you on the water!