Im looking into sailing schools and I see that there are two certifications out there. What is the differance between the two? will all charter companys accect both? Is one better than the other? Im looking more towards the Basic Keelboat and Coastal Cruising courses, they are not cheap and i would hate to chose one and then not be able to use it for chartering. I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
US Sail or ASA
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Here's what I've learned....
If Tennessee is like Kentucky, there isn't much information on sailing. There is a school on Kentucky Lake that I believe is ASA based, as I recall. Other than that, all I can find is along the coast, and as you say, classes are rather costly. My goal, as I assume yours is, was to shoot for bareboat charterer acceptance. After seeking similar information, I've ultimately been guided to the US Power Squadrons route. I'm taking the basic classes (America's Boating Course, Seamanship, etc.) locally. In fact, I'm doing as much as I can via home study, taking tests with the local squadrons. I'm told that these certificates will translate somehow into the ASA and US Sail certification programs, helping with at least some of the training, and that many of the bareboat charterers hold the US Power Squadrons certifications in comprably high regard. I still intend someday to take some of the practical sailing courses, which US Power Squadrons just can't duplicate...at least around here. I found that I could not get responsive information from ASA, US Sail, US Coast Guard Auxilliary, or US Power Squdrons until I registerd for the America's Boating Course, after which time the later two organizations began to contact me. Check out the attached URL for more information. Good luck!!
If Tennessee is like Kentucky, there isn't much information on sailing. There is a school on Kentucky Lake that I believe is ASA based, as I recall. Other than that, all I can find is along the coast, and as you say, classes are rather costly. My goal, as I assume yours is, was to shoot for bareboat charterer acceptance. After seeking similar information, I've ultimately been guided to the US Power Squadrons route. I'm taking the basic classes (America's Boating Course, Seamanship, etc.) locally. In fact, I'm doing as much as I can via home study, taking tests with the local squadrons. I'm told that these certificates will translate somehow into the ASA and US Sail certification programs, helping with at least some of the training, and that many of the bareboat charterers hold the US Power Squadrons certifications in comprably high regard. I still intend someday to take some of the practical sailing courses, which US Power Squadrons just can't duplicate...at least around here. I found that I could not get responsive information from ASA, US Sail, US Coast Guard Auxilliary, or US Power Squdrons until I registerd for the America's Boating Course, after which time the later two organizations began to contact me. Check out the attached URL for more information. Good luck!!
ASA basic keelboat class...
For what it's worth, I took the ASA basic keelboat class last summer at Lake Tahoe and, although the instruction could be deemed 'adequate', I didn't really feel like I got much for my money. The amount of information I got over a two day period could have easily been fit into an afternoon, as the instructor spent an inordinate amount of his time concentrating on one of the four students who was obviously not prepared for the class. She said she hadn't had time to study the book before the class (although it had been mailed to us over a month before the class)so we spent almost two hours at the dock going over the basic terminology, how to tie a bowline (which she never did figure out) and a lot of other things that us other three students already had learned from the book. It was quite frustrating, and at lunch on the first day we discussed going to the owner of the school and complaining. We didn't feel that it was right for one student to hold back the progress of the others simply because she had failed to do the required prep work, but we couldn't find the owner and ended-up muddling through the rest of the class. I had originally intended to continue taking lessons up through off-shore cruising, but after this first experience I put those plans on hold. While I certainly realize that you can't condemn an entire organization for the ineptitude of one instructor, I and the other two students who were really there to learn felt that we had paid for a lot more than we had received. If I decide to get formal instruction again, I'll be asking a lot more questions before I get out the 'ol checkbook!
For what it's worth, I took the ASA basic keelboat class last summer at Lake Tahoe and, although the instruction could be deemed 'adequate', I didn't really feel like I got much for my money. The amount of information I got over a two day period could have easily been fit into an afternoon, as the instructor spent an inordinate amount of his time concentrating on one of the four students who was obviously not prepared for the class. She said she hadn't had time to study the book before the class (although it had been mailed to us over a month before the class)so we spent almost two hours at the dock going over the basic terminology, how to tie a bowline (which she never did figure out) and a lot of other things that us other three students already had learned from the book. It was quite frustrating, and at lunch on the first day we discussed going to the owner of the school and complaining. We didn't feel that it was right for one student to hold back the progress of the others simply because she had failed to do the required prep work, but we couldn't find the owner and ended-up muddling through the rest of the class. I had originally intended to continue taking lessons up through off-shore cruising, but after this first experience I put those plans on hold. While I certainly realize that you can't condemn an entire organization for the ineptitude of one instructor, I and the other two students who were really there to learn felt that we had paid for a lot more than we had received. If I decide to get formal instruction again, I'll be asking a lot more questions before I get out the 'ol checkbook!
ASA instructor view
I've been teaching part time for an ASA school near Atlanta for about eight years, but have no experience with US Sailing other than second hand info. Mostly I see adult beginners in basic keelboat classes, occasionally teach advanced classes for basic coastal cruising and bareboat chartering. Those are the first three "rungs" of the class ladder in ASA terms. I believe US Sailing has a similar system. My chartering experience tells me the charter companies don't really have a preference if you have the bareboat certification, some good sailing experience, and your charge card has a credit limit they can tap into. To choose a school, talk to some former students and current instructors. Schools that are "local" may give you a convenient opportunity to rent/charter a boat after the basic class so you can build experience (if you don't own your own boat). Find out what type of boat they teach on, go visit the school, see if the boats look well maintained. Stay with smaller boats for the basic class (20'-22', outboard, tiller). Max number of students on that size boat should be three, two is even better. Consider taking coastal cruising and bareboat chartering in the area where you plan to go and charter a boat after graduation. Those classes are normally taught on 35-45' boats so you can learn all the systems on a modern yacht. Hope for a variety of weather conditions when you take the class for the best experience. As to the previous poster's comment about one student slowing the progress of the entire class, I'd contact the owner of the school and explain the situation, see if there isn't something they can do to make you a more satisfied customer (ie another day on the water with an instructor). Ed S/V Grace ASA CONI
I've been teaching part time for an ASA school near Atlanta for about eight years, but have no experience with US Sailing other than second hand info. Mostly I see adult beginners in basic keelboat classes, occasionally teach advanced classes for basic coastal cruising and bareboat chartering. Those are the first three "rungs" of the class ladder in ASA terms. I believe US Sailing has a similar system. My chartering experience tells me the charter companies don't really have a preference if you have the bareboat certification, some good sailing experience, and your charge card has a credit limit they can tap into. To choose a school, talk to some former students and current instructors. Schools that are "local" may give you a convenient opportunity to rent/charter a boat after the basic class so you can build experience (if you don't own your own boat). Find out what type of boat they teach on, go visit the school, see if the boats look well maintained. Stay with smaller boats for the basic class (20'-22', outboard, tiller). Max number of students on that size boat should be three, two is even better. Consider taking coastal cruising and bareboat chartering in the area where you plan to go and charter a boat after graduation. Those classes are normally taught on 35-45' boats so you can learn all the systems on a modern yacht. Hope for a variety of weather conditions when you take the class for the best experience. As to the previous poster's comment about one student slowing the progress of the entire class, I'd contact the owner of the school and explain the situation, see if there isn't something they can do to make you a more satisfied customer (ie another day on the water with an instructor). Ed S/V Grace ASA CONI
ASA materials and tests quirky but detailed
I've taken a couple of ASA courses on long Island Sound. Like any type of course a lot depends on the instructor--the 2 instructors working out of that school are licensed captains with a lot of experience, which was important because the Jobson book which they hand out as a textbook doesn't really cover all the bases that the ASA written test does. The instructors filled in with notebooks of information which they constructed by long experience with both the book and the test. I learned a lot from the courses but the ASA system doesn't look like it will hold up if the instructor isn't a good teacher, good sailor, and a rules-oriented person. Maybe the best way to evaluate an ASA school is to ask students who took courses what they thought of the instructor. Be prepared for written tests harder than anything you took in high school. The value is there wrapped up in a quirky package of methods and materials.
I've taken a couple of ASA courses on long Island Sound. Like any type of course a lot depends on the instructor--the 2 instructors working out of that school are licensed captains with a lot of experience, which was important because the Jobson book which they hand out as a textbook doesn't really cover all the bases that the ASA written test does. The instructors filled in with notebooks of information which they constructed by long experience with both the book and the test. I learned a lot from the courses but the ASA system doesn't look like it will hold up if the instructor isn't a good teacher, good sailor, and a rules-oriented person. Maybe the best way to evaluate an ASA school is to ask students who took courses what they thought of the instructor. Be prepared for written tests harder than anything you took in high school. The value is there wrapped up in a quirky package of methods and materials.
Go north in the summer...
We took courses in August 2002 with Bay Breese in Traverse City, Michigan. Left 95+ tempuratures in Missouri for 75-80 degrees in Michigan. We took the whole family -- wife, teenage son and 10 year old daughter. Cost for 3 lessons (daughter didn't take lessons)was only about $150 a day more than chartering a boat. As we had already sailed for several years, the instructor quickly assessed our skills, reviewed what we already new, and focused on new skill sets. We took the first 2 ASA course - Basic Keel and Begining Coastal Cruising -- as I recall we sailed 3 long days then took about an hour for the test. My wife and I went back up last year and sailed a week for the next 2 ASA courses - Intermidiate Coastal Cruising and Coastal Navigation. Bryan Smith was our instructor. We shared a Gib Sea with another couple. Sailed from Traverse City to Beaver Island to Mackinaw Island and back. Had a great trip. Bryan was a great instructor. Again, not a lot more that if we had just leased the boat. You might want to check where you want to charter. I know many companies have lessons and certification as an option. St. Louis Sailing Center offers certification along with a trip to BVI.
We took courses in August 2002 with Bay Breese in Traverse City, Michigan. Left 95+ tempuratures in Missouri for 75-80 degrees in Michigan. We took the whole family -- wife, teenage son and 10 year old daughter. Cost for 3 lessons (daughter didn't take lessons)was only about $150 a day more than chartering a boat. As we had already sailed for several years, the instructor quickly assessed our skills, reviewed what we already new, and focused on new skill sets. We took the first 2 ASA course - Basic Keel and Begining Coastal Cruising -- as I recall we sailed 3 long days then took about an hour for the test. My wife and I went back up last year and sailed a week for the next 2 ASA courses - Intermidiate Coastal Cruising and Coastal Navigation. Bryan Smith was our instructor. We shared a Gib Sea with another couple. Sailed from Traverse City to Beaver Island to Mackinaw Island and back. Had a great trip. Bryan was a great instructor. Again, not a lot more that if we had just leased the boat. You might want to check where you want to charter. I know many companies have lessons and certification as an option. St. Louis Sailing Center offers certification along with a trip to BVI.
Actually Thinking about
going to FL. to somewhere like Bluewater or Annapolis school, looking at the week long live aboard course, trying to look at it like a mini vacation. this will serve two fold purpose, one to increase my skills adn to teach the wife to sail and to see if she would like the cruising life. But from what i see, there is not that much differance between the two certifications, is that correct?
going to FL. to somewhere like Bluewater or Annapolis school, looking at the week long live aboard course, trying to look at it like a mini vacation. this will serve two fold purpose, one to increase my skills adn to teach the wife to sail and to see if she would like the cruising life. But from what i see, there is not that much differance between the two certifications, is that correct?
Both Good, but
It is the instructor and the boats they teach on that nakes the difference. I took ASA!
It is the instructor and the boats they teach on that nakes the difference. I took ASA!
J World
Having just spent the last two days with J World on an Intermediate course, I would highly recommend it. They also have a week long cruise school. Check it out at jworldschool.com.
Having just spent the last two days with J World on an Intermediate course, I would highly recommend it. They also have a week long cruise school. Check it out at jworldschool.com.
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