Price from:
590 USD
Booking Notes
For more details on the skills and knowledge covered, check the full course outline [here.](https://americansailing.com/learn-to-sail/certifications/asa-101-keelboat-sailing-1/)
##Welcome to Sail Port Townsend's ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Course!
###Where to meet:
Our Class will meet promptly at 9:00 am upstairs in Office 2-D of the Nomura building in the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven.
**Address: 385 Benedict Street, Office#2-D, Port Townsend, Washington 98368**
There are multiple entrances to this building, and they don’t all lead upstairs! Please use the north entrance that is directly across the street from the Safeway gas station. There should be stairs immediately inside the door, we are the first classroom on the right at the top of the stairs.
Our classroom is accessed via stairs only, and is non-ADA accessible, please let us know if you need any special accommodations and we can work to find a solution.
#Preparing for your Course
**You should receive your course materials in the mail in 7-10 days, if you need course materials expedited or do not receive your materials within 10 days please contact us**
Please take some time to read through the course text book and begin to practice and learn the knots covered in the book. We will teach and test you on the Bowline, Figure 8, Cleat Hitch, Clove Hitch, Round Turn & Two Half Hitches, and Square knot.
** For Day 1**, please take special care to look over the sections on the Parts of the Boat (p20-27) Points of Sail (close hauled/close reach/beam reach/broad reach/run), Tacking/Jibing (p18 and p48-55), Navigation Rules (p92-95) and The Aids to Navigation (p100).
On **Day 2** we cover Crew Over Board drills and will take the ASA 101 Exam.
There is a lot to cover in this two day class and it can at times feel like a marathon. Expect and prepare for long days out on the water: Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and warm layers/ rain shell if necessary.
**In preparation for your course**, please read through the course textbook before the first day of class. Coming to class prepared will determine your success in this course. We recommend using the line provided in your course materials to practice the knots from the textbook as well. You will be tested on knots - this is muscle memory that takes time to build. We will test the bowline knot (pronounced BO’lin) at the start of the first day! Topics from the textbook will be covered throughout the class, and you will need to pass a skills and knowledge test after our two days together to receive the ASA 101 certification. It’s a lot to learn in two days, to excel you will need to get a head start!
***Text: Sailing Made Easy: The Official Manual for the ASA Basic Keelboat Sailing Course***
Another recommended resource is to take the online preparation course for those new to sailing, it is free to register and runs about 30 minutes and will get you prepared for your first sail. While not required, it is a great quick introduction for those students coming in with zero sailing experience.
[https://americansailing.com/free-online-sailing-course/](https://americansailing.com/free-online-sailing-course/)
For a more in-depth online preparation course, you now have access to the online ASA 101 into to sailing course using our schools coupon code below. This course takes 4-6 hours, and is more thorough if you need more time with the theory and fundamentals. This course will help you prepare for the written exam we will take during our 101 course so you can focus on learning the physical skills of sailing during out time together. It has lessons, videos, quizzes and an exam. If you are worrying about the exam portion or passing the exam we recommend taking this online course to help you prepare.
**101 Prep Course - [https://learn.americansailing.com/p/intro-to-sailing](https://learn.americansailing.com/p/intro-to-sailing)**
**coupon code = ASA0980SPTS**
###Check the Weather
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER! The temperature on the water can get chilly year-round (even in summer). The wind blowing across our cool waters acts just like air conditioning. BRING LAYERS AND RAIN GEAR! To ensure you have the most enjoyable experience, it is crucial to check the weather conditions before showing up for your lesson.
NOAA Weather Forecast: [https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/marine/coastal/pz/pzz134.txt](https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/marine/coastal/pz/pzz134.txt)
[https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/wa/port-townsend](https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/wa/port-townsend)
The lesson will continue in rain. Bring a rain jacket. See our weather cancellation policy below.
###Parking:
You can park along the road on Jefferson Street between the Safeway gas station and our classroom building, in the small gravel lot adjacent to our building on Benedict Street or in the larger Port of Port Townsend Parking lot between our classroom building and the marina.
###Getting Here:
If you are coming from points east and plan to cross the Hood Canal Bridge, we recommend getting to Port Townsend at least an hour before your class start time. Often during summer months the bridge will open for vessel traffic and cause delays of over an hour! [https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/hoodcanalbridgestatus](https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/hoodcanalbridgestatus)
If you are planning to drive across on the Port Townsend – Whidbey Island Ferry we recommend making a reservation as sailing space for cars is limited and often full. If you choose to walk-on, no reservation is required, our classroom is just under 1 mile from the ferry terminal, about a 15-20 minute walk along the waterfront on level ground. [Washington State Ferries Vehicle Reservations System](https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/reservations/vehicle/SailingSchedule.aspx)
If you are driving up from the Portland area, we recommend you take HWY 101 up the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. Not only is it a much more scenic and fun drive, you won’t potentially get stuck if the Hood Canal Bridge opens!
###What to Expect:
We will meet in the classroom promptly at 9am each day. The first day we will do a general orientation and go over a few basics before heading down to the boats. **Life Jackets are required to be worn at all times while on the boat.** There is space to store items onboard, or you can leave items locked in our classroom building. Much of the learning of sailing is kinesthetic learning and mastering physical skills, so most of this course (~12 hours) will be delivered on the boat on the water. Therefore, preparation by reading course materials or taking the online prep courses will be very valuable.
We will come back in for lunch breaks which will run for 30mins to 1 hr depending on class preferences. After lunch we may spend a few minutes in the classroom reviewing knowledge, or may head directly back out to continue working on the skills. There is a LOT of content to cover in a short amount of time and it can at times feel like an endurance test. Expect to spend most of the course on the water.
Our class will run until 5pm. We will finish each day in the classroom to answer any questions and prepare for the next steps. On the second day of your course, we will administer the ASA 101 exam. A score of 80% on this multiple-choice exam, as well as demonstration of the required skills in the form of a skills assessment, is required to earn your ASA 101 certification. It is possible for a student to end a course without earning certification. Sail Port Townsend has a plan to support and guide students who may require a bit of additional study or practice to meet the ASA’s certification standards. **A gratuity for the instructor is appreciated and recommended if you feel they did an exceptional job leading your course and provided you with individualized attention.**
A list of the skills and knowledge covered and tested by this course can be found here:
[https://americansailing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Certification-ASA-101-Standards.pdf](https://americansailing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Certification-ASA-101-Standards.pdf)
###What to Bring:
Please dress for the weather and bring an additional layer or two because it is always a bit chillier when sailing out on the water. We have life jackets for everyone, binoculars, sunscreen, light snacks, and bottled water aboard. Please bring your own water bottle, beverages and snacks. It is recommended to dress in layers, including a lightweight long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off of you, and to bring sunglasses, a hat, and wear comfortable, closed toed shoes. Our course will continue in light rain, so a rain jacket is recommended if there looks to be a chance of rain in the forecast. Please bring pens and pencils for yourself, as well as something to take notes in.
##Lunch##
We will take a 30 min to 1 hr lunch break depending on what the class would prefer. We recommend you bring your lunch, there may be some nearby options to purchase lunch.
###What NOT to bring:
Sail Port Townsend Courses are alcohol free, drug free and smoke free. We will not permit any student to be under the influence of alcohol or allow the consumption of any alcoholic beverages during course hours. No illegal drugs or legal marijuana are allowed on the boat or in the classroom at all. There is also no smoking or vaping allowed on the boat.
###Restrooms:
We have a private restroom inside the classroom building.
Public Restrooms are available in the port/marina, at **2732 Washington St.** They are in a building with skylights that is between the Yard Office and the boat launch ramp/fuel dock.
**Our restroom code is 5680#** - make sure to include the #. please do not share this code with others.
We have a small marine camp toilet on board our boats, but we recommend using the restroom ashore before heading out as it is much more user friendly. In many circumstances we can also come to a dock ashore for restroom breaks when we are out on the water.
###Gratuity:
**At the end of your course, a gratuity for the instructor is appreciated and recommended if you feel they did an exceptional job leading your course and provided you with individualized attention.**
Thank you again for choosing Sail Port Townsend,
We are excited to help you embark on this sailing journey!
Feel free to call or email with any questions. We can help answer any general questions about staying in/visiting Port Townsend as well!
Sail Port Townsend
(360) 797-9105
learn2sail@SailPortTownsend.com
*Sail Port Townsend is a woman owned sailing school, that specializes in providing positive and inclusive introductory sailing experiences as part of a solid foundation of basic sailing skills and knowledge. We believe that a solid foundation in the basics
is essential, and that small boats make great sailors. To achieve this mission, we specialize by teaching only ASA 101 on our fleet of 26ft Thunderbird sailboats.*
*Thunderbird sailboats are iconic Pacific Northwest Boats. The Thunderbird sailboat represents our philosophy as an easy entry boat with big performance from a modest investment. These boats were designed to be economical for the average family to own, to be able to cruise with a family of four, while also being fast enough to compete and win in Puget Sound area races. They have large and deep cockpits with high coamings to keep everyone secure and comfortable while learning.*
*Port Townsend, Washington is a small coastal town with a big reputation in the sailing world. With a year-round windy bay and countless maritime professionals around it is a great place to come to learn about sailing and make connections. Visit the Northwest Maritime Center, the Boat Haven Boat Yard, or The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding while you are here.*
*Our local instructors have a passion for sailing and a desire to share it. We are composed of professional sailors, maritime industry professionals and professional educators. Our classes are kept small at only 2-4 students so you will get plenty of personalized attention. We believe sailing is easy and fun to learn – we set our students up for success in sailing by helping them achieve their goals, overcome fears/avoidance behaviors, and learn to love sailing!*
Cancellation Policy
We understand that things come up, but planning for these courses takes time. Please let us know 30 days in advance if you need to cancel your enrollment in the course. If you cancel your course 30 days before the start of class you will receive a complete refund (minus the cost of any course materials you have received) or the option to reschedule. Cancellations between 30 and 14 days of the course start date will be refunded your total amount minus the cost of course materials and a 20% scheduling fee. Cancellations within 14 days of the course start date are non refundable. Rescheduling within 14 days of the course will result in a rescheduling fee of 50% of the course. If we are able to fill your space from our waitlist, we will waive any cancellation or rescheduling fees.
##Weather Cancellation Policy:
We will still go out in rain. We will not go out in a downpour or in winds too strong for this class. Our typical summer conditions on Port Townsend Bay are perfect for learning how to sail in gentle, consistent breezes, but our normal wind patterns can vary quite a bit day to day. It is an uncommon occurrence to have to cancel the on the water portion of our course, but it is a possibility I want you to be aware of. We never know what we will really get until the day of! Since most of this course is on the water, the course may get cancelled due to unfavorable conditions.
Captain reserves the right to cancel any trip at any time for any reason. Sailing is dependent on the weather, this is something we cannot control. **If the weather forecast looks to be unfavorable, we will try and let you know a day in advance, but most weather decisions must be made day of sailing as the forecast can change drastically day to day.** Trips may be cancelled if the wind is blowing too strong to safely learn the basics of sailing. If there is not enough wind to sail, we can still get out on the water and learn and practice many of the skills. If we cannot get enough suitable sailing time because of too much or too little wind, we will arrange for an additional make-up day to cover these skills, this day will be included in the price of your enrollment.
