ASA Certification

Once you have successfully completed both the written and on-the-water elements of Basic Keelboat Sailing you are qualified to receive the American Sailing Association's Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification.  The ASA Basic Keelboat Certification qualifies you to sail small sailboats without motors in protected waters.  It is receognized at hundreds of sailing facilities throughout the country.  

There are a few facilities locally for Basic Keelboat sailing, Spinnaker at Shoreline Park in Mountain View, Lake Merritt Boathouse in Oakland and Lake Merced Boathouse in San Francisco offer centerboard boats for rent.  You may rent these boats on an hourly basis after going through a simple check out procedure there.  Sailing these smaller boats provides excellent practice for students on their way to higher qualifications.

If you want to operate auxiliary powered sailboats, on your own, you should take Basic Coastal Cruising.  This course has four on-the-water lessons of 6 hours each.  There are two major course objectives for Basic Coastal Cruising.  One is that you become prepared to take on the responsibility of being in charge of one of Spinnaker Sailing's 22 to 27 foot charter sailboats on San Francisco Bay.  The other is that you meet all the requirements for the Basic Coastal Cruising Standard of the American Sailing Association.  Once you meet the specfiic lesson objectives, you will be qualified to skipper boats during times when the wind isn't expected to exceed 30 knots.

These Standards are recognized around the country and even in some foreign countries.  It is up to each charter company to make its own requirements for charter, but your ASA Logbook will show that you have passed a test checking your skill in handling a boat on the water and that you possess the knowledge to pass a comprehensive written test.

Longer sailing over a greater distance will give you the experience you need to skipper a boat safely on San Francisco Bay.