Bayfield "Big Boat" Basic Keelboat Combined With Basic Coastal and Bareboat Cruising: ASA 101, ASA 103 and ASA 104

A large percentage of adults entering sailing for the first time or refreshing after many years in a busy profession while raising family are most interested in bigger boats which they plan to charter or OWN in the future. A better course correction for this group is to take Basic Keelboat in a combined course package with Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising aboard one of our Hunter 34s with two private cabins. We generally limit the number of students to three or four based on the number of couples. The four-day live-aboard course works well because of the self-guided review and study which you do in advance!  Students enjoy an immersion course experience with only one onboard exam which we review in advance. Family and Friends groups may exceed class limits occasionally.

 

Can I apply the Family & Friends Format to This Combined Courses Option? Definitely!

The Family & Friends course format has been used by many couples to gain sailing experience and the confidence to sail, handle and manage a bigger boat independently. This builds confidence in putting charter groups together. As an example consider couple "one" who is trained and who would like to charter with couple two who is not trained but whom they socialize with from across the street. Couple one knows they can handle the boat by themselves if necessary so they can confidently invite couple two to join them on a charter adventure. This charter adventure changes from "not enough crew" to a boat management issue for couple "one." Couple one may want to avoid handing primary responsibility for their most important dock line to "enthusiastic" member of couple "two". Either member of couple "one" who has been trained to handle this important line is a better choice! Bigger "F&F" groups are usually scheduled aboard our Hunter 40.5 which has three cabins and two heads.

The same principles apply to family groups with kids, young adults, father/daughter, mother/son, etc. The limitations on F&F courses are: 1) The maximum number of certifiers in a 3-day version is two people doing a maximum of two certifications; 2) The maximum number of certifiers in a 4-day version is three people doing three certifications or, four people doing two certifications; 3) The maximum number of certifiers in a 5-day version is four. It is possible for us to have some flexibility on number two and three. We are in general as flexible as possible on all of our programs while maintaining quality. Family and Friends Info

 

Requirements for Success When Combining 101/103/104

Register early so you have time to complete the following:

1. Prepare for and take the Basic Keelboat, ASA 101 written pre-test.
2. Prepare for and take the Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 103 written pre-test.
3. Do the review questions for the Bareboat Cruising, ASA 104 from the provided textbook. DO NOT REQUEST TO TAKE THIS EXAM PRIOR TO ARRIVING FOR YOUR CLASS! This exam is 75% systems which are much easier to learn by touching and feeling than from diagrams and pictures in a textbook. We are in the business of helping you realize your dreams. Trust our experience on this issue.

What this approach accomplishes is to eliminate the need for you to take the first two written pre-tests aboard the boat which saves a lot of time. It takes 15 minutes to review one of your pre-tests while it takes the best part of three hours to prep, test and review with you. This saved time can then be devoted to on-the-water experiences. The only written exam will be the ASA 104 exam during class. The 104 exam is almost all boat systems. Chart reading, fuel systems, water systems, DC and AC electrical systems are far easier to "show and tell" than to vision from a textbook picture or diagram! If you need to see the system more than once, you are living on the boat. The system is not far away! As part of your live-aboard immersion course, we will actually assign you to look at some of these systems daily! One of the benefits of this approach is that after you complete the course package, the Bareboat Cruising textbook becomes a great source of review on the "big bird" trip to the Caribbean!

 

How do I register?

We use the same registration form for the combined 101/103/104 and for the combined 103/104 courses. Most everything on our website and online payment systems are current. If NOT, fear NOT: there is a "Notes" section on the payments page in which you can define anything. This section is read and it is our way of ensuring we deliver service. Note: Family and Friends groups are priced differently and use the form on the Family and Friends Info.

Please take a two-step approach:

First Review dates and register for one of the "Bayfield Classes."

1. Register for the Basic Keelboat portion of the class at the same time on the same form.
2. Don't forget to use "couple's discounts" on both courses and veteran's discount if you are eligible!

Register for Combined Bayfield "Big Boat" Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter Course - ASA Courses 101, 103 & 104

 

Description

Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Charter (ASA 104) are taught aboard our 34'-40' cruising auxiliary sailboats as a four-day live-aboard course. Course fee includes course materials - ASA textbooks, Coastal Cruising Made Easy and Bareboat Cruising Made Easy, class notes and ASA Certifications. Students sleep aboard our sloops at the finest marina in the Apostle Islands and anchor out on Saturday night. Lunches on Thursday & Friday as well as all meals on Saturday & Sunday are included.

The Bayfield combined Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter course can be scheduled as a regular Bayfield course or as a Family and Friends Info.

The following two courses, Basic Cruising - ASA Course 103 and Bareboat Charter Certification - ASA 104, are included in the 4-day combined vacation course program. Read the individual course descriptions for more detail. Flexibility in response to weather often requires rearrangement of scheduling of specific items in the course from one day to a different day.