ASA 103 & 104

Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering
(Offshore Combo Course)

Class Dates: Any three consecutive days
Instructor: Tony Pizzuti
Location: Aboard Blanca Luna in the Gulf of Mexico

Basic Keelboat Certification is a prerequisite for this course.

Course Outline
Day One:
  • 8:30am – Meet at Bay Area Sailing Facility to complete paperwork
  • Get familiar with boat and stow personal gear
  • Plan meals; purchase and stow provisions
  • Fill tanks, review mechanical and sailing systems
  • Depart Clear Lake for Galveston
  • Overnight in Galveston at Harbor House Marina or at anchor


Day Two:
  • After breakfast, a day of sailing in the Gulf of Mexico to a predetermined point 5 to 10 miles offshore. This activity will provide an exercise in both sailing and navigation.
  • Return to Moody Gardens in Offatts Bayou via the Intracoastal Waterway (the ICW).
  • Navigate the ICW; learn to work with commercial traffic by using the Rules of the Road and the VHF radio.
  • Dock at Moody Gardens or anchor in Offatts Bayou and have dinner.
  • Do some class work after dinner


Day Three:
  • After breakfast, review course work prior to taking the written tests for both Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering aboard Blanca Luna.
  • Review test results and head for Clear Lake.
  • At the marina, secure the boat and clean it as you would on any bareboat charter.


Tuition: $620 plus tax per person
(all course materials included)

Provisioning: Costs shared ($30-$40 per person additional)
Class Size: 3 or 4 sailors

Private lessons available: Two sailors, $855 per person; One sailor, $1680.

Note: The amount of sailing and the routes are dependent on wind and weather conditions.

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