Two-Part Bareboat Charter Certification: ASA Courses 103 & 104
Basic Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Charter (ASA 104) are taught on our 37' cruising auxiliary sailboat. This is a four-day liveaboard course. Course fee includes course materials – ASA textbooks, Sailing Fundamentals and Cruising Fundamentals, class notes and ASA Certifications. Students normally sleep aboard our sloop at the marina and anchor out on Saturday night. Lunches included Thursday and Friday and all meals included from Saturday lunch through Sunday lunch.

Call Northern Breezes Sailing School at Ludington, MI: 231-425-0305 to register or with questions.

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.

Basic Cruising -  ASA Course 103

This is the first part of a two-part program. Course is conducted on 37' cruising auxiliary sailboats.
Students will learn the fundamentals of large boat cruising while doing it! Preparation for skippering on larger bodies of water is the focus. The Basic Cruising Vacation course is combined with Bareboat Charter Cruising into a  four-day live-aboard  with preboarding the night before the course begins. The is the same program as our highly successful British Virgin Islands vacation week.

Course Outline
Lesson 1: Boat Systems & Battery, Electrical Panel, Engine, Prop Walk, Docking.
Lesson 2: Sail Trim, Crew Overboard Procedures, Reefing, Heaving to, Anchoring.
Lesson 3: Rules of the Road, Sound Signals, Buoys, Lights, VHF, Cruising Tips.
Lesson 4: Navigation, Chart Problem, Safety Systems, Heavy Weather Sailing, Written Exam.

Includes textbook, Sailing Fundamentals, published by American Sailing Association, class notes, exam and ASA certification.

Navigation instruments will be available for purchase.

Bareboat Charter Certification - ASA Course 104

Bareboat Charter Cruising - Part 2 is taught by U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains on Lake Superior. Qualified graduates will become bareboat charter certified from 30 to 45 feet.

This is the second part of a two-part certification program. This is a two-day live-aboard course held on a cruising auxiliary sailboat on Lake Michigan. Students will prepare all meals onboard, and anchor out on Saturday night. Students will learn to maneuver the boat under power, dock, anchor, and navigate in differing weather conditions. Successful candidates will receive bareboat charter certification upon completion. Instructor is ASA certified, U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Safety Orientation, Boat Systems, Docking & Getting Underway, Setting Sails, Reefing, Heaving To, Crew Overboard Drill, Anchoring.

Day 2: Review Day One, Navigation, Emergency Procedures, Cruising Tips, Written Exam.

Students should bring clothing for all weather conditions, sleeping bag, towel, and navigation instruments. (Navigation instruments will be available for purchase.) Meals from Saturday lunch through Sunday lunch are provided onboard.