American Sailing Association

Last updated
American Sailing
Formation1983
HeadquartersMarina del Rey California
Location
  • 5301 Beethoven Street
    Suite #265
    Los Angeles, CA 90066
Executive Director
Jonathan Payne
Website http://www.asa.com/

American Sailing is the predominant standards bearer and codifier in the arena of recreational sailing education in the Americas and beyond. The organization was founded in 1983 by television producer Lenny Shabes who felt there was no recognized educational system in place to learn the sport of sailing. Today there are over 400 affiliate schools that teach the American Sailing methods via the many textbooks and other educational aids the organization creates and publishes. Over one million sailors have come through the American Sailing learning system.

Contents

In administering this educational structure that includes on-water and written testing, American Sailing certifications are now recognized at charter companies and maritime employers all around the world. They have published textbooks for beginners, coastal cruising sailors, bareboat charterers, dinghy pilots and those looking to buy or charter cruising catamarans. In addition to textbooks, American Sailing has produced educational videos, smart-phone apps, countless webinars, and an interactive digital game that aims to teach and drill rudimentary sailing skills while off the water.

American Sailing is also an avid promoter of the sport of sailing – they are an active contributor in social media and sponsor an app called GO SAILING that enables sailors to connect anywhere they happen to be in the world.

Contributors

One of American Sailing's most renowned and esteemed contributors is Peter Isler who has been part of five America's Cup campaigns, authored two sailing books of his own and is known as one of the most distinguished sailors in the world.

Through the years American Sailing has formed bonds and partnerships with publications and manufacturers. Two of the most prominent are Cruising World Magazine and Beneteau Yachts. Cruising World is arguably sailing's most recognized publication with a large domestic and international circulation. They co-sponsored ASA's Docking Made Easy video series and other projects through the years.

Beneteau Yachts joined forces in 2010 with ASA in creating a small keelboat specifically designed for teaching. The ASA 22 is the product of Beneteau design and engineering combined with American Sailing's deep knowledge of efficient and safe teaching. It has an extended cockpit for group learning sessions and is equipped with roller furling, self-tailing winches and twin rudders.

Certification standards

Sail Training Courses [1]

Endorsement Courses

Online eCourses

Flotillas

The ASA sponsors sailing flotillas around the world. Frequent destinations include the Caribbean, Greece, Croatia, the San Juan Islands, and Tahiti.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruising (maritime)</span> Traveling by boat for pleasure

Cruising is a maritime activity that involves staying aboard a watercraft for extended periods of time when the vessel is traveling on water at a steady speed. Cruising generally refers to leisurely trips on yachts and luxury cruiseships, with durations varying from day-trips to months-long round-the-world voyages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yachting</span> Recreational boating in medium/large ships

Yachting is recreational boating activities using medium/large-sized boats or small ships collectively called yachts. Yachting is distinguished from other forms of boating mainly by the priority focus on comfort and luxury, the dependence on marinas for docking, and being typically only for exclusive social leisures such as cruising, fishing trip or racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacht</span> Recreational boat or ship

A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a yacht, as opposed to a boat, such a pleasure vessel is likely to be at least 33 feet (10 m) in length and may have been judged to have good aesthetic qualities.

A bareboat charter, or demise charter, is an arrangement for the chartering or hiring of a ship or boat for which no crew or provisions are included as part of the agreement. Instead, the people who rent the vessel from the owner are responsible for taking care of such things. The act is commonly known as bareboating or bareboat charter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacht charter</span>

Yacht chartering is the practice of renting, or chartering, a sailboat or motor yacht and travelling to various coastal or island destinations, for business or vacation.

Bareboating is the act of chartering a sailboat that one lives upon, navigates, and operates for a vacation from an owner or a charter company. Common bareboating locations are the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Whitsundays.

Sail Canada is Canada's governing body for the sport of sailing. Sail Canada is a "Member National Authority" of World Sailing. Organization of sailing in Canada is divided into four groups: yacht clubs, Provincial Sailing Associations, class associations, and Sail Canada itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing yacht</span> Private sailing vessel with overnight accommodations

A sailing yacht, is a leisure craft that uses sails as its primary means of propulsion. A yacht may be a sail or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, so the term applies here to sailing vessels that have a cabin with amenities that accommodate overnight use. To be termed a "yacht", as opposed to a "boat", such a vessel is likely to be at least 33 feet (10 m) in length and have been judged to have good aesthetic qualities. Sailboats that do not accommodate overnight use or are smaller than 30 feet (9.1 m) are not universally called yachts. Sailing yachts in excess of 130 feet (40 m) are generally considered to be superyachts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yachtmaster</span>

A Yachtmaster qualification is a certificate of competence of the ability to handle either a sailing boat or motor boat in certain prescribed conditions. Three different titles are specified; Yachtmaster Coastal, Yachtmaster Offshore, and Yachtmaster Ocean which specify the level of competence required and the area of operation certified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagoon catamaran</span> Range of French twin-hulled boats

Lagoon catamaran is a brand of twin-hulled boats that are designed and produced in Bordeaux, France.

OCSC SAILING was an accredited US SAILING Certification facility in Berkeley, California, located on San Francisco Bay. The name is an abbreviation for Olympic Circle Sailing Club, the Olympic Circle being a two nautical mile in diameter ring of racing buoys located directly outside the Berkeley Marina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanzer 25</span> Sailboat class

The Tanzer 25 is a Canadian trailerable sailboat, that was designed by the French company of Joubert-Nivelt and first built in 1986. The design is out of production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirby 25</span> Sailboat class

The Kirby 25 is a Canadian trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Bruce Kirby as a racer and first built in 1978. The design is out of production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacGregor 25</span> Sailboat class

The MacGregor 25 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Roger MacGregor and first built in 1973. From the start of production until 1980, it was sold as the Venture 25.

The Capri 25 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Frank Butler as a one design racer and first built in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club</span> Yacht Club in Toronto, Canada

Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) is a yacht club in Ashbridge's Bay, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The club offers a junior and adult sailing school, dinghy and keelboat racing programs, a cooperative sailing program, cruising and social events. In 2022, there are 702 members and docks for up to 292 keelboats. Club facilities include a restaurant, marine railway, and a public fuel dock with pumpout, diesel and gasoline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneteau 37</span> Sailboat class

The Beneteau 37, also called the Oceanis 37 and the Moorings 37.2 for the yacht charter market, is a French sailboat that was designed by Finot/Conq as a cruiser-racer and first built in 2006.

The Beneteau 393, also called the Beneteau Oceanis 393 and for the yacht charter role, the Moorings 403, is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser and first built in 2002.

The Beneteau 50 is a French sailboat that was designed by Bruce Farr, with the interior by Armel Briand, as a cruiser and first built in 1995. For the yacht charter market it was sold as the Stardust 505 and for Moorings Yacht Charter as the Moorings 503, Moorings 504 and Moorings 505, depending on the interior arrangements.

The Moorings 51.5 is a French sailboat that was designed by Berret-Racoupeau as a cruiser for the yacht charter market, with Moorings Yacht Charter as the fleet customer and first built in 2005.

References

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