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Spend three days learning coastal navigation, anchoring, docking, and safety aboard a Nimbus 305C in the San Juan Islands. This AB 103/104 course certifies capable cruisers and condenses essential seamanship into a hands-on, small-group experience.
Spend three days learning coastal navigation, anchoring, docking, and safety aboard a Nimbus 305C in the San Juan Islands. This AB 103/104 course certifies capable cruisers and condenses essential seamanship into a hands-on, small-group experience.
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Operated by Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy · Anacortes, Washington
Onboard the Nimbus 305C, the AB 103/104 Powerboat Cruising Course turns three concentrated days into a practical cruising primer in the San Juan Islands. The program launches from Anacortes, Washington, meeting at 3116 V Place, Anacortes, WA 98221, and combines classroom navigation with real-world handling aboard a well-equipped cruising powerboat based in Cap Sante Marina. Over three days and two nights students move from systems and theory to overnight anchoring, moorage procedures, and safety drills. Mornings start in the classroom for coastal navigation, dead-reckoning plotting, and systems familiarization; afternoons and evenings bring hands-on practice—anchoring in protected coves, docking at guest slips, man-overboard recovery, and throttle-and-helm maneuvers that build confident control. The course culminates in a written exam that awards AB 103 and 104 certifications to qualifying candidates. What makes this course stand out is the focus on realistic conditions and certification that opens doors to PowerTime membership programs and international charters. The Nimbus 305C provides modern systems to learn on: diesel propulsion, electronics suites, and reliable anchoring gear. The San Juan Islands themselves offer the ideal classroom—glacially scoured channels, mixed rocky shores, and tidal currents that challenge navigation judgment without extreme exposure. Look for sandstone and basalt outcrops, tidepools rich with sea anemones, and forested shorelines of Douglas fir and salal. The itinerary includes one night at anchor and one night on guest moorage, which teaches students the contrast between offshore anchoring protocols and marina procedures. Included materials—books, certifications, provisions, and PFDs—keep the focus on practice; students should bring warm clothing, boots, and raingear not provided by the operator. Minimum age is 18, and class size is limited to four, so instruction is intensive and personalized. Beyond seamanship, the course is a gateway to exploring local marine life and coastal history. Experienced instructors cover distress response and emergency procedures informed by regional maritime practice. For travelers planning to charter or cruise independently, this course compresses years of trial-and-error into a focused professional curriculum. Whether you want to skipper weeklong charters or simply feel at ease on your own overnight cruise, the AB 103/104 course in Anacortes delivers practical skills, official certification, and the kind of on-water confidence that lasts long after you leave the marina. Practical logistics are straightforward: check in at the classroom at 3116 V Place, Anacortes, WA 98221 at 9am on day one, expect return by 4pm the final day, and plan for one meal ashore not included. Small-boat motion and variable weather mean layering, waterproof footwear, and a personal strobe are wise—personal strobe lights are not provided. This focused, small-group format accelerates skill acquisition, making AB 103/104 an efficient investment for anyone serious about safe coastal cruising or preparing to hire on as crew or captain.
Books, AB 103/104 certifications, provisions, and PFDs are included; one meal out is not included.
The classroom meet-up is at 3116 V Place, Anacortes, WA 98221 at 9am on day one.
No prior certification is required; the course is hands-on and designed for rapid skill acquisition.
Minimum age is 18 for enrollment in the AB 103/104 course.
Yes, the practical time on the Nimbus 305C and logged exercises can contribute to real-world experience for future qualifications.
Class size is limited to four students to ensure personalized, practical instruction.
Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy is a sailing school based in Anacortes, Washington, offering hands-on instruction for recreational sailors and powerboat operators. The academy runs American Sailing Association (ASA) courses and AB 101 powerboat training, including ASA 101, AS 102 Keelboat 2, ASA 103, ASA 104, ASA 105 evenings/drop-in, AB 101 Single Inboard Powerboat Handling, and an ASA 103/104 five-day live-aboard combo. Instruction uses Beneteau 22 keelboats for beginner and intermediate classes and 25'–35' keelboats for skipper-level training. Courses emphasize practical skills such as rigging, sail trim, docking, navigation, close-quarters maneuvering, line handling, emergency procedures, and safety protocols. The AB 101 course focuses on inboard diesel powerboat handling and certification evaluations. The ASA 101 and AS 102 courses are two-day experiences designed to build foundational sailing skills and refine techniques for sailors progressing through certification levels. ASA 103 prepares students to skipper 25'–35' keelboats in moderate conditions over a 2.5-day curriculum. ASA 104 is a three-day live-aboard course that expands coastal navigation and skippering skills. The 5-day ASA 103/104 option combines certifications into a compact live-aboard training experience. ASA 105 is offered as evening lessons and drop-in classes for coastal navigation, tailored for younger sailors with adult supervision. Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy schedules hands-on evaluations and issues the respective ASA and AB 101 credentials upon successful course completion, providing a clear pathway to charter readiness and safer time on the water. Training takes place in inland and coastal waters around Anacortes, providing varied conditions that support practical skill development for students.
Book with Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy