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Spend five intense days living aboard and learning to skipper 30–50 foot catamarans and sloops in the real conditions of the San Juan Islands. This ASA 104/114 liveaboard course combines navigation, heavy-weather handling, anchoring and provisioning to prepare you for bareboat charters.
Spend five intense days living aboard and learning to skipper 30–50 foot catamarans and sloops in the real conditions of the San Juan Islands. This ASA 104/114 liveaboard course combines navigation, heavy-weather handling, anchoring and provisioning to prepare you for bareboat charters.
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Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy · Anacortes, Washington
On a damp morning in the Salish Sea, the ASA 104/114 Combo Bareboat/Cruising Catamaran course transforms classroom theory into the real work of skippering multi-hull cruisers. Based in Anacortes, Washington, meeting at 3116 V Place, Anacortes, 98221, this five-day, four-night liveaboard takes place in the tidal maze of the San Juan Islands and northern Puget Sound. Students move from 35-40-foot charter sloops to an Excess 11 Cruising Catamaran as they master seamanship under sail and power. Designed for sailors who have completed ASA 101 and 103, the curriculum pushes crews into conditions up to 30 knots and realistic coastal seas. Instruction covers bareboat charter protocols, provisioning and galley operations, boat systems and auxiliary engine handling, docking and multi-anchor moorings, dinghy and tender work, routine maintenance, advanced sail trim, emergency operations and health and safety. Coastal navigation training includes basic chart plotting and GPS, plus practical lessons on planning for weather, tides and currents. What makes this program a standout in the Pacific Northwest is its operating environment. The San Juan Islands are a network of glacially scoured islands, rocky shorelines and submerged kelp forests where tidal currents shift quickly and visibility can change with sun and fog. Training in those real conditions teaches decisions that classroom drills cannot: reading eddies around islands, judging kelp-strewn anchorages, and timing passages to favorable currents. Wildlife is part of the classroom—harbor seals, bald eagles and transient orca pods are frequent observers when conditions allow. Groups are capped small—typically five students—so each person gets extended helm, docking, and anchor practice. The course starts aboard 35-40 foot sloops and finishes on the Excess 11 Cruising Catamaran to emphasize differences between monohull and catamaran handling. Texts and study guides for ASA 104 and 114 are mailed in advance; bring the required logbook and classroom materials plus practical gear: bottled water, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, sailing gloves, non-marking shoes, layers and foul weather gear, towels, sleeping bag and pillow. Anacortes serves as the gateway base for the program; lodging options nearby include Islands Inn, Salish Inn, Anacortes Inn, Cap Sante Inn and Majestic Inn and Spa. If you have any questions, please call 206-351-8661 or email [email protected]. For sailors aiming to charter or to command a cruising catamaran professionally, this liveaboard course compresses high-value experience into a single, intense week on the water. Expect long days of hands-on instruction, instructor-led debriefs each evening, and multiple logbook sign-offs as you complete the ASA 104 and 114 skill elements. The course suits experienced day-sailors stepping up to charter responsibility, delivery crews, and anyone planning to bareboat in coastal or island chains. Small-group coaching accelerates learning; by week's end you'll have practical experience in docking, heavy-weather seamanship and multi-anchor strategies.
Students must demonstrate competency in ASA 101 (Basic Keelboat) and ASA 103 (Basic Coastal Cruising) before enrolling.
The meeting point is 3116 V Place, Anacortes, 98221.
Group size is typically five students to ensure ample helm time and instructor coaching.
ASA 104 and 114 course texts and study guides are mailed in advance; bring them and your logbook to class.
If you have any questions, please call 206-351-8661 or email [email protected].
If you are prone to seasickness, consult your doctor and consider pre-treatment; training occurs in tidal waters and conditions can be brisk.
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