Do I know how to Sail? Nope (Part 2)

I am becoming more proficient. I've made a pretty big time commitment to really getting the basics of sailing down. Towards that end, I've had quite a few practice sessions, and am ready to take ASA 103: Basic Coastal Cruising.

Preparing for my ASA 103 Course

Before attending ASA 103, I've had to ensure I'm ready for this level of sailing. I also had to register quite a few months in advance- the instructor to student ratio is fantastic with our club; for the 101 it was 1:2 and for my 103 it was 1:4. Especially with my peers, I can't look like a true beginner. I don't want to hold up their learning with a need for remedial instruction; plus the assumption is you know all the information presented in the 101, as well as have around a dozen sailing days of hands-on practice on smaller sailboats. In order to accomplish this, here are some of the things I've focused on to get ready.

1. Brush Up on My ASA 101 Knowledge

   1. Since ASA 103 builds on the basics, I've reviewed my ASA 101 materials. I revisited key concepts like points of sail, sail trim, tacking, and boat handling in my ASA 101 book.

   2. Practice Sailing. Practice Practice Practice.

2. Commit the time

   1. Take the 3 days off work. No calls, no distractions commit myself to the course all 3 days.

   2. Give myself time to study after. The test is important, but so is learning the information in a way that makes you practically proficient.

3. Pack Appropriately

   1. Sailing on Lake Lanier can be a mixed bag-warm sunshine and cooler breezes all the way to rain an gusts, so I have to pack layers. I packed up before my 3 day course, but couldn't forget; sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a lunch, a rain jacket, non-slip boat shoes, my 103 book and a notebook.

   2. Learning to sail, especially on larger boats, can be challenging. But it’s important to stay positive and embrace each new experience. The Lanier Sailing Academy is great at promoting a positive learning atmosphere, but its important for everyone. Help out your peers, share knowledge, help them strengthen their weaknesses and be open to the same. It takes a lot of vulnerability to be receptive to acknowledging faults and weaknesses and being man enough to grow.

4. Read and Study the Material

1. There are quite a few areas of focus for the 103. The only real way to gain the most value to the practical experience is to start with as strong of a book foundation as possible and expand with practical knowledge in those areas. Use the time with the instructor to pull out their knowledge with these study areas as prompts. This is especially true of my course; my instructor has been sailing for over 20 years and had a wealth of knowledge if you let him share it.

2. Read the book. Cover to Cover.

3. I took the on-line prep course through ASA- its the exact same material as the book, just delivered in a different format. I prefer book to on-line since that's how I spend most of my day, but you can do whatever you have to for the information.

4. Primer course- the Lanier Sailing club offers a 103 primer course. You can come and get some 101 refresher and some primer on 103 concepts and practice.

Learning to Sail by taking the American Sailing Association's 103 Course: Basic Coastal Cruising

Here are some of my notes and take-aways of the key elements that I was a little surprised at how much I valued on the other side. This isn't a summary of the course content of the 103, just some of the content I was surprised had such an impact on my perception of sailing, me as a sailor, or my planning of my adventure.

1. Anchoring and Mooring

   1. Super important skill, but requires a ton more practice than a weekend can provide.

   2. My feelings are that redundancy is key- have a primary and a secondary if possible. Plan for fail points.

   3. Research into mooring costs are necessary. Mooring fields fill up and can be crowded.

2. Reefing

   1. Has been a previously under-trained area for me- this weekend had gusts of >25 knots, and I was ill-prepared.

   2. One of the best notes that I received was when to reef- "You should reef as soon as the question 'should I reef' enters your mind".

   3. Reef in stages- the book describes reefing in stages, and I really like this approach. Reef the foresail 1/2 way, then reef the main, then reef the foresail again, then reef the main again.

3. My focus has been on solo-sailing but one of the main take-aways for me was how much easier sailing is with a crew who knows what they are doing.

   1. Being the captain, and knowing how to conduct each task is important- being able to teach, and make sure complete and safe is important

   2. Being the captain with a crew who knows how makes it possible to be more efficient sailing the vessel as well as be more strategic

If you want to read more about ASA go here https://asa.com/, or learn more about the ASA 103 course go here https://asa.com/certifications/asa-103-basic-coastal-cruising/

What's Next?

Well, now that I have my ASA 103 under my belt, there are more trainings I can take through ASA, but most of my continued education needs to be practical. My club doesn't offer an ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran which seems like the most likely and most valuable next step. My intent is to continue practical, and attempt to participate in some more club events, but I'm open to suggestions on the best way to prepare for my big trip.

Feel free to follow along as I put in some hours in practice, and "learn the ropes".

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