ASA104 Bareboat Cruising

ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class:

ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class: 3 Day all-on-the-water live-aboard program where students learn the duties of skipper and crew as they sail a sloop-rigged, auxiliary-powered 39′ sailboat during a multi-day cruise upon inland waters in moderate to heavy winds and sea conditions. Learn about how to perform cruise planning, provisioning, use of boat systems, use of an auxiliary engine, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring/mooring, docking procedures, emergency operations, weather, and more.

ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class Goals:

1. Help students master the remaining knowledge the student needs after taking ASA101 and ASA103 to be able to charter and/or own their own sailboat and cruise safely and efficiently.
2. Allow students to demonstrate this mastery by taking turns being captain to discover their strengths and weaknesses without any negative consequences, so they can improve.  The instructor will act as crew when the student captains are in charge and will intervene only if the vessel is in peril or if a teaching moment is needed to enhance the student’s knowledge.  

Itinerary Day One: Students make a detailed navigation plan using paper-and-pencil chart methods and a chart plotter.  On day one, the instructor will be in command of the sailboat and will go over the engine, mechanical, and electrical systems, as well as the sail plan, to familiarize the students with the boat.

Itinerary Days Two and Three- Students make navigation plans to the following destinations and take turns being captain and crew.  This is typically a time of great learning for students as they demonstrate their ability to safely control the crew and sail the sailboat to destinations such as Annapolis, Galesville, Herrington Harbor, St. Michaels, Bodkin Creek, and others. 

All ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Students receive our internally developed Captain In You ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Study Guide, which has proven effective in helping students quickly and easily learn the course material and earn ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Certification.  Topics include the following:

1. How to use the Chart plotter and other electronics.
2. How to use Ground Tackle.
3. Learning major engine parts.
4. Learning about standing and running rigging.
5. How to check fuel levels.
6. Filling water tanks.
7. Checking batteries and electrical systems.
8. Learning about navigation lights.
9. Bilge operation.
10. Checking through hulls and seacocks.
11. Learning about deck hardware.
12. How to check the oil.
13. How to inspect frayed belts.
14. How to start and stop a diesel engine.
15. How to inspect the raw water strainer.
16. How to use the emergency tiller.
17. Use of VHF radio.
18. Operation of the gimbaled galley stove.
19. Connection and disconnection of power cables.
20. Learning the effect of prop walk on stern direction.
21. Learn how to use dock and spring lines.
22. Learning about multiple anchor methods.
23. Demonstrate use of sail controls, including halyards, sheets, traveler, boom vang, outhaul, and use of jibe preventer.
24. Learn to plan a coastal passage from origin to destination, including plotting courses, distances, and waypoints.
25. Check marine weather forecasts.
26. Determine predicted depths using chart data and tide tables.
27. Pilot a sailboat into an unfamiliar harbor or anchorage.

Teaching Vessels:

Our ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class is taught on one of our two 39-foot Pearson sloops named ‘Gallivant’ or ‘Invictus’.

Class size:

3-4 typically with a maximum of five students allowed.

Prerequisites:

ASA101, and ASA103.

Facilities:

1. Upon arrival, students can hang out at Haven Harbour South Marina, have dinner at one of the two restaurants, visit the Haven Harbour South store and boat chandlery, go for a swim in the pool, ride bikes that are available for free, or relax on the white sand beach. 
2. Super clean bathrooms and showers are available 24 hours/day. 
3. Free Parking.  Please see the Location page for more information on Haven Harbour Marina South. 

Price includes the following:

1. ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Made Easy Textbook.
2. Captain In You ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Study Guide.
3. ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Certification.
4. Sleep on board for free every night of the class and the evening before the class begins, so no hotels are needed.
5. Includes all onboard breakfast and lunches.
6. All slip and mooring fees and other boat costs.
7. After completing our ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class, students qualify for the “International Proficiency Certificate” through the ASA website.
8. Students can bring their own Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or use one of the boats’ Type V PFDs with tethers for free.
9. Meets requirements for ICC International Certification of Competence.  ICC International Certificate of Compliance

How to save money?

Bundle ASA104 Bareboat Cruising with other ASA Sailing classes, ASA103/104 or ASA103/104/118 or ASA104/118, and save 5%. 

How to sign up?

Please visit our schedule page below to see all sailing classes, including ASA104 Bareboat Cruising.

After you select the class date you want, please get in touch with Captainmike@delmarvasailingschool.com or 410-810-4230 to confirm availability. Once we confirm availability, you can sign up by scrolling back to the top of this page and selecting single or couple and then following the prompts to enter your credit card information.

	ASA101 Basic Keelboat-Two Days. No prerequisites	ASA102 Keelboat 2-Two Days. Must be ASA101 Certified. Not a prerequisite for ASA103	ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising- Two Days. Must be ASA101 Certified. ASA102 is not a prerequisite	ASA104 Bareboat Cruising-Three Days. Must be ASA101 and ASA103 Certified	ASA118 Docking Endorsement- Two Days. Must be ASA101 Certified	ASA106 Advanced Coastal Cruising- Seven Days. Must be ASA101, ASA103, ASA104, and ASA105 Certified
January, February, March 2026
April, 2026	4/25-4/26MB		4/27-4/28MB	4/29-5/1MB
May, 2026	5/16-5/17BF 5/30-5/31DM	5/4-5/5MB	5/6-5/7DM 5/11-5/12DM 5/18-5/19BF	5/8-5/10DM 5/13-5/15DM 5/20-5/22BF	5/2-5/3MB	5/23-5/29MB
June, 2026	6/13-6/14DM 6/20-6/21RW		6/1-6/2DM 6/8-6/9BF 6/15-6/16DM 6/22-6/23RW 6/27-6/28DM	6/5-6/7DM 6/10-6/12BF 6/17-6/19DM 6/24-6/26RW 6/29-7/1DM	6/3-6/4MB
July, 2026	7/18-7/19RW 7/27-7/28DM		7/6-7/7BF 7/20-7/21RW 7/29-7/30DM	7/8-7/10BF 7/22-7/24RW	7/25-7/26MB	7/11-7/17MB
August, 2026	8/3-8/4RW 8/22-8/23DM 8/29-8/30DM	8/17-8/18MB	8/5-8/6RW 8/10-8/11DM 8/24-8/25DM 8/31-9/1DM	7/31-8/2DM 8/7-8/9RW 8/12-8/14DM 8/19-8/21MB 8/26-8/28DM	8/15-8/16MB
September, 2026	9/12-9/13BF 9/19-9/20DM		9/10-9/11MB 9/14-9/15BF 9/21-9/22DM 9/26-9/27BF	9/2-9/4DM 9/16-9/18BF 9/23-9/25DM 9/28-9/30BF	9/8-9/9MB
October, 2026	10/1-10/2RW 10/8-10/9MB 10/24-10/25MB	10/12-10/13MB	10/3-10/4RW 10/14-10/15MB 10/19-10/20MB	10/5-10/7RW 10/16-10/18MB 10/21-10/23MB	10/10-10/11MB
November, 2026