Turn five days on Lake Michigan into the sailing experience that takes you from basic sailing skills to confidently cruising a larger sailboat.

This intensive ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising and ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising course combines two ASA certifications with a five-day cruising adventure along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline.

Rather than returning to the same marina after each lesson, we’re going cruising.

Students depart Port Washington on Monday and spend the week sailing north along the Lake Michigan coast, visiting Sheboygan and Manitowoc, spending a day practicing anchoring and living aboard at anchor, and ultimately sailing back to Port Washington on Friday.

Throughout the voyage, students become active members of the crew and rotate through the responsibilities involved in operating a cruising sailboat.

What You’ll Learn

The first part of the voyage concentrates on the skills required for ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, including:

• Cruising sailboat systems and equipment
• Sail handling, reefing and sail trim
• Steering and maneuvering under sail
• Basic coastal navigation
• Rules of the Road
• Weather awareness
• Crew-overboard procedures
• Docking and maneuvering under power
• Anchoring fundamentals
• Skipper and crew responsibilities

As the week progresses, we’ll build into the skills required for ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising, including:

• Passage and cruise planning
• Cruising boat systems
• Engine operation and troubleshooting
• Electrical, water and sanitation systems
• Advanced docking and maneuvering
• Anchoring techniques
• Selecting an anchorage
• Calculating and setting proper scope
• Navigation and piloting
• Weather interpretation and decision-making
• Emergency procedures
• Provisioning and living aboard
• Skipper responsibilities and crew management

The goal isn’t simply to pass two ASA courses. It’s to experience what it’s actually like to plan, sail and manage a multi-day cruise aboard a cruising sailboat.

Our Five-Day Cruise

Monday – Port Washington to Sheboygan

Meet aboard in Port Washington for orientation, vessel familiarization and departure preparation.
Students participate in getting the boat underway and sail approximately 25 nautical miles north to Sheboygan.
Along the way we’ll concentrate on sail handling, helming, points of sail, navigation, crew coordination and the fundamental skills of ASA 103.
After arriving in Sheboygan, students participate in docking, securing the vessel and preparing the boat for the night.

Tuesday – Sheboygan to Manitowoc

After reviewing weather and planning our day’s passage, we’ll continue north toward Manitowoc.
Students take increasing responsibility for operating the boat, including navigation, sail selection, helm duties, lookout responsibilities and making decisions based on weather and conditions.
The longer passage provides an opportunity to begin transitioning from ASA 103 sailing skills into ASA 104 cruising and skipper responsibilities.

Wednesday – Manitowoc and Southbound

We’ll begin working our way back south while concentrating on ASA 104 skills, including passage planning, navigation, boat systems, docking, maneuvering and skipper responsibilities.
Students increasingly take responsibility for planning and operating the vessel under instructor supervision.

Thursday – Anchoring & Living Aboard

Thursday is devoted to one of the most important cruising skills: anchoring.
We’ll select an appropriate anchorage based on weather, wind, depth, bottom conditions and protection.
Students will practice selecting an anchor location, calculating scope, deploying the anchor, setting and testing its holding, monitoring our position and safely retrieving the anchor.
We’ll also cover the practical side of spending time away from a marina: managing electrical power, water, onboard systems, meals and crew comfort while at anchor.
Weather permitting, this provides students with the experience of spending an extended period aboard without relying on marina facilities.

Friday – Return to Port Washington

Our final day puts everything together.
Students participate in planning and navigating the return passage to Port Washington while rotating through skipper, helm, navigation and crew responsibilities.
After returning to our home port, we’ll complete remaining practical skills, examinations and a final course debrief.

A Real Cruising Experience

This is not a classroom course with occasional sailing lessons.

For five days, the boat becomes our classroom.

You’ll experience marina departures and arrivals, coastal passages, navigation, weather decisions, living aboard, anchoring and the everyday responsibilities involved in cruising a larger sailboat.

The exact itinerary may change based on weather, wind, lake conditions and the judgment of the captain. Making those decisions is itself an important part of learning to cruise safely.

Prerequisites

Students should hold:

ASA 101 – Basic Keelboat Sailing or possess equivalent sailing experience and successfully challenge the ASA 101 requirements prior to beginning the course.

What’s Included

Course tuition includes:

• Five days of liveaboard sailing instruction
• ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising instruction
• ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising instruction
• ASA textbooks and course materials
• ASA 103 examination
• ASA 104 examination
• ASA 103 certification
• ASA 104 certification
• Use of onboard navigation and sailing equipment

Course Tuition

• Shared Cabin – Double occupancy = $2457.00 pp
• Private Cabin – Single Passenger = $3197.00

Class size is intentionally limited so every student receives substantial hands-on time sailing, navigating, docking, anchoring and serving in the role of skipper.

Five Days. Two ASA Certifications. One Lake Michigan Cruising Adventure.

Don’t just learn how to sail. Learn how to go cruising.