Take your sailing and navigation skills to the next level with an intensive five-day Lake Michigan passage combining ASA 105 Coastal Navigation and ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising.

This unique course combines the convenience of online ASA 105 instruction with five days of hands-on advanced cruising aboard a fully equipped cruising sailboat.

Students complete the ASA 105 Coastal Navigation learning portion online before the trip, allowing our five days aboard to focus on applying those navigation skills to a real passage across Lake Michigan.

ASA 105 – Coastal Navigation

Prior to departure, students complete the ASA 105 Coastal Navigation course online at their own pace.

Topics include chart interpretation, latitude and longitude, course plotting, dead reckoning, estimated positions, bearings and fixes, speed/time/distance calculations, compass corrections, aids to navigation, tides and currents, and voyage planning.

During our five-day passage, students will put these skills into practice by helping plan, plot and navigate our route from Port Washington across Lake Michigan to the Michigan shoreline and back.

The ASA 105 certification examination will be administered in person during the course, allowing students to complete their ASA 105 certification while aboard.

ASA 106 – Advanced Coastal Cruising

Once underway, the focus shifts to advanced seamanship and passage-making.

Students rotate through the responsibilities of skipper, navigator, helmsman, lookout and watchstander, gaining practical experience operating a cruising sailboat during an extended Great Lakes passage.

Training includes:

• Passage and voyage planning
• Coastal and offshore navigation
• Traditional chart plotting and electronic navigation
• Day and nighttime sailing
• Watchkeeping and crew management
• Advanced sail handling and sail trim
• Heavy-weather preparation and tactics
• Weather interpretation and decision-making
• Crew-overboard procedures
• Emergency procedures
• Vessel systems and troubleshooting
• Engine operation and basic maintenance
• Anchoring and docking
• Navigation in reduced visibility
• Skipper responsibilities and crew leadership

Students should expect extended periods underway, including nighttime sailing and watch rotations when conditions permit.

The Passage

Day 1 – Port Washington

Vessel orientation, weather analysis, passage planning, navigation review and preparation for our Lake Michigan crossing.

Day 2 – Lake Michigan Crossing

Depart Port Washington for Michigan. Students rotate through helm, navigation, lookout and watchkeeping responsibilities while applying their ASA 105 skills underway.

Day 3 – Michigan Shore

Arrival along the Michigan shoreline, advanced seamanship exercises, vessel operations, navigation practice and preparation for the return passage.

Day 4 – Return Crossing

Depart Michigan for Wisconsin. Students continue rotating through skipper, navigation and watchkeeping responsibilities, including nighttime sailing when conditions permit.

Day 5 – Port Washington

Complete the return passage to Port Washington, remaining ASA 106 practical skills, examinations and course debrief.

Our itinerary is intentionally flexible. Weather, wind and sea conditions will determine our exact route, Michigan destination and passage schedule—giving students experience making the same decisions required of a cruising skipper on a real voyage.

Prerequisites

Students entering ASA 106 should hold:

• ASA 101 – Basic Keelboat Sailing
• ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising
• ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising

Students will complete the ASA 105 online learning portion prior to departure and complete the certification examination in person during the passage.

What’s Included

Course tuition includes:

• Five days of advanced onboard sailing instruction
• ASA 105 online Coastal Navigation course
• ASA 105 in-person examination
• ASA 106 instruction and examination
• ASA textbooks and course materials
• Navigation charts
• Use of navigation and plotting equipment aboard
• ASA 105 certification
• ASA 106 certification
• Students successfully completing the knowledge and practical requirements will earn both:
• ASA 105 – Coastal Navigation
• ASA 106 – Advanced Coastal Cruising

Course Tuition

$3797 – private cabin, per person
$3057 – double occupancy, per person

Five days of advanced sailing, navigation and passage-making across Lake Michigan, plus the ASA 105 online course, books, charts and ASA 105/106 certifications.

Class size is intentionally limited to provide every student substantial hands-on experience navigating, standing watch, handling the vessel and serving as skipper.

Learn the navigation at home. Then cross Lake Michigan and put it to work.