ASA 205: Coastal Navigation Instructor | May 25th, 2027 | South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI

The ASA 205 Coastal Navigation Instructor Qualification Clinic is designed for experienced ASA instructors who are ready to teach sailors how to navigate confidently in coastal and inland waters without relying solely on electronic navigation.

Candidates must demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, calculations and traditional chartwork included in the ASA 105 Coastal Navigation curriculum. Just as importantly, candidates must be able to break complex navigation concepts into clear, understandable lessons and help students apply them accurately.

This is a knowledge-based, classroom clinic with no on-the-water portion. It is an evaluation of existing navigation knowledge and teaching ability, not an introductory coastal navigation course. Candidates should arrive fully prepared to complete advanced written and chart-plotting exercises and teach assigned navigation topics.

Successful candidates earn the ASA 205 instructor qualification and may teach ASA 105 Coastal Navigation through ASA schools worldwide.

What You’ll Demonstrate

During the clinic, candidates will be evaluated on their ability to:

• Interpret nautical charts, symbols, scales and charted information
• Plot and identify positions using latitude and longitude
• Determine direction, distance and estimated travel time
• Plot courses and apply speed, time and distance calculations
• Calculate dead-reckoning and estimated positions
• Use bearings, ranges and other information to establish navigational fixes
• Apply magnetic variation, compass deviation and compass corrections
• Interpret aids to navigation and maritime publications
• Account for tides, currents, set, drift, wind and leeway
• Develop and explain a safe coastal voyage plan
• Compare traditional and electronic navigation methods
• Present chartwork in a clear, organized and accurate manner
• Identify common student errors and explain how to correct them
• Prepare and deliver an assigned classroom presentation
• Use the ASA IDEAS lesson-plan format to organize instruction
• Apply ASA professional ethics and instructional standards

Candidates will also complete the required instructor-level written, chartwork and teaching evaluations.

Prerequisites

ASA 204: Bareboat Cruising Instructor certification

Candidates should:

• Hold the required preceding ASA instructor qualification
• Meet the knowledge and chartwork standards of ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
• Possess the applicable skills identified in the ASA International Logbook
• Be proficient with nautical charts, plotting tools and maritime publications
• Demonstrate strong classroom communication and instructional ability
• Hold a current ASA instructor membership as required for clinic registration

Preparing for the Clinic

Registered candidates will receive detailed preparation instructions, required assignments and clinic materials before the course begins.

Candidates should be prepared to:

• Review the ASA 105 Standard Course Syllabus and applicable instructor materials
• Review the ASA 105 textbook, training chart and maritime publications
• Practice all required chart-plotting exercises and navigation calculations
• Complete assigned examinations and candidate paperwork
• Prepare an assigned classroom presentation and IDEAS lesson plan
• Review compass corrections, tides, currents, set, drift and leeway
• Review voyage planning and the use of traditional navigation resources
• Bring their ASA Logbook and ASA membership card
• Bring the required plotting tools and student-level course materials
• Candidates are expected to already possess the ASA 105 textbook, training chart and navigation materials from their student-level course. These materials are not included with clinic tuition.

What’s Included

Course tuition includes:

• Instructor Evaluator-led ASA 205 Qualification Clinic
• Instructor-level written examination
• Coastal navigation knowledge evaluation
• Chart-plotting and calculation evaluations
• Voyage-planning evaluation
• Classroom teaching presentation evaluation
• Review of instructional methods for teaching navigation
• Use of required classroom training materials during the clinic
• ASA 205 Coastal Navigation Instructor qualification upon successful completion of all requirements

Format

This is a one-day classroom-based Instructor Qualification Clinic consisting of written, chartwork and teaching evaluations. There is no on-the-water portion.

• Tuesday, May 25th: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Course Tuition

$425 per candidate

Successfully completing ASA 205 qualifies you to teach ASA 105 Coastal Navigation and prepares you to continue to ASA 206 Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor.

Master the navigation, then demonstrate that you can make it understandable, practical and useful for the sailors you teach.