ASA 206: Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor | May 26th, 2027 | South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI

The ASA 206 Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor Qualification Clinic is designed for experienced cruising instructors who are ready to teach advanced seamanship, passage-making and skipper leadership.

Candidates must demonstrate the knowledge, practical ability and instructional judgment required to teach the ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising curriculum. Evaluations focus on the complete responsibilities of an advanced cruising skipper, from planning and navigation to watchkeeping, weather decisions, vessel management and responding effectively when conditions or circumstances change.

This is a rigorous evaluation of existing sailing, passage-making and teaching experience. It is not a course for developing advanced cruising skills. Candidates should arrive prepared to lead the vessel, manage the crew, solve problems and confidently teach advanced sailors in real-world conditions.

Successful candidates earn the ASA 206 instructor qualification and may teach ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising through ASA schools worldwide.

What You’ll Demonstrate

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

• Demonstrate the knowledge and practical skills included in the ASA 106 standard
• Develop and communicate a comprehensive passage plan
• Apply traditional chart plotting and electronic navigation techniques
• Navigate safely in coastal waters and reduced visibility
• Plan and manage day and nighttime sailing operations
• Organize watch schedules and explain proper watchkeeping procedures
• Interpret weather information and make appropriate decisions underway
• Prepare the vessel and crew for deteriorating or heavy-weather conditions
• Demonstrate advanced sail handling, reefing and sail trim
• Conduct effective crew-overboard recovery and emergency procedures
• Explain engine operation, vessel systems and basic troubleshooting
• Demonstrate advanced anchoring, docking and maneuvering
• Maintain appropriate navigation, vessel and watch logs
• Lead the crew using clear communication and effective delegation
• Exercise sound judgment as skipper when plans or conditions change
• Prepare and deliver an assigned classroom presentation
• Teach advanced skills aboard the vessel
• Apply ASA safety practices, professional ethics and instructional standards

Candidates will also complete the required written, practical and teaching evaluations.

Prerequisites

• ASA 205: Coastal Navigation Instructor certification
• At least one year of teaching experience as an ASA 203 Coastal Cruising Instructor and ASA 204 Bareboat Cruising Instructor

Candidates should:

• Hold the required preceding ASA instructor qualifications
• Meet the knowledge and practical standards of ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising
• Have at least one year of teaching experience as an ASA 203 Coastal Cruising Instructor or ASA 204 Bareboat Cruising Instructor
• Possess the applicable skills identified in the ASA International Logbook
• Have substantial coastal cruising and passage-making experience
• Have experience with extended periods underway, watchkeeping and nighttime sailing
• Demonstrate advanced skipper judgment, crew leadership 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 106 Standard Course Syllabus and applicable instructor materials
• Review their ASA 106 textbook and advanced seamanship resources
• Complete assigned examinations and candidate paperwork
• Prepare an assigned classroom presentation and IDEAS lesson plan
• Develop and review coastal passage plans
• Practice traditional and electronic navigation techniques
• Review watchkeeping, nighttime operations and reduced-visibility procedures
• Review weather interpretation and heavy-weather preparation
• Review vessel systems, troubleshooting and emergency procedures
• Practice advanced sail handling, docking, anchoring and crew management
• Bring their ASA Logbook and ASA membership card
• Bring a properly fitting PFD or use one provided for the on-the-water portion
• Candidates are expected to already possess the ASA 106 textbook and materials from their student-level course. These materials are not included with clinic tuition.

What’s Included

Course tuition includes:

• Instructor Evaluator-led ASA 206 Qualification Clinic
• Instructor-level written examination
• Passage-planning and navigation evaluations
• Advanced sailing and boat-handling evaluations
• Weather and heavy-weather preparedness evaluations
• Watchkeeping and crew-management evaluations
• Vessel-systems and emergency-response evaluations
• Classroom teaching presentation evaluation
• Afloat teaching demonstration
• Use of the training vessel, navigation equipment and required sailing equipment during the clinic
• ASA 206 Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor qualification upon successful completion of all requirements

Format

This one-day advanced Instructor Qualification Clinic combines written, classroom and underway evaluations. Sailing may include extended periods underway and nighttime operations when conditions permit.

• Wednesday, May 26th, 2027: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Course Tuition

$549 per candidate

Successfully completing ASA 206 qualifies you to teach ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising and represents a significant achievement in the ASA instructor pathway.

Demonstrate that you can do more than complete an advanced passage. Show that you can lead it, manage it and prepare other sailors to confidently take command.