Intermediate
Events
Celestial Navigation Workshop (American Sailing 107): $1,247.00
Ocean navigation, done well, is incredibly rewarding. Anybody can stare at a GPS—true seamanship is knowing where you are by the sun, moon, planets, and stars. This intimate, four‑day, hands‑on workshop gives you the knowledge and inspiration to navigate like generations of mariners before us.
- Principles of celestial navigation and why it still matters
- Celestial sphere, time (UTC, zone, GHA/LHA), and navigational almanacs
- Sextants: anatomy, care, index error, dip, and precision technique
- Sun sights (AM/PM) and the classic noon sight for latitude & LAN
- Sight reduction using HO‑229 / Pub. 229 or Pub. 249
- Plotting Lines of Position (LOPs) & running fixes on plotting sheets
- Star & planet sights; body selection & planning
- Moon sights & parallax considerations
- Position Fixes: single‑body intercepts to multi‑sight fixes
- Integrating cel‑nav with modern tools and passage planning
- Exam for ASA 107
Dates & Times:
- Wednesday, April 15: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Thursday, April 16: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday, April 17: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday, April 18: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
ASA 118 Docking Endorsement | June 4th | South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI: $697.00
Join us for our docking endorsement course where you’ll learn strategies and techniques to safely and efficiently dock a 30’–32′ auxiliary-powered sailboat in a variety of conditions. Extended hands-on practice will build your overall boat-handling confidence while you gain a deeper understanding of basic auxiliary power theory, engine and steering controls, proper use of dock lines and spring lines, crew communication, and safety.
Format: This course is offered as a 1-day course, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day.
- Thursday 9:00am – 4:00pm
A Learn-To-Sail Vacation on Lake Michigan – June 8th -12th, 2026:
South Shore Yacht ClubPrerequisites: NoneStep aboard Calypso, our luxurious 41-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey, for a true liveaboard Learn-to-Sail Vacation. Over several days you’ll eat, sleep, and sail on the water while building real cruising confidence, all under the expert guidance of seasoned mariner and Wisconsin native, Captain Don Doggett. This immersive course blends hands-on instruction with the comfort of a modern cruising yacht, giving you the skills to skipper your own adventures.During your liveaboard experience, you’ll have the opportunity to earn these internationally recognized ASA certifications:
ASA 101 – Basic Keelboat Sailing
ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising
ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising
Learn, relax, and explore—then head home as a certified sailor ready for your next voyage.
A Learn-To-Sail Vacation on Lake Michigan – August 17th -21st, 2026: $1,797.00
South Shore Yacht ClubPrerequisites: NoneStep aboard Calypso, our luxurious 41-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey, for a true liveaboard Learn-to-Sail Vacation. Over several days you’ll eat, sleep, and sail on the water while building real cruising confidence, all under the expert guidance of seasoned mariner and Wisconsin native, Captain Don Doggett. This immersive course blends hands-on instruction with the comfort of a modern cruising yacht, giving you the skills to skipper your own adventures.During your liveaboard experience, you’ll have the opportunity to earn these internationally recognized ASA certifications:
ASA 101 – Basic Keelboat Sailing
ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising
ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising
Learn, relax, and explore—then head home as a certified sailor ready for your next voyage.
ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising | August 24th – 28th | South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI: $3,197.00
South Shore Yacht ClubPrerequisites: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising and ASA 105 Coastal NavigationThis course equips participants with the essential knowledge and skills to safely operate as the skipper and crew of a sailing vessel ranging from 30 to 50 feet in length. It encompasses both day and nighttime sessions conducted in coastal and inland waters, regardless of weather conditions. Building upon the foundations laid in prior ASA courses, students embark on an extended coastal sail, including overnight passages, where they will learn new concepts and apply advanced sailing techniques and skills.
The course spans five days and imparts the prequisite expertise for coastal navigation. It instills the confidence to plan, chart, and execute extended coastal cruises under varying conditions on sailboats of up to 50 feet in length.
Sailing Vessel – 2014 Jeanneau 409 Sun Odyssey
This is an attractive 40 foot sailing yacht, is designed with 3 cabins and 2 heads. This is a top of the line cruising model with all of the comforts and features to make learning fun and safe. Features include: Roller furling sails, dodger and bimini, anchor windlass, autopilot, GPS, and color chartplotter.Note: If you haven’t yet completed your ASA 105 (Coastal Navigation) certification, we recommend enrolling in our online ASA 105 course through Sea Safaris Online. You’ll have the option to complete the final exam during the sailing trip.
ASA 111: Anchoring Skills Clinic | September 27th | South Shore Yacht Club, Milwaukee, WI: $397.00
South Shore Yacht ClubPrerequisites: ASA 101 Keelboat Sailing 1Master one of the most important cruising skills with this hands-on ASA 111 Sailing Review course focused exclusively on anchoring.
Whether you’re preparing for a bareboat charter, planning extended cruising adventures, or simply looking to improve your confidence as skipper, this practical clinic will teach you how to anchor safely, confidently, and effectively in a variety of conditions.
During this course, students will review anchoring equipment and techniques, learn how to select suitable anchorages, evaluate depth, wind, and bottom conditions, calculate proper scope, set and test an anchor, and safely depart an anchorage. Students will also discuss common anchoring challenges, overnight considerations, and strategies for preventing dragging and other anchoring issues.
Topics include:
- Types of anchors and ground tackle
- Selecting a safe anchorage
- Wind, current, depth, and bottom considerations
- Calculating and deploying proper scope
- Setting and verifying anchor holding
- Anchor watch procedures
- Retrieving and stowing the anchor
- Communication and crew coordination
- Common anchoring mistakes and troubleshooting
This ASA 111 Sailing Review clinic combines classroom discussion with extensive on-the-water practice to help sailors develop the skills and confidence needed to anchor independently.
Format: This course is offered as a 1-day course, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day.
Prerequisites: ASA 101 Keelboat Sailing 1
Certification: ASA 111 Sailing Review