Has anyone taken ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing?

[neosoul]

Not having a sailboat this season (or direct access to one) for the first time since I can remember, I figured I'd take the American Sailing Association's Basic Keelboat Sailing course as a way to get on the water and hopefully become a better sailor. (This course also provides proof of a boating safety class by November 1st of 2013 that is now required in Suffolk County NY.) So I am curious if anyone has taken this Basic Keelboat Sailing course?

It's a two day course - 9:30 am - 4:30 pm - offered at the Sag Harbor Sailing School, just across the bay from me. Mornings are spent with instruction in the classroom and after lunch we're on the boats (23 foot Pearson Ensigns). I start this Thursday.

I've been sailing since I was very young with family and friends, and once, when I was in college (22 years ago), I took a Red Cross Basic Sailing course, but other than that, I have had no formal training when it comes to sailing. Of course I've picked up many things over the years from others I have sailed with and I've read many books, so I am interested to know, from those of you who may have taken this course, if it was worthwhile?

I was thinking if this course goes well I'd continue and take the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising 103.

Thanks!
Neo

[NateD]

Hey Neo,

There was a long discussion about that not too long ago: http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=5811.0

Nate

[neosoul]

Nate,
My bad! I should have searched the topic before posting - newbie error.
I appreciate you pointing this thread out for me.
Neo

[Bob23]

Don't sweat it, Neo, I do it also. It's more fun to ask questions than to search.
I also have no formal sailing training...some say it's evident!
Bob23

[Billy]

I teach ASA101 & ASA103 with Flagship Sailing in St. Petersburg, FL.
They are both good. I highly suggest you take 103 as well as we go over things like reefing and anchoring that are important safety issues to know.

101 pretty much teaches sailing basics so you know how to crew where as 103 teaches you how to handle a boat (skipper).

But any knuckle head can take a class and never sail again, practice and time on the water are key as well. Some things you need classes for, others just take practice.

Have fun and study your points of sail!

[Smier]

My wife and I just completed 101 & 103 last week, we learned a lot from the courses.  One of our classmates took the 101 as a refresher course, he had originally taken it almost 30 years ago, and he told us he was glad he went ahead and took the course again and didn't just taken the 103 course.  Of course, I'm sure it depends on the instructors, we had a great instructor who I will try and take future courses with.  I already knew most of the written material from other books I've read, but I learned a lot in the hands on sailing portion of the course.

  Have you looked into doing any of the liveaboard classes?  Ours was a 4 day, compressed class where we stayed on the boat almost the entire 4 days.  We had a blast, and the cost wasn't much more than the regular classes.  It was a great experience.  We were expected to know the study materials prior to our arrival at the school, and let me tell you that the compressed classes wore us out physically and mentally, but it was so worth it!

  Our instructor mentioned on several occasions that he doesn't care for the compressed classes as much as the longer classes due to the amount of material and skills we had to cover in 4 days, but it fit into our families schedule perfectly, and we wouldn't have been able to do a longer course.