Carribean ASA Training suggestions

[tbodine88]

There's a group of us who would like to take one of those ASA courses that covers all or most of the ASA series while sailing the Caribbean in January.

Anyone who has done this please let us know your experiences, and if any one knows which schools are reputable and worth the price


Also the RYA schools maybe helpful.

Thanks

[zboss]

While I do not have a direct answer to your question, I have another question for you... why not consider US Sailing classes? I have found them far superior to the ASA classes. You can take them through the Moorings... and they have "family" classes while you "bareboat".

Sailing certification, sailing certificates, sailing lessons | Offshore Sailing School

[contrail]

Actually, US Sailing courses and ASA are pretty much the same....US sailing courses were originally copied from ASA, way back when. The main differences would be on how a particular school handles the instruction. There are several good ones that would offer the ASA courses that you need in the BVI, which would include water sailing">Blue Water Sailing School and Tortola Sailing School, and also Affordable Sailing, among others. To be totally transparent, I operate a Leopard 45 catamaran in the BVI and have taught for all three schools, either on my boat or one of theirs, and they all do a good job.

But there are some things for you to consider. A well done course is pretty intensive and it is absolutely imperative for all to have done the reading in advance. ASA 101 is Basic Keelboat... be suspicious if the school suggests you do this on a cat, which is not a basic keelboat!

Depending upon how many courses you want to take, there may not be much time for other things, which begs the question of whether the entire group are planning on doing this (maybe some not for certification), or whether this is being planned as a part time add-on to a charter cruise? Because, if it's the latter, there are going to be some differing priorities and resulting conflicts and unhappiness. Some people try to do the entire "bareboat" syllabus (101, 103, 104) in a week, but that is really pushing it, if you want quality instruction that will "stick".

Here's my suggestion: 1) discuss this entire thing with the group, and get commitment from everyone. 2) get the group to take 101 at home, before the cruise. 3) take 103 and 104 in the BVI. This is totally doable and should be quite enjoyable. Particularly if you could add a day, you might even be able to squeeze in 114, which is Catamaran Cruising and basically 104 done on a cat. 104 and 114 can be done concurrently.

Finally, do not let yourself be talked into starting and returning to St. Thomas. This seems like an attractive option, because the airfares are usually quite a bit less, but coming and going from St. Thomas to the places you want to visit in the BVI just takes way too long, all of which will be subtracted from the time you need for the courses, etc. And January should have you in the Virgin Islands at the height of the "Christmas Winds", otherwise known as the reinforced trades, which make the upwind trek to the BVI just that much more unpleasant and time-consuming. If you fly into the USVI, plan on taking a ferry to Tortola, and start your cruise there. Don't forget this!

If you fly into Tortola, logistically the best though not the cheapest option, try Cape Air or Seaborne from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to which many airlines fly. A number of them "code share" with Cape and Seaborne, so you can check your baggage all the way through.

Good luck with this.....let me know if I can help.

Cheers,
Tim

[tbodine88]

Finally, do not let yourself be talked into starting and returning to St. Thomas. This seems like an attractive option, because the airfares are usually quite a bit less, but coming and going from St. Thomas to the places you want to visit in the BVI just takes way too long, all of which will be subtracted from the time you need for the courses

Well its been a while, but I Sailed from Tortola to St Thomas, in about 3 hours or less on a Ericson 32. So I don't really understand this statement. I do think we'd fly to St Thomas and take the ferry to Tortola or wherever we decide to go.

We are also considering starting in St Martin or Antigua.

Secondly, we ain't going unless there's enough us to make it cost effective, by getting a group rate and reducing the per person rate for the boat.

thirdly, there some folks who are planning to devote a month to this endeavor, so maybe that'll be enough time to squeeze it all in.

[Night_Sailor]

I'd rate ASA superior to US Sailing. US Sailing frequently states they are better. I've been through instructor certification programs in each and the US Sailing instructor certification clinics were laughably inferior to ASA without any real standard for the Instructor Trainers, biased, and have no grievance procedure. RYA is the best of these. They have continued to advance while the other two have remained basically stagnant. I hold an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean as well.

In every case the single most important choice you will make is not the organization but the instructor you choose.


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[TS2015]

Please read our latest reviews here Tortola Sailing School Reviews - Tortola, British Virgin Islands Attractions - TripAdvisor

[admiralslater]

I just posted a long answer in this group under the heading of fast track that might help.
Other than that LTD sailing out of Grenada is ASA
David

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by admiralslater

I just posted a long answer in this group under the heading of fast track that might help.
Other than that LTD sailing out of Grenada is ASA
David

is there a link, search didn't find it

[admiralslater]

no link just another entry in this forum .I just went to the forum page and it was there in the training licensing section with the heading fast track 2or 3 from the top
David

[belizesailor]

I used to run an ASA school in Belize. We ran a lot of "instructional charters", basically a private charter incorporating sailing instruction. Its not the least cost option, but a great way to learn and enjoy sailing the Carib at the same time. This is my prefered teaching format, versus group classes, because it is much more relaxed and less schedule driven than a group class.

The school is now run by my good friends at Belize Sailing Vacations. They continue to offer instructional charters and do a first class job. Only ASA school in the region (NW Carib).

You can incorporate any combination of ASA training into your charter from 101 (Basic Keel Boat) to 106 (Advanced Coastal).

http://belizesailingvacations.com/

[LTDsailing]

We would love to help you organize your Caribbean sailing course. Feel free to private message me for more information on LTD Sailing in Grenada.

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[OldFrog75]

Originally Posted by contrail

Some people try to do the entire "bareboat" syllabus (101, 103, 104) in a week, but that is really pushing it, if you want quality instruction that will "stick".

Here's my suggestion: 1) discuss this entire thing with the group, and get commitment from everyone. 2) get the group to take 101 at home, before the cruise. 3) take 103 and 104 in the BVI. This is totally doable and should be quite enjoyable. Particularly if you could add a day, you might even be able to squeeze in 114, which is Catamaran Cruising and basically 104 done on a cat. 104 and 114 can be done concurrently.

Cheers,
Tim

+1...what he said.

The ASA 101/103 textbook is 200 pages of information. The 104 is another 100 pages. Depending on how much previous experience you have that's a lot of information to process. Can you "learn" enough in a week to get the 80% required to pass the exams? Probably. How much you will retain and "master" in such a short period could be a different story.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

+1...what he said.

The ASA 101/103 textbook is 200 pages of information. The 104 is another 100 pages. Depending on how much previous experience you have that's a lot of information to process. Can you "learn" enough in a week to get the 80% required to pass the exams? Probably. How much you will retain and "master" in such a short period could be a different story.

Oh, and by the way, I actually do run ASA 103, 104, 114 (and, for that matter, 105 and 106) on my cat in the BVI.

Cheers,
Tim

[admiralslater]

Chris at LTD sailing in Grenada is a great guy with lots of experience

[bvimatelot]

Originally Posted by tbodine88

Well its been a while, but I Sailed from Tortola to St Thomas, in about 3 hours or less on a Ericson 32. So I don't really understand this statement. I do think we'd fly to St Thomas and take the ferry to Tortola or wherever we decide to go......

Yes - that's the easy (downwind) bit! Getting from St Thom to Tortola can be a whole different ball-game...

If you decide on bvi - I'd recommend Steve at Tortola Sailing School. He can organise a flexible programme for you, I'm sure. If you go to Antigua, check out "On Deck" who are another good bunch of people. Tony