ASA 104 — Bareboat Cruising

ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising is the American Sailing certification most charter companies think of when they ask for "ASA". It prepares you to skipper a cruising yacht of about 30 to 45 feet on cruises lasting several days, in inland or coastal waters, in moderate to heavy conditions with winds up to about 30 knots. A bareboat is a yacht chartered without crew, so on completion you're working towards running the whole show: boat, crew, food, systems and plan.

Who it suits

• Sailors with ASA 101 and 103 who want to charter a yacht independently
• People planning a sailing holiday with friends or family in charter areas such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean
• Anyone who wants practical experience of living aboard before buying a cruising boat

What you'll actually do

ASA 104 is usually taught as a live-aboard course, and much of it is about the practical side of cruising. You'll plan provisions and cook in the galley, learn the boat's electrical, water and fuel systems, and do routine engine checks and simple maintenance. Under way you'll fine-tune sail trim, navigate along the coast with chart plotting and GPS, dock in marinas, set more than one anchor, and use the dinghy (tender) to get ashore. You'll also cover health, safety and emergency procedures and reading the weather.

Certification requires both a written exam and a demonstration of skills on the water. ASA's textbook is Bareboat Cruising Made Easy, and ASA offers online quizzes.

Key ideas explained

• Provisioning — planning food, water and fuel for several days, with a margin, and storing it so it stays fresh and doesn't move in a seaway.
• Battery management — at anchor, the fridge, lights and instruments run off the batteries, so you need to watch the charge and run the engine or charger to top it up.
• Two-anchor moorings — setting two anchors, for example in a V ahead or bow and stern, to limit swinging in a crowded anchorage or hold in a change of wind.
• Chart plotting and GPS — using the plotter while still keeping a paper or independent backup and cross-checking against what you can see.
• Tender operation — loading safely, not overloading, carrying a light at night, and securing the dinghy so it doesn't drift off.
• Heavier weather — reefing early, securing loose gear below and keeping the crew clipped on and briefed when the wind builds.

Where it fits

• Before: ASA 101 and ASA 103.
• This course: skipper a 30 to 45 foot cruising keelboat on multi-day coastal or inland cruises.
• Next: ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran if you want to charter a catamaran.
• Broadly comparable: IYT International Bareboat Skipper and RYA Day Skipper Practical are other common charter qualifications, though none is formally equivalent to another.

Getting ready

• Read Bareboat Cruising Made Easy and do the quizzes before you board.
• Keep a sailing log; charter companies usually ask for your experience as well as your certificates.
• Pack in a soft bag: deck shoes, wet-weather gear, sun protection, a head torch and personal medications.
• Ask the school about cabin arrangements, meals, the planned route and how the assessment works.
• If chartering in Europe, check whether you'll also need an ICC and a radio certificate.

Good to know in Australia

ASA's rules and buoyage follow US practice (IALA region B); Australia uses region A, with channel colours reversed. Learn local rules through your state's maritime authority, which also issues recreational boat licences separately from any sailing certificate. You'll want a marine radio qualification such as the SROCP to use a VHF radio in Australia.