This course is designed for experienced sailors ready to expand their skills and take on greater responsibility aboard a cruising vessel. You’ll refine your ability to manage a boat and crew, make confident decisions, and handle longer coastal passages in changing conditions. Training includes advanced sail handling, night navigation, heavy weather preparation, emergency procedures, and onboard systems management through hands-on practice.
During this Learn-to-Sail Vacation with Whitecaps Sailing School, you will earn your ASA106 (Advanced Cruising and Seamanship) certification. ASA101-103-104 and 105 are prerequisites. If you do not have ASA105 yet you obtain it during the boat show. The ASA105 fee is $795.00. Click here to book the ASA 106 class.
ASA 106 builds the advanced skills and confidence needed to become a capable cruising skipper and explore new destinations. The course includes study materials, instruction and testing, onboard breakfast, lunch and dinner, final refueling, docking fees, and admission to the St. Pete Boat Show.
¤ ASA 106 | ADVANCED COASTAL CRUISING
Provisioning and theoretical course review, followed by a 50NM night sail from St. Petersburg to the Venice Inlet. Anchor or moor and rest during the day of January 19. (About 50NM).
After lunch and a good rest, night sail to the Boca Grande Pass and anchor in Pelican Bay for a few hours of rest. Written test done. (About 30NM).
Sail back to the base. (About 20NM).
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example, however, it is important to note that the actual itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
We will be teaching on our ETAP32S sloop. Two double cabins, full galley, full head with shower, air conditioning with reverse heat on shore power.
Recently completed my 101/103/104 combo with Whitecaps. Very friendly team, responsive and knowledgeable. The boat used for training was in great shape and of perfect size for learning.
My partner and I had an amazing experience at Whitecaps Sailing in Port Charlotte, Florida, where we completed our ASA 101/103/104 course with Captain Lee. The course was incredibly informative, and we truly appreciated Captain Lee’s deep expertise and the personalized 1:1 instruction he provided. By the end, we felt confident and well-equipped to embark on our own charters in the future. Jean and Mila at Whitecaps were also fantastic. They were highly responsive to our questions before the course and went above and beyond to ensure the boat was prepared and a dock was arranged despite challenges from two hurricanes. We can’t recommend Whitecaps highly enough for anyone looking to learn or advance their sailing skills!
