Learn to Sail in Anacortes — ASA & AB Certified Courses

Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy — Anacortes Sailing School

Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy provides certified sailing and powerboat training in Anacortes, Washington. The academy offers a structured pathway of American Sailing Association (ASA) courses and AB 101 powerboat certification options that prepare students for safe recreational boating and charter readiness.

Courses and Certifications

The training catalog includes:

• ASA 101: a two-day beginner course on a Beneteau ASA 22 covering rigging, sail trim, and safety.
• AS 102 Keelboat 2: a two-day intermediate course for sailors who hold AS 101 certification, focusing on sail shape, backing, and obstacle navigation.
• ASA 103: a 2.5-day course preparing skippers to handle 25'–35' keelboats in moderate conditions.
• ASA 104: a three-day live-aboard course focused on skippering, coastal navigation, emergency operations, and advanced sail trim.
• ASA 103/104: a five-day, four-night live-aboard combo that combines ASA 103 and 104 certification training.
• ASA 105: evening/drop-in lessons offering four sessions in coastal navigation, suitable for younger sailors with adult supervision.
• AB 101 Single Inboard Powerboat Handling: a one-day course concentrating on close-quarters maneuvering, line handling, and inboard diesel powerboat operation.

Boats and Environment

Instruction uses Beneteau 22 keelboats for beginner and intermediate classes and 25'–35' keelboats for skipper-level training. Courses take place in inland and coastal waters around Anacortes, providing varied conditions for hands-on learning and skill assessment.

What Students Learn

Students receive practical training in:

• rigging and sail handling
• sail trim and sail shape control
• docking and close-quarters maneuvering
• navigation and coastal passage planning
• emergency procedures and safety protocols
• inboard diesel powerboat handling (AB 101)

Certification and Progression

Successful completion of each course results in the issuance of the corresponding ASA or AB 101 credential. The ASA 101 through 104 progression provides a clear route from basic sailing fundamentals to skipper-level competence on 25'–35' keelboats. The five-day ASA 103/104 option compresses this progression into a live-aboard experience for efficient certification.

Why Choose These Courses

These course offerings target sailors and powerboat operators seeking structured, credentialed training in Anacortes. The program combines hands-on practice on Beneteau 22s and larger keelboats, focused navigation instruction, and powerboat handling evaluations to build practical skills for recreational sailing and charter readiness.

Booking and Practical Details

Course formats range from one-day AB 101 powerboat training to multiday live-aboard ASA 103/104 combos. Evening and drop-in ASA 105 sessions provide flexible study in coastal navigation. Students are evaluated through practical assessments aligned with ASA and AB 101 standards.

Typical Course Structure

Typical course structure mixes on-deck instruction, hands-on practice, and practical evaluations. Two-day courses, such as ASA 101 and AS 102, combine classroom orientation with extended on-water sessions aboard Beneteau 22s. The one-day AB 101 course centers on close-quarters maneuvering and includes hands-on assessments in an inboard diesel powerboat. The 2.5-day ASA 103 and three-day ASA 104 courses increase time on larger keelboats and emphasize skippering, docking, and coastal navigation. The ASA 103/104 five-day live-aboard compresses those learning objectives into a continuous training voyage with night and day operations. ASA 105 evening sessions cover chart study, tide calculations, and coastal navigation techniques across four lessons. Each course includes practical skill checks aligned with ASA or AB learning objectives and culminates with credential issuance when requirements are met.

Keywords and Search Terms

For searches related to "sailing school Anacortes", "ASA certification Anacortes", "keelboat training", "Beneteau 22 sailing lessons", "AB 101 powerboat handling", "coastal navigation courses", and "live-aboard sailing course", Seattle Yachts Sailing Academy lists these specific certified courses in Anacortes, Washington.