Learn to Sail in Seattle — ASA & Powerboat Courses

Northwest Sailing — Seattle Sailing Courses and Certifications

Northwest Sailing offers a structured set of Seattle sailing courses and certification-focused training at Elliott Bay Marina and Carillon Point Marina in Kirkland. For sailors seeking ASA certifications or hands-on boat handling skills, the available courses include beginner through advanced classroom and on-water training.

Core Courses and What They Teach

• Sailing Basics (ASA101) — Two-day keelboat training in Seattle (Elliott Bay Marina) and Kirkland (Carillon Point). Topics: knots, sail trim, seamanship, and basic safety.
• ASA101 Review — Four-hour practice session at Elliott Bay Marina to reinforce ASA101 skills and log time toward ASA103.
• Cruising Skipper (ASA103) — Two-day advanced handling at Elliott Bay Marina focused on docking, navigation, and skipper responsibilities for boats up to 30 feet.
• Bareboat Skipper (ASA104) — Three-day course based at Elliott Bay Marina on 30′–45′ sloop-rigged boats. Includes navigation, docking, emergency procedures, and private cabins with a maximum of three students.
• PowerBoating AB101 — AB101 powerboat certification covering propulsion, docking, terminology, and safety.
• Spinnaker Handling (J/80) — Eight-hour asymmetric spinnaker course on a J/80 performance sailboat covering rigging, trimming, and recovery drills.
• Coastal Navigation (105) — Five-evening series covering chart reading, position fixing, tides, and coastal pilotage.

Locations and Practical Training

Training takes place at Elliott Bay Marina (Seattle) and Carillon Point Marina (Kirkland), with some sessions meeting in Downtown Kirkland. Courses combine classroom navigation and safety briefings with on-water practice aboard keelboats and performance sailboats, supporting skill development for ASA certifications and practical seamanship.

Who Should Book These Courses

• Beginners seeking ASA101 certification and foundational sailing skills.
• Sailors preparing to advance to ASA103 and ASA104 certifications.
• Powerboat operators pursuing AB101 certification.
• Sailors wanting specialized training such as spinnaker handling or coastal navigation.

Booking and Certification Pathways

Course listings include session lengths, locations, and certification objectives. Several classes explicitly prepare students for ASA certifications and allow logging required hours toward ASA credentials. The Bareboat Skipper (ASA104) is delivered as an intensive three-day program with a small student-to-boat ratio.

Keywords for Seattle Sailors

For search and discovery, relevant keywords include: Seattle sailing courses, ASA101 Seattle, ASA103 Cruising Skipper, ASA104 Bareboat Skipper, AB101 powerboating, spinnaker handling J/80, coastal navigation 105, Elliott Bay Marina sailing, and Carillon Point Marina sailing.

Why Choose These Courses

These programs focus on practical, on-water competence and clear certification goals. Course descriptions and schedules are available on The Adventure Collective listing for Northwest Sailing, helping prospective students compare sessions, locations, and certification pathways before booking.

Find a class, confirm certification goals, and book through the listed course pages on The Adventure Collective.