ASA 101 / 103 Booked - Any Suggestions on Studying Anything Before I Get There ?

[perchance]

Not one mention of weather basics?

[SouthernHiker]

Wife and I completed the courses on a 37' Beneteau(sp?).

We learned a whole lot about sailing, and can't wait to find some boats to rent around our area to get some more practice. Thanks for all the input, everything you guys listed we got some experience with.

[Gos2015]

A friend just signed up for the ASA 101/103 and his instructor told him there is an ASA 101/103 study guide now available online that comes with a practice exam.

[Gos2015]

One of our students pointed out that there is now an ASA 101/103 study guide available online - covers all the topics for the course, also includes a practice exam. I saw a copy of it and it looks pretty good, actually covers things like weather and marine weather reports not covered in the actual course texts.

[T_Cat]

I just finished ASA 101 this month. Because I have been reading many books in anticipation of taking the class, I found the supplied text book basic. What I found was the most useful was the daily knot trying sessions and of course the on the water sailing. I'm sure they're hundreds of good books out there but these are the 2 I read before hand.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Gos2015]

Hi T-Cat, I just downloaded the book my student showed me (you can get the PDF or printed version). It has links to knot tying videos and the content is bang on and not as basic as the suggested course texts. I found it by searching: ASA 101/103 Study Guide

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Bash

Read up on anchoring: they teach diddly about this in the courses in which you've enrolled.

Rubbish. Types of bottom, types of anchors, scope, and techniques including kedging were all taught in the 101 and 103 I took, and we practised anchoring a couple of times.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by GoSailing

One of our students pointed out that there is now an ASA 101/103 study guide available online ...

➥ Asa 101 Study Guide PDF - Books Reader
➥ 101 & 103 Sailing Study Guide

[KeepInTune]

After taking 101/103/104, I would highly recommend writing down all of your processes (i.e. on a Word doc). After the first two weeks after training, I created and wrote out each step (i.e. reefing, raising main, anchoring, provisioning, VHF use, etc..). It helped me tremendously to confirm what I had learned and to put it in my own words and process. I now use that document when I charter for review prior to the trip and then bring it with me to review. I then update it with things that I learn each time I sail. It's a great way to capture your knowledge and keep it going, more so than just referring to the ASA textbooks.

[MarcStAug]

I just took the ASA 101 at a local sailing club/school and I have to say, it was pretty great. I also bought this DVD from Amazon - something I will look at again and again: Sailing Fundamentals Dvd: Official Learn-to-Sail Dvd of the American Sailing Association

I got it for $7.99 and I see there are some for $14.99 - good deal IMHO.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

Rubbish. Types of bottom, types of anchors, scope, and techniques including kedging were all taught in the 101 and 103 I took, and we practised anchoring a couple of times.

+1. I've taught ASA since 1994. Various aspects anchoring, both as academics & hands-on skills, are part of the 101, 103, and 104 standards.

In addition, reading nautical charts for bottom types, depths, etc relavant to anchoring are covered in Coastal Navigation (105). Specifics of catamaran acnchoring are covered in Cruising Catamaran (114).

If a school is not teachnig the standard then PLEASE report them to ASA. If you are not comfortable doing that, then PM me the details and I will happily follow up.

[belizesailor]

My suggestion to 101/103 students is to use the ASA standard as a study guide for each class. Read the appropriate text book first and then review using the standard as a guide.

Ideally, the school should get the text books to you well ahead of class to give you time to prepare. Preclass preparation makes a big difference in effective learning.

ALL of the academics & hands on skills defined in each standard should then be covered again by the instructor during class.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by sec906

Insist that they train you to dock and let you practice repeatedly. Anchoring and docking are critical skills that you need to be confident you can do well. Most of the rest of what they teach you can learned over time or you can fudge your way through it without much consequence.

No insistence should be necessary, docking & anchoring are defined as part of the official standard for these classes. If a school is not teaching the standard then please report them to ASA.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by perchance

Not one mention of weather basics?

Weather basics are part of the 103 standard. For more in depth weather training there is a separate weather class.

asa.com/certifications/asa-119-weather-endorsement/

[LTDsailing]

Looks like you have a lot of good information here to get you started. I really agree that the more prepared you are going in, the more you will get out of the course.

Have fun!