History: ASA 103, Introduction to Coastal Cruising

After a few weeks of practice by sailing up and down the Navesink River, we were ready to try ASA 103. This was a course introducing more detail in how to sail and also introducing larger boats and all the systems involved.  So it included information on how marine toilets work, fresh water systems, using instruments and the like.  It also included a lot more information about how to trim sails, more ways to approach a dock, and of course more knots to learn.

There was only a one weekend period where we could do this course, so we ended up having it with Captain Andy on board Captain George's 34' Bristol, "Fore Wind".

This time the test involved a "lab practical" so we had to practice maneuvers like backing to a specific point.

It included lots of time at the wheel... we were the only two students.  (John had earlier decided that sailing was "too slow" for him.)

We had more instruction in the finer points of handling sails, etc.

Fore Wind is a 34' Bristol... it has a complete interior cabin with sleeping space for several people.

This course included more study of things like how to read a navigational chart and of couse included a test as well.

We sailed around the tip of Sandy Hook, and actually looked out onto the Atlantic Ocean!

Learning is sometimes surprising...

But then you learn it and move on...