ASA 105 - COASTAL NAVIGATION
Welcome to ASA 105 Navigation class
Go beyond day sailing and step into true coastal cruising. ASA 105 builds the navigation skills you need to plan routes, understand tides and currents, and sail confidently—without relying solely on electronics.
What you learn:
- Read and interpret nautical charts with confidence
- Use essential navigation tools: parallel rulers and dividers
- Read and interpret nautical charts
- Plot accurate courses and headings
- Fix your position using bearings and chart work
- Apply set, drift, current, and leeway corrections
- Understand and apply U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules.
By the end of the classes, you’ll navigate like a seasoned sailor—ready to plan your own adventures across wherever the wind takes you.
How is it taught?
We offer two options:
No Pre-requisite required
Option #1: 3 full day Friday to Sunday – 9 to 5pm in a classroom
Option #2: Two evenings live on line with your instructor from the comfort of your home or wherever you chose, and two full days in the classroom including review and exam on second day. In-class Monday/Tuesday and ASA 106 starts Wednesday and goes through Sunday.
Detailed program for Navigation Class ASA 105:
1- Explain the chart symbols and conventions on U.S. nautical charts in accordance with the terminology of Chart #1.
- Identify a source of official U.S. Coast Guard navigation publications.
- List the publications required for prudent navigation in the local area
- Describe the instruments required for prudent navigation in the local area
- Describe the purpose and example contents of a “Notice to Mariners.”
- Explain the terms and characteristics used for lighted navigation aids.
- Explain the significance of shapes, colors, and lights used in the U.S. Aids to Navigation (ATON) system.
- Use the tide and current tables to find:
- Times and heights of tides at reference and secondary ports.
- Direction and rate of current at referenced and secondary stations.
- Convert courses and bearings between true, magnetic, and compass.
- Check compass deviation by a transit bearing or other means.
- Plot a dead reckoning position on a chart using speed, time and course to steer.
- Allow for the effect of current and leeway to plot the estimated position.
- Determine a course to steer which takes into account known current and leeway.
- Determine current given the course steered and speed and two observed positions.
- Plot a chart position from terrestrial objects using:
- Two or more bearings on different objects taken at one time.
- Bearings at different times (i.e. a running fix).
- One bearing and transit range.
- One distance (i.e. a sounding or dipping a light) and one bearing.
- Chart a course of at least 20 miles and three course changes using the above skills.
You will be able to really understand the information a chart is giving you, and be able to interpret your chart-plotter information better as well.
- COURSE OVERVIEW -
ASA 105 COASTAL NAVIGATION
3 Days in classroom or
2 online + 2 days in person
4 students max per instructor
Starting at: $790
Package Option
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TESTIMONIALS
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What will I be able to do with ASA 105?
ASA 105 will dramatically improve your confidence on the water for coastal and even further adventures. You will have the confidence to navigate unknown waters and you will not be afraid of losing your GPS signal or chart plotter.
What is next after ASA 105?
ASA 105 is a pre-requisite for ASA 106.
Does this ASA105 class require particular skills?
Chart navigation is not that easy and you will need to focus and study. But our proven teaching method will definitely walk you through the class step-by-step with multiple hands-on exercises, Q&A and a very progressive method.
What do I need to bring?
Nothing! We provide all the study materials and charts for the entire course, including text and exercise workbook. And you can use our parallel rules and dividers, etc while in the classroom. Your instructor will give you suggestions before the course begins if you’re in need of your own navigation tools which are quite helpful for your own navigation work.
