Liveaboard Sailing Lessons
Our liveaboard courses put you on the water for multiple days and nights, living aboard and learning in real sailing conditions. Whether you’re learning the fundamentals in our 7-day ASA 101/103/104 Beginner to Bareboat program, building on existing skills in our 5-day ASA 103/104 combo course, or completing your ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising certification, you’ll earn your American Sailing Association credentials through hands-on cruising on Puget Sound – experiencing the full lifestyle of a cruising sailor.
Seattle Sailing Club, in partnership with the American Sailing Association, has been training sailors since 1968. Our experienced instructors work at your pace, ensuring you gain the knowledge and confidence needed to skipper a cruising sailboat independently. With immersive, hands-on learning combined with overnight cruising, you’ll develop real-world skills and earn the ASA credentials to charter boats worldwide.
Ready to dive deep into sailing? Our liveaboard courses offer an unforgettable learning experience that goes beyond traditional lessons.
Please note: all sailing lesson prices are subject to sales tax.
ASA 104 Bareboat Charter
Take the next step in your sailing journey with ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising and learn to confidently skipper a cruising sailboat on multi-day trips. This live-aboard certification teaches you how to plan, lead, and execute extended voyages aboard a larger, auxiliary-powered sailboat – preparing you to charter and captain your own boat on Puget Sound or around the world.
The curriculum expands beyond basic sailing to include provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation including basic chart plotting and GPS operation, docking, health & safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation.
Our experienced instructors emphasize real-world application in a supportive, hands-on learning environment. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn your ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising certification, qualifying you to charter cruising sailboats and captain your own coastal adventures.
We hold these lesson based out of Seattle, WA and Anacortes, WA (in the San Juan Islands). Each lesson on the calendar lists the location first. If you have any questions as to which location you are booking, don’t hesitate to reach out!
SSC Member Price
$1375
❄️ Winter Pricing
$1165 (Save $140)
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31.
Non-Member Price
$1695
❄️ Winter Pricing
$1445 (Save $250)
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31.
3 hours of classroom*; 3 days, 2 nights onboard; 1 night anchored + 1 night docked
- Planning an overnight charter
- Inboard Engines
- Boat Systems: Engine, Galley, Head, Electrical, and Heaters
- Sail Trim
- Docking
- Anchoring
- Navigation Topics: Plotting Courses, Tides, and Currents
Location Options:
- Out of Shilshole Bay Marina (year-round)
- Out of Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, Washington (Spring)
- These lessons are spent learning in the San Juan Islands, departing from & returning to Cap Sante Marina.
- 18+ years old
- ASA 101: Keelboat Sailing 1 Certification
- ASA 103: Basic Coastal Cruising Certification
Class Size:
Minimum to run a lesson: 3 students/lesson
Maximum in each lesson: 4 students/lesson
Lesson Schedule: 4 Calendar Days
Day 1: 6pm – 9pm
Days 2 – 4: Depart at 9am on Day 2, return by 5pm on Day 4
Lesson Cancellation Policy (Shilshole lessons only)
Prices are subject to change. Student will be responsible for paying the price difference upon rescheduling.
- Cancellations within 14-days of the lesson are non-refundable.
- Rescheduling within 14-days of the lesson will result in a rescheduling fee of 50% of the cost of the course.
- Trip Protection is highly recommended.With Trip Protection, your lesson can be cancelled, rescheduled, or converted into a gift card up to the start time of your lesson. Trip Protection may be used one time and is only available for purchase at time of booking. All funds (minus Trip Protection, Booking Fees, and shipped/picked up course materials) are refundable and transferable.
ANACORTES LESSON CANCELLATION POLICY
- Cancellations made 30+ days before the first day of the lesson can be rescheduled.
- Cancellations made within 30-days of the first day of the lesson are non-refundable.
- Rescheduling within 30-days of the lesson will result in a fee equal to 50% of the cost of the course.
- Trip Protection is highly recommended.With Trip Protection, your lesson can be cancelled, rescheduled, or converted into a gift card up to the start time of your lesson. Trip Protection may be used one time and is only available for purchase at time of booking. All funds (minus Trip Protection, Booking Fees, and shipped/picked up course materials) are refundable and transferable.
Lesson Refund Policy:
- Lessons are refundable up to 6 months after purchase.
- Shipping costs are non-refundable.
- Course materials picked up or shipped are non-refundable
Q: How do I prepare for my ASA course? Are there any course materials I need before the lesson?
- Schedule your lesson. Call or email the club to schedule your lesson. While scheduling this lesson, please make sure to notify SSC of any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
- Pick up & READ the course materials. Bareboat Cruising Made Easy and ASA 104 syllabus are available at Seattle Sailing Club. If you live out of the area, we can ship the materials to you. Note: The course materials are included in the cost of the course, but there is an additional fee to ship them.
- Get a head start on the reading. Reading the textbook will give you a strong foundation to build upon when you head out on the water, helping you feel more comfortable and confident. Though it may seem difficult to learn how to sail from a book, the foundation you build by doing so will make understanding the hands-on teaching that much easier. We recommend completing the brief Chapter Review Quizzes as you go. Taking the time to do this in advance will help you approach the course exams with confidence and a strong foundation.
- Pack your bag according to the marine weather forecast. We suggest bringing a waterproof outer shell, warm layers made with polyester, fleece, wool or merino wool (no cotton), non-slip/non-marking shoes, a water bottle, lunch, sunscreen, and chapstick. Use our Gear Guidelines and Suggested Packing List as a guide while you pack for your weekend adventure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) website provides up-to-date weather forecasts for the Puget Sound area. At the bottom of the page, you will find the forecast for the Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
- Read and Review our ASA lesson policies including cancellation/refund and safety policies, weather information, and more.
Q: What is the certification process and how much does it cost? I'm certified - what's next?
- Complete the sailing lesson.
- Pass the ASA 104 written certification exam along with the on-the-water skills test (completed during the last day of the lesson).
- Pay the $30 ASA certification exam fee.
- Get on the water! After passing your ASA 104 exam, you have officially completed your certification. You are now certified to skipper monohulls up to 45ft from sailing organizations around the world that recognize ASA certifications. If you’ve joined one of Seattle Sailing Club’s memberships, you are now certified to skipper boats up to 45ft. Your certification should arrive in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks after passing the exam. For more information on ASA’s International Proficiency Certification, click here.
Cruise N Learn – ASA 103 + ASA 104 Combo Class
Spend 5 days & 4 nights out on the water getting certified for ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising + ASA 104 Bareboat charter. These sailing lessons will follow the same topics as the ASA 103 + ASA 104.
We hold these lesson based out of Seattle, WA, and Anacortes, WA (in the San Juan Islands). Each lesson on the calendar lists the location first. If you have any questions as to which location you are booking, don’t hesitate to reach out!
SSC Member Price
$2295*
❄️ Winter Pricing
$1950 (Save $230)
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31.
Non-Member Price
$2695*
❄️ Winter Pricing
$2295 (Save $400)
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31.
5 days + 4 nights on-board a larger keelboat (35′-45′); 2-3 nights docked + 2-3 nights anchored
- Navigation
- Planning a Day & Overnight Trip
- Sail Selection
- Weather and safety
- Reefing
- Heaving-to
- Docking Upwind/Downwind
- Anchoring
- Boat Handling under sail and power
- Sail Trim
- Inboard Engines
- Boat Systems: Engine, Galley, Head, Electrical, and Heaters
- Navigation Topics: Plotting Courses, Tides, and Currents
Location Options:
- Out of Shilshole Bay Marina (year-round)
- Out of Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes, Washington (Spring)
- These lessons are spent learning in the San Juan Islands, departing from & returning to Cap Sante Marina.
- 18+ years old
- ASA 101: Keelboat Sailing 1 Certification
Class Size:
Minimum to run a lesson: 3 students/lesson
Maximum in each lesson: 4 students/lesson
Lesson Schedule: 5 calendar days
Departs at 9am on Day 1; returns by 5pm on Day 5
Lesson Cancellation Policy (Shilshole lessons only)
Prices are subject to change. Student will be responsible for paying the price difference upon rescheduling.
- Cancellations within 14-days of the lesson are non-refundable.
- Rescheduling within 14-days of the lesson will result in a rescheduling fee of 50% of the cost of the course.
- Trip Protection is highly recommended.With Trip Protection, your lesson can be cancelled, rescheduled, or converted into a gift card up to the start time of your lesson. Trip Protection may be used one time and is only available for purchase at time of booking. All funds (minus Trip Protection, Booking Fees, and shipped/picked up course materials) are refundable and transferable.
ANACORTES LESSON CANCELLATION POLICY
- Cancellations made 30+ days before the first day of the lesson can be rescheduled.
- Cancellations made within 30-days of the first day of the lesson are non-refundable.
- Rescheduling within 30-days of the lesson will result in a fee equal to 50% of the cost of the course.
- Trip Protection is highly recommended.With Trip Protection, your lesson can be cancelled, rescheduled, or converted into a gift card up to the start time of your lesson. Trip Protection may be used one time and is only available for purchase at time of booking. All funds (minus Trip Protection, Booking Fees, and shipped/picked up course materials) are refundable and transferable.
Lesson Refund Policy:
- Lessons are refundable up to 6 months after purchase.
- Shipping costs are non-refundable.
- Course materials picked up or shipped are non-refundable
Q: How do I prepare for my ASA course? Are there any course materials I need before the lesson?
- Schedule your sailing lesson. Call or email the club to schedule your lesson. While scheduling this lesson, please make sure to notify SSC of any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
- Pick up the course materials. Coastal Cruising Made Easy by American Sailing Association and ASA 103 syllabus + Bareboat Cruising Made Easy and ASA 104 syllabus are available at Seattle Sailing Club. If you live out of the area, we can ship the materials to you. Note: The course materials are included in the cost of the course, but there is an additional fee to ship them.
- Be sure to read through the materials before your first day of class. Reading the textbooks will give you a strong foundation to build upon when you head out on the water, helping you feel more comfortable and confident. Though it may seem difficult to learn how to sail from a book, the foundation you build by doing so will make understanding the hands-on teaching that much easier. We recommend completing the brief Chapter Review Quizzes as you go. Taking the time to do this in advance will help you approach the course exams with confidence and a strong foundation. Your lesson confirmation email also contains a link to free online ASA preparation courses. These courses are optional, but helpful.
- Pack your bag according to the marine weather forecast. We suggest bringing a waterproof outer shell, warm layers made with polyester, fleece, wool or merino wool (no cotton), non-slip/non-marking shoes, a water bottle, lunch, sunscreen, and chapstick. Use our Gear Guidelines and Suggested Packing List as a guide while you pack for your weekend adventure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) website provides up-to-date weather forecasts for the Puget Sound area. At the bottom of the page, you will find the forecast for the Puget Sound and Hood Canal
- Read and Review our ASA lesson policies including cancellation/refund and safety policies, weather information, and more.
Q: What is the certification process and how much does it cost? I'm certified - what's next?
- Complete the lesson.
- Pass the ASA 103 + 104 written certification exam along with the on-the-water skills test (completed during the last day of the lesson).
- Pay the $30 ASA certification exam fee (1 fee for each certification, this course has 2 certifications).
- Get on the water! After passing your ASA 103 + 104 exams, you have officially completed your certification. You are now certified to skipper monohulls up to 45ft from sailing organizations around the world that recognize ASA certifications. If you’ve joined one of Seattle Sailing Club’s memberships, you are now certified to skipper boats up to 45ft. Your certification should arrive in the mail within 4 to 6 weeks after passing the exam. For more information on ASA’s International Proficiency Certification, click here.
Beginner to Bareboat – ASA 101 + 103 + ASA 104 Combo Class
Spend 7 days & 6 nights out on the water getting certified for ASA 101 Keelboat Sailing 1, ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, and ASA 104 Bareboat Chartering. These sailing lessons will follow the same topics as the individual lessons do.
Our Beginner to Bareboat Combo is an immersive, liveaboard sailing program designed for complete beginners and/or those seeking formal ASA Certifications. Over 7 days and 6 nights, you’ll earn your ASA 101, 103 & 104 certifications through hands-on immersion – living, cruising, and mastering real sailing skills on the beautiful Puget Sound.
Students will spend the first day on a 26-foot daysailer to build core sailing skills before transitioning to a larger vessel (40’ – 45’) in the evening and for the remainder of the week.
No experience needed!
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31. SSC Member Price
$2995*
❄️ Winter Pricing
$2695 (Save $300)
❄️ Winter Pricing applies to lessons that take place between November 1 and March 31. Non-Member Price
$3295*
❄️ Winter Pricing
$2950 (Save $345)
Each day will follow a similar format consisting of morning, midday, and evening sessions separated by meals and breaks. Each session will be determined by the instructor and based on the weather and tidal conditions, the day’s passage plan, and student needs. Training will take many forms throughout the course, including discussions, instructor demonstrations, and hands-on practice under both sail and power. After each demonstration, students will rotate through the various roles on board, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the responsibilities and perspective of each position. This rotation helps build a well-rounded understanding of how the vessel operates and how the crew works together as a team. This lesson will depart from and return to our club in Shilshole Marina. Minimum to run a lesson: 3 students/lesson Maximum in each lesson: 4 students/lesson Begins at 9am on Day 1; departs Shilshole Marina the morning of Day 2; returns to Shilshole Marine by 5pm on Day 7 Lesson Cancellation Policy (Shilshole lessons only) Prices are subject to change. Student will be responsible for paying the price difference upon rescheduling.
Class Size:
Lesson Schedule: 7 calendar days
Lesson Refund Policy:
Q: How do I prepare for my ASA course? Are there any course materials I need before the lesson?
Q: What is the certification process and how much does it cost? I'm certified - what's next?