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Founded in 1983

400+ Sailing Schools

582,559 Certified Sailors
Online Intro To Sailing

NEW  ONLINE INTRO TO SAILING

This online sailing course introduces the fundamentals of sailing including important vocabulary, safety skills, and how sailboats work. By completing the lessons in this online course you will be ready to report to an American Sailing school for on-the-water sailing lessons.
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Upcoming Events

Sailboat Racing

APR 2023

North U Racing Tactics Seminars

Learn the strategy & tactics you need to finish on the podium at an in-person seminar near you.
North U Sail Trim Seminar

APR/MAY 2023

North U Sail Trim Seminars

Learn how to sail faster at an in-person seminar near you.
North U Sail Trim Seminar

APR 3 & 4 • Bellingham, WA

North U Sail Trim Seminar

Learn how to sail faster upwind & downwind at this in-person seminar.
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APR 4 • 4:30 PM PT

Symmetric Spinnaker Trim

Learn how to optimize your download performance with symmetric spinnakers.
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APR 11 • 4:30 PM PT

Intro To Dinghies & Outboards

Learn how to confidently purchase, operate and maintain a dinghy.
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APR 18 • 4:30 PM PT

Passage Planning Basics

Presented by Outer Passage - learn the essentials to safely plan and confidently execute your next voyage.

Sailboat Racing

SAT APR 15 • Nepean, ON

North U Racing Tactics Seminar

An in-person seminar that teaches you the strategy and tactics you need to finish on the podium.
Sailboat Racing

SAT APR 29 • Denver, CO

North U Racing Tactics Seminar

An in-person seminar that teaches you the strategy and tactics you need to finish on the podium.
North U Sail Trim Seminar

SUN APR 30 • EUGENE, OR

North U Sail Trim Seminar

Learn how to sail faster upwind & downwind at this in-person seminar.
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MAY 2 • 4:30 PM PT

Asymmetric Spinnaker Trim

Learn how to optimize your download performance with asymmetric spinnakers.
North U Sail Trim Seminar

SAT MAY 6 • FLATHEAD, MT

North U Sail Trim Seminar

Learn how to sail faster upwind & downwind at this in-person seminar.
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MAY 3-7 • ANNAPOLIS, MD

North U Regatta Experience

Join us for two days of on-the-water clinics, plus three days of racing in the Sailing World Regatta.

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MAY 2023

Turkey, Mediterranean

This will be our third year sailing the Gulf of Fethiye, a huge expansion of protected waters.
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JUN 2023

BVI, Caribbean

Warm island sun and the lazy days of summer call for a getaway like no other.
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JUN 2023

Greece, Mediterranean

Charter a boat, join the flotilla, and sail the idyllic waters near Corfu.
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JUN 2023

The Ionian Sea, Mediterranean

A stunning part of the Mediterranean with sheltered islands, crystal clear waters and steady winds.
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JUN 13 • 4:30 PM PT

Intro to Short-Handed Sailing

Learn short-handed sailing strategies to safely navigate your next voyage.
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JUN 2023

San Juan Islands, WA

Located in the sheltered waters of Puget Sound in Washington State, offer a unique and incredibly scenic sailing experience.
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JUN 2023

Tuscany, Mediterranean

For many years, has been some of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy.
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JUL 2023

Mallorca, Spain 

Sail from lively Palma de Mallorca to a stunning national park island.

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JUL & SEP 2023

Explore Croatia aboard Cataleya

A week-long cruise of Croatia onboard a fully crewed luxury yacht.
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AUG & SEP 2023

Grand Tour of New England

A seven-day sailing vacation onboard the megayacht Arabella.
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AUG 15 • 4:30 PM PT

Worldwide Anchoring Techniques

Anchoring methods to enhance your cruising experience.
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AUG 2023

Montenegro, Mediterranean

Visit the medieval cities of Kotor, Herceg Novi, Budva, and Bar. 

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AUG 2023

Gastro-Sail, Croatia

Explore the ancient city of Dubrovnik, Discover Ston & its well-preserved city walls and salt works.

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SEP 2023

Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

Join our most popular itinerary in Croatia with visits to islands like Hvar, Brac, and Vis.
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DEC 2023

BVI, Caribbean

Discover why the “Christmas Winds” make December in the BVI a sailing mecca!

ASA TEXTBOOKS

Sailing Made Easy
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Beginner

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Learn to Sail

You have wanted to learn to sail your entire life. ASA can bring you closer to fulfilling your dream. Our collection of resources will get you out on the water safely and confidently. With 400 schools worldwide you can find a school near you. To help you get started, we have an large collection of new sailor resources including beginner sailing lessons, online courses, webinars, and mobile apps. Become an ASA member and enjoy the many benefits of being part of the largest sailing education organization in the world.

Intermediate

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Build your Skills

So you know how to sail. Now what? Now you'll work on getting better, feeling more confident and taking your sailing to the next level. Now that you have a basic foundation of sailing it's time to have fun with your new knowledge. You can focus on expanding your sailing resume to make make you a more effective skipper. We have continuing education classes like Celestial Navigation (ASA 107), Offshore Passagemaking (ASA 108), Cruising Catamaran Sailing (ASA 114), and more.

Advanced

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Sail the World

You are now ready to entertain the thought of sailing around the world, sailing in exotic destinations or quiting your job and living on a boat. You can safely navigate a boat in most conditions and you are only limited by your imagination. Your ASA certifications open the door to bareboat charters in Greece, flotillas in Croatia and family sailing vacations in the Caribbean. ASA partners, affiliates and schools are worldwide and they can help you find the sailing adventure that fits you best. ASA members get steep charter discounts - join today.

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Your First Sail - Free Online Course

Start Now
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North U Courses & Webinars

Since 1980 North U has been the most prestigious organization in performance sailing education in the world...

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Inside Sailing with Peter Isler

Inside Sailing with Peter Isler is a captivating series that immerses viewers in the beautiful world of sailing. The series explores sailing...

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Online / Interactive Learning

It is important to understand that you cannot learn to skipper a boat without actually being on a boat but you can learn some of the information...

Your First Sail - Free Online Course

Start Now
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Docking Made Easy

Learn how to dock a sailboat under sail, or under power, in a variety of different scenarios. Sailing legend Peter Isler walks...

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Bite Sized Lessons

We know that learning to sail can be overwhelming and there is a lot to take in. In an effort to help we’ve created...

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Knots Made Easy

There are as many sailing knots as there are stars in the night sky — or so it seems. But the reality is that most sailors...

Find A Sailing School


Sailing Challenge App

Sailing Challenge

Sailing Challenge combines the most innovative thinking in the digital education field with ASA’s experience in teaching sailing to create a game that lets players climb aboard and sail off on a virtual sea of fun.
Catamaran Challenge App

Catamaran Challenge

The app includes five learning modules that will teach you the basics of operating a twin-engine catamaran, how to perform a looping turn, and how to maneuver the boat at slow speeds using just the throttles.
GO SAILING APP

Go Sailing App

Go Sailing lets you share your passion for sailing with others, allowing you to create or join sailing trips, meet new friends and easily share trip expenses.
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Sailing Challenge

Sailing Challenge combines the most innovative thinking in the digital education field with ASA’s experience in teaching sailing to create a game that lets players climb aboard and sail off on a virtual sea of fun.
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Catamaran Challenge

The app includes five learning modules that will teach you the basics of operating a twin-engine catamaran, how to perform a looping turn, and how to maneuver the boat at slow speeds using just the throttles.
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Go Sailing App

Go Sailing lets you share your passion for sailing with others, allowing you to create or join sailing trips, meet new friends and easily share trip expenses.

Membership Benefits

  • Your membership supports the important environmental and charitable initiatives that help to keep our waterways clean and give back to sailing communities.

  • ASA members enjoy unique discounts on charters around the world, paying for the cost of annual membership in a single day sail.

  • Discounts off sailing products including West Marine, iNavX, DAN Boater, Sailflow, and more.

  • Discounts on ASA Educational Video Series, ASA Webinars, magazine subscriptions and more!

Learn More

Take a Sailing Cruise on Arabella

You will never take another cruise like this again. With only 18 cabins, Arabella is a 157-foot sailing yacht that provides an intimate journey through destinations like the British Virgin Islands and a Grand Tour of New England.

Put your skills to use,

Teach others.

Share your passion for sailing as you teach others to sail. Teach at a local school on the weekends or get out on multi-day excursions and share your knowledge. Becoming an instructor is easier than you think.

#NeverStopLearning