Recent Articles
The British Virgin Islands Are Set to Reopen December 1st
September 28, 2020The Date of December 1st, 2020, the British Virgin Islands are set to reopen to welcome tourists, visitors, and cruisers. The archipelago has been close to visitors since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. While their cases were relatively low, they were under... Read More >
The Anatomy of a Boat
September 24, 2020Do You Know the Parts of a Boat Learning to sail is not just about feeling the wind in your sails. You also become familiar with the vessel that will be part of your new lifelong adventure. A sailboat can seem daunting with all its moving parts, but it is quite... Read More >
Adrift: Would You Survive?
September 21, 2020How Would You Handle a Catastrophic Event on a Sailboat? If you have a passion for sailing, you seek out sailing movies. If you are anything like the rest of us sailors, you most likely hold the belief that your experience, sailing education and grit could help... Read More >
Is Sailing Stressful?
September 17, 2020What Part of a Daysail Is the Most Stressful for You? The daysail is a common activity for every sailor. Whether you are headed to your own boat, part of a sailing club, or have a generous friend who allows you to tag along there are general stress factors that... Read More >
National Online Learning Day – September 15
September 14, 2020September 15 is National Online Learning Day. As the world changes, so do the ways we deliver instruction. Teachers, students, and schools are adopting more online/interactive media options, and ASA is evolving and celebrating online learning. ASA has been... Read More >
What is Seamanship?
September 10, 2020Seamanship is the art of operating a vessel. Specifically, it is a compilation of the skills and knowledge entailed in navigation, boat handling, maintenance, and the law of the sea. It involves working as part of a crew and when the occasion arises, leading a... Read More >
What Flag Are You Flying?
September 7, 2020Recent travels during the COVID-19 Pandemic have made sailors more aware of the Q Flag. This International symbol of “health” is the flag that alerts officials that your vessel is “healthy and requests free practique.” This permission allows the captain to... Read More >
ASA Featured Instructor: Marc Gonsalves ASA Instructor & Owner Cruise Abaco
September 3, 2020Growing up in the windward Islands didn’t just prepare Captain Mark Gonsalves of Cruise Abaco for a career in sailing; it guaranteed he would share his passion for the lifestyle with as many people as possible. His attention to the details of sailing, learning... Read More >
Tips From The Text: The Lookout Rule
August 31, 2020“Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all means available appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.” -... Read More >
Inside Sailing with Peter Isler
August 27, 2020The American Sailing Association has always worked to get more sailors out on the water in a safe and confident manner. An ASA sailing education builds upon your skills and culminates in your ability to take on a bareboat charter or a day sail with complete... Read More >
Confessions Of A Yacht Broker – Sailing From Grenada to St. Vincent During COVID 19
August 24, 2020LTD Sailing literally stands for “Living The Dream” and this ASA Sailing School, based in Grenada, consistently gets high marks for their approach to sailing instruction and their sailing grounds. During this COVID-19 pandemic, less sailing instruction is... Read More >
The Best Spots To Travel To Learn To Sail
August 20, 2020Are you itching to travel? We all are, but we can be patient. When this mess we are in is over, we will be back on the water in exotic locales. Let’s start planning where we will go to work on our sailing skills and satisfy our cravings for sailing. No matter... Read More >
Need a Few Sailing Tips?
August 17, 2020The American Sailing Association website is chock full of sailing tips and recommendations to help you become a better sailor. From our video library to our sailing apps to our webinars, you can find everything you need in the pages of this website. Take a... Read More >
So, You Need Wind to Sail?
August 13, 2020A sailor’s world revolves around the wind and staying aware of the wind’s direction is crucial. When you are just beginning to sail-you may feel so inundated with all of the new information that it’s easy to lose track of the wind direction. If that happens,... Read More >
Hurricane Preparedness Resources
August 10, 2020UPDATE: As if we did not have enough to concern ourselves with in 2020, hurricane season is upon us. During a Pandemic the weather is still a major factor to consider when planning a sail, a passage or a sailing vacation. COVID-19 has everyone on alert so be... Read More >
Meet Captain Steph
August 6, 2020Captain Stephanie Mansberger Wolters is an ASA trained instructor and USCG Licensed 50 Ton Masters Captain with Sailing and Towing Endorsements. Growing up in Morgantown, West Virginia, Stephanie learned to sail at a young age through the Sea Scouts. There she... Read More >
Environmental Updates
How Teen Sailors Can Make a Difference
June 22, 2020SeaTrek BVI is an ASA school that introduces teens to the ocean environment through sailing and scuba diving. Each summer their voyages delve into marine science, adventure, and hands-on learning in the Caribbean. Students participate in these programs while... Read More >
It’s a Pandemic, Are We Still Trying to Clean the Ocean?
April 27, 2020I watched a video of jellyfish moving through the canals of Venice in Italy today and was reminded about how much it takes to seemingly “clean” our waterways. A pandemic occurs and we can see sea life in one of the busiest tourist spots in the... Read More >
Ecology Tips For Sailors
April 13, 2020An ASA sailing education has always allowed you to get out on the water safely and confidently. However, sailing and becoming a sailor also comes with responsibility, to be a steward for the oceans. Today, our waters face many challenges including vast plastic... Read More >
It’s Valentine’s Day – Time to Love the Ocean
February 11, 2020Please Pick up All Those Escaped Valentine’s Day Balloons! The American Sailing Association has been actively promoting the “Plastic Pollution Purge” campaign to help rid our ocean of deadly plastic marine debris. While the task is monumental, it is often... Read More >
9 Instagram Accounts That Are Talking About The Health Of Our Ocean
December 16, 2019As part of our aim to raise awareness about environmental issues in the ocean we call our playground, we’d like to introduce you to a few Instagram accounts that are doing their part to tell the ocean’s story. Instagram is a robust storytelling platform and an... Read More >
How Big is the Ocean?
November 7, 2019For many of us, the idea of perfection is defined by a day on the water. We leave the dock, raise the sails, and point the bow in a direction that efficiently utilizes wind energy. The hull of our boat is designed to assist in the movement through the water. The... Read More >
The Ocean Cleanup- Update
October 3, 2019Boyan Slat, Founder of The Ocean Cleanup, updated the status of his ocean clean up project with encouraging news about the progress that the organization has made to make a dent in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Read More >
Green Boating with Sailors for the Sea
August 5, 2019No sailor’s education is complete without an understanding of our impact on the oceans. It’s my honor to introduce you to the single best resource for ocean-friendly sailing there is: Sailors for the Sea. Read More >
Learn To Sail Articles
The Anatomy of a Boat
September 24, 2020Do You Know the Parts of a Boat Learning to sail is not just about feeling the wind in your sails. You also become familiar with the vessel that will be part of your new lifelong adventure. A sailboat can seem daunting with all its moving parts, but it is quite... Read More >
Is Sailing Stressful?
September 17, 2020What Part of a Daysail Is the Most Stressful for You? The daysail is a common activity for every sailor. Whether you are headed to your own boat, part of a sailing club, or have a generous friend who allows you to tag along there are general stress factors that... Read More >
National Online Learning Day – September 15
September 14, 2020September 15 is National Online Learning Day. As the world changes, so do the ways we deliver instruction. Teachers, students, and schools are adopting more online/interactive media options, and ASA is evolving and celebrating online learning. ASA has been... Read More >
What is Seamanship?
September 10, 2020Seamanship is the art of operating a vessel. Specifically, it is a compilation of the skills and knowledge entailed in navigation, boat handling, maintenance, and the law of the sea. It involves working as part of a crew and when the occasion arises, leading a... Read More >
Inside Sailing with Peter Isler
August 27, 2020The American Sailing Association has always worked to get more sailors out on the water in a safe and confident manner. An ASA sailing education builds upon your skills and culminates in your ability to take on a bareboat charter or a day sail with complete... Read More >
The Best Spots To Travel To Learn To Sail
August 20, 2020Are you itching to travel? We all are, but we can be patient. When this mess we are in is over, we will be back on the water in exotic locales. Let’s start planning where we will go to work on our sailing skills and satisfy our cravings for sailing. No matter... Read More >
Need a Few Sailing Tips?
August 17, 2020The American Sailing Association website is chock full of sailing tips and recommendations to help you become a better sailor. From our video library to our sailing apps to our webinars, you can find everything you need in the pages of this website. Take a... Read More >
So, You Need Wind to Sail?
August 13, 2020A sailor’s world revolves around the wind and staying aware of the wind’s direction is crucial. When you are just beginning to sail-you may feel so inundated with all of the new information that it’s easy to lose track of the wind direction. If that happens,... Read More >
Cruising Destinations & Tips
The British Virgin Islands Are Set to Reopen December 1st
September 28, 2020The Date of December 1st, 2020, the British Virgin Islands are set to reopen to welcome tourists, visitors, and cruisers. The archipelago has been close to visitors since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. While their cases were relatively low, they were under... Read More >
Adrift: Would You Survive?
September 21, 2020How Would You Handle a Catastrophic Event on a Sailboat? If you have a passion for sailing, you seek out sailing movies. If you are anything like the rest of us sailors, you most likely hold the belief that your experience, sailing education and grit could help... Read More >
Is Sailing Stressful?
September 17, 2020What Part of a Daysail Is the Most Stressful for You? The daysail is a common activity for every sailor. Whether you are headed to your own boat, part of a sailing club, or have a generous friend who allows you to tag along there are general stress factors that... Read More >
What Flag Are You Flying?
September 7, 2020Recent travels during the COVID-19 Pandemic have made sailors more aware of the Q Flag. This International symbol of “health” is the flag that alerts officials that your vessel is “healthy and requests free practique.” This permission allows the captain to... Read More >
The Best Spots To Travel To Learn To Sail
August 20, 2020Are you itching to travel? We all are, but we can be patient. When this mess we are in is over, we will be back on the water in exotic locales. Let’s start planning where we will go to work on our sailing skills and satisfy our cravings for sailing. No matter... Read More >
Need a Few Sailing Tips?
August 17, 2020The American Sailing Association website is chock full of sailing tips and recommendations to help you become a better sailor. From our video library to our sailing apps to our webinars, you can find everything you need in the pages of this website. Take a... Read More >
What Is Your Role on a Boat?
July 23, 2020Your ASA sailing education will prepare you to be a skipper on a sailing vessel and with that comes the responsibility of keeping your crew safe and ensuring the safety of the vessel you are sailing. You will also have a crew and responsibilities are spread... Read More >
Sailing New England – Arabella Grand Tour
June 25, 2020In late August. ASA and the Manhattan Yacht Club will once again partner to deliver guests a luxury sailing yacht experience aboard the Sailing Yacht Arabella. Sailors will depart Newport, Rhode Island for the offshore destinations of Martha’s Vineyard,... Read More >