American Sailing Textbooks
The official manuals for ASA’s sailing certifications.These award-winning textbooks were developed by passionate sailing professionals. The books contain illustrations, exceptional photographs, and detailed user-friendly double-page spreads. There are also chapter-end quizzes and glossaries to help readers navigate their way through nautical terminology.
The print versions are large format, full color textbooks, featuring double page spreads. This popular format is available on the ASA store.
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If you own Apple devices such as a Mac, iPhone or iPad, then the best place to get digital versions of our textbooks is on Apple Books.
Sailing Made Easy
The Official Manual For The ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing Course
Sailing Made Easy, which Sailing Magazine called "best in class" upon its release in 2010, is the most comprehensive education and boating safety learn-to-sail guide to date. It is also the official textbook for the ASA Basic Keelboat Standard (ASA 101). Incorporated in the textbook are useful illustrations and exceptional photographs of complex sailing concepts. The text’s most distinguishing feature is its user friendly "spreads" in which instructional topics are self-contained on opposing pages throughout the book. There are also chapter end quizzes and a glossary to help those new to sailing to navigate their way through the extensive nautical terminology.
COASTAL CRUISING Made Easy
The Official Manual For The ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Course
Coastal Cruising Made Easy is not only the official textbook for the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising Standard (ASA 103), but also the definitive go-to resource for all sailors who enjoy cruising and destination oriented sailing. The text is published in full color and contains striking sailing photography from well-known photographer Billy Black, and world-class illustrations from award-winning illustrator Peter Bull. One of the text's most distinguishing features is its user friendly "spreads" in which instructional topics are self-contained on opposing pages throughout the book. This easy to read learning tool follows the critically acclaimed Sailing Made Easy, which Sailing Magazine called "best in class" upon its release in 2010. Sailing Made Easy is the #1 resource in basic sailing education, and Coastal Cruising Made Easy is poised to become the industry standard in intermediate sailing education.
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BAREBOAT CRUISING Made Easy
The Official Manual For The ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising Course
Bareboat Cruising Made Easy is not only the official textbook for the ASA Bareboat Cruising Standard (ASA 104), but also the definitive go-to resource for all sailors who enjoy cruising and destination oriented sailing. It is an all-in-one reference book that includes everything a cruising sailor needs to know, from general planning to technical guidance to sailing advice. From its 4 color, high-end illustrations and photographs to its modern, easy-to-read design, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy is a beauty. The 212 page book was created by a team of expert sailors, writers, editors and artists who shaped the content together, making it the most helpful, accurate, and all-inclusive chartering/cruising manual.
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Advanced Cruising & Seamanship
The Official Manual For The ASA 106 Advanced Cruising Course
Whether you are reading this book and taking the corresponding ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising course or watching a North U webinar – you take your sailing very seriously. Maybe you are studying to be able to venture out to find your own unspoiled cove in which to anchor or to lay back in an exotic port of call. You could be brushing up on an extended multi-day cruise with your family and friends or you might be thinking of making sailing your profession as an ASA Instructor. One thing is for sure, this book will give you a serious boost down the road to becoming a top-notch sailor and confident seaman; a rare and respected person in the world of yachting. You’ll find all this in the 150-page book from American Sailing, the world’s leading sailing authority, in association with North U, the leader in performance sail education. You gotta read it!
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Let's Go Sailing
The Official Manual For The ASA 110 Basic Small boat Sailing Course
Learning to sail in a small boat is fundamentally the same regardless of the boat type but traditional courses and books treat catamarans and dinghies separately. Sailing expert and best-selling author, Peter Isler, has combined learning the basics of sailing in both boat types in this revolutionary new book. Want to learn to sail in a small boat? This book will be the foundation of your sailing life forever. Targeted towards younger sailors, Let’s Go Sailing goes through the ABCs of learning to sail in any small boat. The latest in ASA’s acclaimed line of sailing textbooks is clear, concise and easy to understand and features extraordinary illustrations and photos that makes the sport of sailing come alive for the new sailor. ASA’s new 112-page small boat book is printed in full color, and is protected by a water-resistant cover. It is the greatest little learn to sail book ever. It is also the official textbook for the Basic Small Boat Sailing (ASA 110)
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Cruising Catamarans Made Easy
The Official Manual For The ASA 114 Cruising Catamarans Course
“Cruising Catamarans Made Easy” is the premier sailing textbook to focus exclusively on how to operate a cruising catamaran. This textbook highlights the unique art of sailing a larger catamaran with its distinctive characteristics and operating systems. Richly illustrated with detailed, instructive photos and easy to understand educational text, this 100 page textbook belongs on every catamaran with a cabin! The book was written as the syllabus for those taking ASA’s updated 114 Catamaran Cruising Course, as well as to easily familiarize more experienced monohull sailors entering the burgeoning catamaran charter and sales markets. Learn More...
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Going Ashore Made Easy
The Essential Dinghy & Outboard Manual
Any boater will tell you that sometimes getting ashore on a dinghy can be an adventure. Reading this book will help you stay safe and have fun as you use your dinghy to connect with land and other vessels. Going Ashore Made Easy is also appropriate for anyone entering the market for a new dinghy and outboard as a standalone vessel for recreation or transportation, or as a tender to a larger boat. It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date book on the topic; in fact, it may be the only book to help a prospective buyer negotiate the variety of choices available. This book will help novice and seasoned dinghy operators to safely rig, operate, transport and maintain their investment, and to employ the craft for a wide variety of useful and purely fun activities – perhaps more than you ever imagined.
Given the breadth of information on outboard motors, this book is valuable to any mariner who uses an outboard motor to propel their sailboat or powerboat.
Given the breadth of information on outboard motors, this book is valuable to any mariner who uses an outboard motor to propel their sailboat or powerboat.
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NEW FOR 2024
Docking & Maneuvering Made Easy
The Essential Guide to Docking & Maneuvering Your Monohull Sailboat & Catamaran
For centuries, sailors note that it’s not the oceans that cause harm, but the hard bits around the edges. A parallel can be drawn to recreational sailors who are comfortable sailing in local or coastal waters but have not totally mastered the skills of returning the boat to the slip. Watching neighbors expertly guide their boats into slips and hearing them discuss terms like prop walk and spring lines, they realize there may be a gap in their knowledge. Now for the good news - this is the book you’ve been looking for. It is the most complete book written on everything you should know about docking your monohull or catamaran. Covering boat characteristics, environmental effects, and different scenarios, you will find a technique to safely dock your boat under any condition. Designed to be read in conjunction with the American Sailing’s 118 Docking Endorsement course, it is also a stand-alone book for any sailor wanting to improve boat-handling skills. You will find everything you need to know in this 137-page book.
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