Coastal Cruisers Vocabulary

As you consider expanding your sailing education, you might think about coastal cruising and taking ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising. With this course, you will be able to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered (inboard or outboard engine) keelboat of approximately 25 to 35 feet length by day in moderate winds (up to 20 knots) and sea conditions. 

Your knowledge of cruising sailboat terminology, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, intermediate sail trim, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather interpretation, safety, and seamanship will be tested. With an ASA 103 certification, you will be well on your way to bareboat cruising and ASA 104.

Here is a taste of what your new vocabulary will be after earning your ASA 103 certification.

ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising

10 New Words That Will Be in Your Vocabulary After Earning Your Basic Coastal Cruising Certification

Turnbuckle – A screw used for tightening wire rigging.

Binnacle – The stand on which the boat’s main compass is mounted.

Stemhead Fitting – A fitting on the bow of a boat to which the forestay and jib tack are attached.

Clevis Pin – A pin with a formed head used to connect rigging.

Ground Tackle – Collective term for a boat’s anchors and their rodes.

Chainplate – Metal fabrication attached to the hull and to which a stay or shroud is connected.

Cardinal Point – Any of the four principal points of the compass, N,E,S or W.

Gunwale – The top edge of the deck where it joins the hull.

Companionway – The entrance from the cockpit or deck to the cabin.

Transom – The more or less flat surface that closes the hull at the stern.

Zephyr – A gentle breeze, perfect for a quiet evening sail.


Charter Resources

  • Your First Charter Sailing Vacation Today bareboat chartering is the culmination of your sailing education. When you walk across the deck and get your sailing diploma you step on to the metaphorical boat of your future and you can sail it anywhere you want!
  • Charter Sailboat Resources Whether you have just begun to sail and have recently earned your ASA 101 certification or if you have already mastered ASA 114 and are a veteran of bareboat charters this resource should help you.
  • Bareboat Charter in the BVI Getting aboard your bareboat charter is the goal when you get your ASA sailing certifications. Where do you begin? For many, it is a sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands.
  • Choosing a Charter Boat Company It’s time for you to set off on your own and explore endless shorelines and secluded coves. You have mapped out your plan and you have reserved your vacation time now all you need is a boat. How do you choose a charter company to rent a boat for a week?
  • Choosing The Right Boat for Your Sailing Charter When you decide to take a sailing vacation aboard a sailing vessel that you will call home for a week or two you’ll be surprised by just how much you think you need.
  • Sailing in Europe? Chartering overseas is on the bucket list of many a sailor, but making it happen comes with a stipulation or two. A sizable number of countries require an International Proficiency Certificate that lets them know the charterer is trained, qualified and prepared to take one of their boats out to sea.

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