615-974-0100 | 5751 Old Hickory Blvd, Suite 207, Hermitage, TN 37076 | Directions

ASA Courses Offered
Learn to sail in just one-two-three days!

Sail the world in one-two-three ASA courses!

Our ASA 101, ASA 103, and ASA 104 are three-day courses.

 Our classes are from 9:00am to approximately 5:00pm each day.  Here is our general schedule, which may change depending on the weather: 

  • Friday:  First, we will do introductions. Then we will cover the principals of sailing and parts of the boat in Chapters 1 & 2. Next we will cover the basics of sailing including points of sail, boarding, rigging, winches, tacking and jibing in Chapters 3 & 4. We will go over our knots; then lunch. After lunch we will cover more sailing techniques and docking in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6 we will cover navigation rules, safety requirements, and aids to navigation. Finally we will cover man-overboard drills in Chapter 7.
  • Saturday:  In the morning, we will take the exam. You will learn how to start an outboard motor. After lunch, we will go sailing beginning with docking drills and then tacking and jibbing, sailing until around 5:00 pm.
  • Sunday:  We will practice our skills learned the day before adding in heaving-to and wing-on-wing. After lunch we will perform our MOB Drills. Finally we will return to the classroom at Old Hickory Blvd. for the signing of logbooks and our class photographs.  
  • After lunch you will have a 100-question exam to take. A score of 80 or above is a passing grade. It is multiple choice.  The questions are like those in the back of the textbook chapters. 
Our ASA 110 Small Boat Sailing course is a two-day course from 9:00am to approximately 5:00pm each day.

Here’s our general schedule, which may change depending on the weather:  

  • First Day:  First, we’ll do introductions. We’ll go over Chapters 1 & 2, then discuss the Points of Sail. We will go to the sailboat to orient you to it, learn to start the outboard, then come in for lunch. We will then go sailing until around 5:00pm.
  • Second Day:  We will discuss Chapters 3 & 4, review where we are. We will discuss Man Over Board(MOB) and capsize drills in detail, then go out and perform them, and anything else we need to repeat. We will come in for lunch.  We will go over last-minute questions or anything you wish to discuss.  
  • After lunch you will have a 100-question exam to take. A score of 80 or above is a passing grade. It is multiple choice. The questions are like those in the back of the textbook chapters. 
View Course Schedule

ASA structures its courses sequentially from beginning sailors to advanced.
SailNashville offers three ASA courses, which will enable you to go from zero knowledge or experience
sailing, to being able to charter and successfully skipper a 45-foot sailboat in the British Virgin Islands,
the Bahamas, anywhere in the world.

Approximately half your time will be classroom instruction, while the other half will be on the water training and
skills development.

During the three days you will be observed and rated as to your sailing skills. At the end of the course, you will
take a written examination. Upon successful completion of both, you will earn your ASA certification.

View Course Schedule

Step 1
ASA 101: Basic Keelboat Sailing

ASA 101: Basic Keelboat Sailing

Able to skipper a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered keelboat of approximately 20 to 47 feet in length by day in light to moderate winds (up to 15 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid colisions and hazards. Auxiliary power operation is not required.

Classes available now

3-Day Standard Course for $795.00

2-Day Individual Course for $1995

2-Day Couple Course for $1095 per person

**Individuals and Couples ASA 101 classes are two-day classes and can be scheduled on a Tuesday-Wednesday basis.

Step 2
ASA 103: Coastal Cruising

ASA 103: Basic Coastal Cruising

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. 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.

Classes available now

3-Day Course for $895.00

Step 3
ASA 104: Bareboat Cruising

ASA 104: Bareboat Cruising

Able to skipper a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered keelboat of approximately 30 to 45 feet in length during a multi-day cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, routine maintenance procedures, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation including basic chart plotting and GPS operation, multiple-anchor mooring, docking, health & safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation.

Classes available now

3-Day Course for $1095.00

ASA 105: Coastal Navigation

Reading and understanding nautical charts is still an essential skill for sailors even in this age of GPS and chart plotters. Reading charts, plotting courses, determining positions, tides, currents, set, drift are just a few of the things you will learn in this course. This intensive, classroom-only three-day course is essential for any serious sailor who wants to sail along the coast.

Classes available now.

3-Day Course for $795

**The cost of textbooks, class materials, and plotting tools are not included in the class fee.

ASA 110: Basic Small Boat Sailing

Able to skipper a non-ballasted centerboard/daggerboard monohull or multihull sailboat of approximately 8 to 20 feet in length by day in light to moderate winds (up to 15 knots) and sea conditions. Knowledge of basic sailing terminology, sail trim, points of sail, crew responsibilities, seamanship and safety including capsize avoidance/recovery and navigation rules to avoid collisions.

Classes available now.

2-Day Individual Course for $895

2-Day Group Course for $695 per person

**ASA 110 Small Boat Sailing is being offered as an Individual Class on a Saturday-Sunday schedule and in a Group Class on a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule.

Additional Course Information

  • Our course fee includes:
    • 21 hours of instruction
    • your ASA textbook
    • your ASA Logbook
    • ASA testing
    • certification fees
    • an introductory membership in ASA.
  • Regular ASA 101 and ASA 103 classes are limited to a maximum of four (4) students. ASA 104 is limited to three students.
  • Courses are scheduled from 9:00am to 5:00pm each day.
  • Family courses available.
  • Individual and Couples lessons are available on a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule.
View Course Schedule

ASA 111: Sailing Review Clinic

There is no written examination and no textbook for the ASA Sailing Review Clinic like you have in the other courses. This is an on-the-water clinic. You have the option of a full day or a half-day review. This clinic is meant for sailors who:

  • are already ASA certified
  • haven't sailed in a while and need a refresher
  • want more instruction
  • want to focus on a specific sailing skill.

It is intended to help you get back into sailing with a fun, no pressure experience.

Classes available now

1 Full Day Review for $995

1/2 Day Review for $495

American Sailing Association Certified

SailNashville is the only American Sailing Association (ASA) affiliated sailing school in the state of Tennessee. Our courses are certified by ASA, and in just three days, you will have the knowledge and skills to skipper a 20- to a 27-foot sailboat competently.


Why ASA certification?

Because it provides an industry-recognized standard that demonstrates a specific level of training, skills, and competency accepted by sailboat charters around the world.

After completing our three courses, you will also have the ability to charter a sailboat or yacht up to 45 feet anywhere in the world. With more than 350 affiliated sailing schools worldwide and 1,500 certified instructors,the American Sailing Association is the largest provider of keelboat sailing instruction in the United States.

SailNashville is an Investment in a Lifetime of Fun, Excitement, and Adventure.

Life is short…Live your dream.