NASHVILLE SAILING FIELD GUIDE
Keelboat Command: Three Days to Bareboat Confidence from Nashville
An ASA 104, three-day bareboat cruising course that pairs two evenings of classroom Zoom with a full weekend of on-water practice so students master handling 30–45 ft keelboats in moderate to heavy conditions.
Keelboat Command: Three Days to Bareboat Confidence from Nashville.
ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising is a focused, three-day training that teaches you to skipper a sloop-rigged, auxiliary-powered keelboat of roughly 30–45 feet for multi-day inland or coastal cruising. The curriculum combines classroom theory and textbook study with on-water drills so you learn everything from advanced sail trim and docking to multiple-anchor mooring, engine operation, weather interpretation and emergency procedures.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Weekend drills: Hands-on seamanship
The heart of the course is two full days of on-water training where students practice the skills introduced in the classroom: maneuvering under power, anchoring, docking, dinghy operation and routine maintenance—culminating in the course exam on Sunday morning.
Comprehensive systems and cruising know‑how
Instruction covers the full spectrum of bareboat requirements: provisioning and galley operations, auxiliary engine operation, boat systems, advanced sail trim, chart plotting and GPS, VHF radio use, and multiple-anchor mooring.
Train to handle moderate to heavy winds
Graduates are prepared to skipper in a range of conditions—up to moderate to heavy winds and sea states—gaining the confidence to cruise inland or coastal waters and to interpret weather and emergency situations.
What the day feels like
What the course feels like
The rhythm of the course is deliberate: two weekday evenings of classroom instruction by Zoom to build the textbook foundation, then a compact, immersive weekend on the water where each classroom topic is translated into hands-on drills. Expect focused, practical coaching as you move through sail trim, docking, anchoring, emergency drills and navigation, finishing with a timed exam on Sunday morning.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The course spans three calendar days: two evening Zoom classroom sessions (Monday and Tuesday, 6:00–9:00pm) followed by two full on‑water days (Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am–5:00pm) with the exam on Sunday morning.
Participants should be prepared for on-water training and able to move about the sailboat; bring layered, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear suitable for a wet deck.
The syllabus includes provisioning, galley operations, boat systems and maintenance, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation and chart plotting, VHF radio operation, anchoring, docking, emergency procedures and dinghy operation.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising course?
The course is a three-day program that combines two evening Zoom sessions with a full weekend of on-water training.
When are the Zoom classroom sessions scheduled?
Zoom sessions are scheduled Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:00–9:00pm covering the classroom chapters.
When does the on-water training take place?
On-water practice runs Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am–5:00pm, with the exam administered on Sunday morning.
What level of physical fitness is required?
The course is not strenuous but requires moderate physical activity; participants must be able to move about the sailboat to take part in training exercises.
What boat size and conditions does the course prepare me for?
The training prepares you to skipper a sloop‑rigged, auxiliary‑powered keelboat approximately 30–45 feet in length and to handle inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds and sea conditions (up to 30 knots).
What topics are covered in the curriculum?
Topics include provisioning and living aboard, boat systems and routine maintenance, auxiliary engine operation, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation and chart plotting, GPS operation, multiple-anchor mooring, docking, health and safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation.