SAINT MICHAELS SAILING FIELD GUIDE
Learning to Command a Leopard 44: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising aboard Epiphany in Saint Michaels
A hands-on, certified ASA 104 course that teaches voyage planning, boat and systems management, and real-world multihull handling aboard the Leopard 44 Epiphany on the Chesapeake Bay.
Learning to Command a Leopard 44: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising aboard Epiphany in Saint Michaels.
Set from the finger piers of Saint Michaels, this intensive ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising course trades classroom lecture for the seaworthiness of a 44-foot cruising catamaran. Over a compact, skills-focused program aboard Epiphany, students move from navigation and docking drills to anchorages and systems management, all while sailing the scenic waters of the Chesapeake Bay under an ASA-certified instructor.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
44-foot Leopard catamaran: Epiphany
The course is delivered aboard Epiphany, a sleek 44-foot cruising catamaran that gives students direct experience of multihull characteristics, twin-engine maneuvering, and the layout of modern cruising systems.
Practical seamanship and onboard systems
Hands-on lessons cover voyage planning and navigation fundamentals, sail and boat handling under power and sail, docking and maneuvering, anchoring and anchorage management, weather awareness, safety procedures, crew management, and the operation of onboard electrical, plumbing, and engine systems.
Real-world practice on the Chesapeake Bay
Students apply skills in real cruising scenarios while sailing the scenic waters of the Chesapeake Bay, moving beyond drills to the practical demands of coastal voyaging.
What the day feels like
What the course feels like
The ASA 104 aboard Epiphany is a concentrated, hands-on progression: instructors guide students through planning and systems briefings, then shift instruction to practical execution—steering, sail trim, docking, engine handling and anchoring—so that learners leave with the experience of managing a cruising sailboat on coastal passages.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits—and who should prepare first.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising course aboard Epiphany runs as a three-day course; students should plan for the multi-day schedule and any overnight arrangements included at course rates.
All students meet at the Harbour Inn, 101 N. Harbor Rd, St. Michaels, MD 21663 prior to embarkation and the initial briefing.
Overnight course rates include onboard accommodations aboard Epiphany. Cabin assignments vary by booking size, with options for shared or private cabins and arrangements for up to six people on private charters.
Private charters can accommodate up to six people aboard Epiphany; course bookings have a maximum number of students to ensure focused instruction.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the ASA 104 course aboard Epiphany?
The ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising course runs three days.
Where do students meet before the course?
Students meet at the Harbour Inn, 101 N. Harbor Rd, St. Michaels, MD 21663 for embarkation and briefing.
What prerequisites are required to enroll?
Completion of ASA 101 (Basic Keelboat Sailing) and ASA 103 (Basic Coastal Cruising) is required before taking ASA 104.
What boat is used for instruction?
Instruction is aboard Epiphany, a 44-foot Leopard cruising catamaran, providing hands-on multihull experience.
How many people does Epiphany sleep and how many students can be in a course?
Private charters can sleep up to six people aboard Epiphany; course bookings have a maximum student count to maintain instructional quality.
What skills will I learn on this course?
Students learn voyage planning and navigation fundamentals, docking and maneuvering, sail and boat handling under power and sail, anchoring and anchorage management, weather awareness, safety procedures and crew management, and operation of onboard systems.