ASA 108 – Offshore Passage-Making Sailing Certification

Offshore Passage-making (ASA 108)

Prerequisite: All previous keelboat and navigation standards.

General Description: A certified student is able to safely act as skipper or crew of a sailing vessel on offshore passages requiring celestial navigation.

Sailing Knowledge

Plan a passage across the North Atlantic or Pacific Ocean using publications and instruments required for navigation on and offshore passage. State advantages vs. disadvantages of various ocean routes.

• Plot a series of rhumb lines on a Mercator chart to approximate a great circle route.
• State the essential factors to be considered when selecting a vessel for an ocean passage of at least 1,000 nautical miles.
• List all items essential for minor repairs to vessel systems, including rigging and sails.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of three self-steering methods/devices.
• Plan meals for a minimum of four people on a seven-day offshore passage and methods of preserving/storing food without refrigeration.
• State the factors to be considered when selecting crew members for an offshore passage.
• State a source of obtaining advanced first aid information while on an offshore passage.
• Identify and describe the basic treatment of potential medical problems and list the items that should be carried in a first aid kit for an offshore passage.
• Describe methods of preventing injury to the cook or nearby persons while cooking at sea.
• Prepare and file a passage plan prior to departure.
• Describe three watchkeeping systems and alternate arrangements in the event crew members are incapacitated.
• Describe the duties during and after the watch.
• Establish a routine schedule to periodically inspect and maintain vessels systems, including cleaning the vessel underway.
• Describe how to rig a trailing person overboard line with an alarm and alternative methods of alerting the crew to a person overboard situation.
• Describe what actions should be taken when a person overboard is not located on the first pass.
• Describe proper actions to be taken after vessel has been struck by lightning.
• Describe how to organize the crew for a routine fire drill.
• Describe possible methods of jury rigging the vessel in the event of dismasting and the following course adjustments.
• List essential survival items to be kept in a standby kit for abandoning ship offshore.
• Describe additional items and their functions useful for survival and rescue.
• Describe general abandon ship procedures and procedures for launching, inflating, and boarding a life raft in heavy weather.
• Describe the dangers to be encountered in a life raft at sea and list basic survival techniques.
• List safety equipment recommended in addition to that required by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• List eight of ten international distress signals and demonstrate knowledge of their usage.
• Know and apply the 1972 International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGS) in order to maintain safe navigation in any waters day and night.

Sailing Skills

• Obtain a celestial fix using a running fix or three celestial bodies.
• Calibrate compass for current heading using celestial fix, update deviation card.
• Apply all sailing knowledge stated in the ASA Celestial Navigation standard and in all other ASA standards.
• Act as skipper and crew on an offshore passage of no less than 72 hours and 100 nm without touching land.