ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising Group Course

104 Overview

In this course, you will learn how to sail a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered 34 - 45 sailboat during a multi-day cruise upon inland/coastal waters in moderate/heavy wind and sea conditions. Learn about provisioning, boat systems, auxiliary engines, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring/mooring, docking, emergency operations, weather, and more.

Boat location   Balboa Marina, Newport Beach, CA

The boat will be docked at the Balboa Marina where our office is located.  This marina has some of the best facilities and is one of the best destinations in Southern California.  Some of the features that make this a great location are:

• Ample free parking
• Bathrooms and showers
• Two great restaurants with full bars   SOL Mexican Cocina & Tavern House Kitchen and Bar
• Starbucks across the street
• Gas station and minimart across the street
• Subway across the street
• Kayak and SUP Rentals a block away   Southwind Kayak Center
• Large grocery store, 3 blocks away   Pavilions
• John Wayne (SNA) Airport, 6 miles away.
• Several other great restaurants and bars within a mile
• Balboa Island within a mile
• Newport Pier and Balboa Pier within a mile and a half
• Art Museums of Laguna Beach within 10 miles
• Disneyland, 20 miles away
• Numerous hotels and resorts within just a few miles
• The famed Balboa Bay Club, where John Wayne use to hang out, less than a mile from the marina

What’s included 

• ASA 104 textbook, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy
• Fuel, insurance, and safety gear (including life jackets)
• Mooring fees in Catalina
• Dinghy is a 10 foot with EProp 2.3HP outboard motor
• High quality bedding (duvet in Fall, Winter and Spring; cotton blanket in Summer) along with fitted sheets and your choice of pillows (exact selection based on availability)
• Comfortable, upgraded mattresses. If you are going to live on a boat, you should be comfortable!
• Bath towel, hand towel, beach towel, and dish towels
• Fully equipped galley with refrigerator, sink, oven, stove, pots, pans, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, glasses, cups and coffee mugs. BBQ outside in the cockpit
• Hot water in the sinks and showers. No cold showers for this sailor, thank you very much!
• Stereo with speakers inside the cabin and outside in the cockpit
• The boat is also stocked with 15 disposable items for your convenience. (Click here for a list)
• Cleaning and washing after your stay. It wouldn’t be a vacation if you had to clean up!