ASA 105 Coastal Navigation

Learn the basics of coastal navigation including piloting and navigation: chart skills, course plotting, dead reckoning, impacts of wind and current, and determining tides and currents.  Whether new to sailing or want to brush up on your piloting and navigation skills, this course is for you.

We are offering two sessions of this class, each will include 2 Saturdays, plus 3 advance zoom sessions.  Upon successful completion, you will earn your ASA 105 certification.  Course Fee:  $350

You may take this course as an "auditor" and skip the exam if you do not need ASA certification.  ASA 105 certification is a prerequisite for ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising and for ASA 107 & 117, Celestial Navigation.

TOPICS:

The course will cover navigation aids such as buoys, day-marks, and lighthouses; how to read charts; other publications; magnetic and true north direction; checking for compass deviation; how to use a hand-bearing compass and get a position fix based on charted landmarks; how to find the boat’s position on the chart using both the bearings and Lat/Long; plotting courses, deduced reckoning (“dead reckoning”); use of depth sounder and charted depth contours; reading tide and current tables; and impacts of weather, wind, and current on navigation.

PREREQUISITES:

§  The desire to learn navigation and apply the skills in a classroom setting, no other ASA certifications are required

CLASS PREPARATION:

The class will be based on ANSA provided materials and practice problems.  

It is also recommended that students use at least one of the following references or sources to help prepare for the course. 

  • Chapters 9-13 of The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, Third Ed., by John Rousmaniere
  • Chapters 13-18 of Chapman Piloting & Seamanship, 66th Ed., by Charles B. Husick
  • Chapters 4-5 of The International Marine Book of Sailing, by Robby Robinson
  • Captain Tursi or Captain Pyzel’s reference materials available from ASA
  • Navigation Workbook 1210Tr: For Power-Driven and Sailing Vessels, by Burch & Brandt
  • Chapter 5 in both the ASA 103, Coastal Cruising, and ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising ASA Textbooks

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Students will need to buy or borrow navigation tools for the class. Recommended tools include:

  • Pencils & sharpener
  • Gum Eraser
  • Dividers (example: Weems & Plath Matte Nickel 7″ or Traditional One Handed)
  • A Plotting tool:
    • Roller Plotter (example: Weems & Plath Roller Plotter 120)
    • Protractor plotter
    • Parallel plotter
  • Straight edge
  • Magnifying glass
  • Head lamp

These items are readily available from most marine supply stores, including West Marine, Fawcett’s, or order online from Weems & Plath Navigation Tools or Amazon.


ASA 105 Winter Class

  • ASA 105 Coastal Navigation

    • Saturday, January 24, 2026
    • Saturday, January 31, 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • Hartge Yacht Harbor, 4883 Church Ln, Galesville, MD
    • 7
    Register

    Learn to navigate over the Winter! Take ANSA's Coastal Navigation class and earn ASA 105 certification. Get a Fix, plot a course, dead reckon, understand set and drift, leeway, and plan accordingly.  Understand the impact of tides and currents and when it matters on the Chesapeake Bay.   Where are Bloody Point, Love Point, Cinnabar shoal?  Avoid shoals and locate anchorages. Use local charts generated with the new NOAA Custom Charts application!

    Included:  How to use your instrumentation and chart plotter and understand AWA, TWS, STW vs SOG, WPT ETA, VMG, Laylines (optional)

    We are planning two Saturday all day work sessions and three optional introductory Zooms.

    The fee for this class is $350.  

    There are no ASA course prerequisites for this class, however it is helpful if you have some sailing or motoring experience.  In addition students must have a current ANSA membership ($55 - $75), renewed as of Jan 1, 2026. Become a member.

    We will use a combination of Zooms and two Saturdays at the Hartge Yacht Harbor cottage.  

    Zoom 1 - Jan 20 19:00 - Intro, basic topics, compass, math, plotting tools

    Zoom 2 - Jan 21 19:00 - follow up, definitions, tides/currents

    Saturday 1 - Jan 24 - chart work, symbology, plotting, problem solving, practical navigation

    Zoom 3 - Jan 28 - Q&A, additional topics as needed

    Saturday 2 - Jan 31 - plotting and problem solving review, afternoon - written exam

    Zoom sessions are optional and will be used to provide an introduction for new navigators and tips on math and necessary computations, as well as definitions of variation, deviation, tides, currents, etc. Access to ANSA's previous navigation topic videos will also be provided in case you miss anything.

    Following registration, ANSA will provide our training materials that provide a complete tutorial and guide to all of the navigation skills and requirements, practice problems, and links to previous class videos.  

    Show details

  • ASA 105 Coastal Navigation

    • Saturday, February 28, 2026
    • Saturday, March 07, 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • Hartge Yacht Harbor, 4883 Church Ln, Galesville, MD
    • 9
    Register

    Learn to navigate over the Winter! Take ANSA's Coastal Navigation class and earn ASA 105 certification. Get a Fix, plot a course, dead reckon, understand set and drift, leeway, and plan accordingly.  Understand the impact of tides and currents and when it matters on the Chesapeake Bay.   Where are Bloody Point, Love Point, Cinnabar shoal?  Avoid shoals and locate anchorages. Use local charts generated with the new NOAA Custom Charts application!

    Included:  How to use your instrumentation and chart plotter and understand AWA, TWS, STW vs SOG, WPT ETA, VMG, Laylines (optional)

    We are planning two Saturday all day work sessions and three optional introductory Zooms.

    The fee for this class is $350.  

    There are no ASA course prerequisites for this class, however it is helpful if you have some sailing or motoring experience.  In addition students must have a current ANSA membership ($55 - $75), renewed as of Jan 1, 2026. Become a member.

    We will use a combination of Zooms and two Saturdays at the Hartge Yacht Harbor cottage.  

    Zoom 1 - Feb 25 19:00 - Intro, basic topics, compass, math, plotting tools

    Zoom 2 - Feb 26 19:00 - follow up, definitions, tides/currents

    Saturday 1 - Feb 28 - chart work, symbology, plotting, problem solving, practical navigation

    Zoom 3 - Mar 4 - Q&A, additional topics as needed

    Saturday 2 - Mar 7 - plotting and problem solving review, afternoon - written exam

    Zoom sessions are optional and will be used to provide an introduction for new navigators and tips on math and necessary computations, as well as definitions of variation, deviation, tides, currents, etc.. Access to ANSA's previous navigation topic videos will also be provided in case you miss anything.

    Following registration, ANSA will provide our training materials that provide a complete tutorial and guide to all of the navigation skills and requirements, practice problems, and links to previous class videos.  

    Show details

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