A Shake-A-Leg Miami keelboat under sail on Biscayne BayKeelboat sailing on the bay
ASA
101
Certification
American Sailing certification

Keelboat Sailing 1

Become a sailor.

Become a sailor. Learn the language of sailing and the essential skills: hoisting sails, tacking and navigating safely on the water.

Registration
Open
Paid
Duration
5 Saturdays
Schedule
Saturdays · 5-week course · Fall cohorts Sep–Dec
Format
Classroom + on the water
You earn
ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing
The course

What you are signing up for

Everything you need to know before your first day on the water.

A class crew in life jackets aboard the sailboat Coral Gables
ASA students in a classroom session with their instructor

Everyone remembers their first time at the helm. ASA 101 is where that moment happens for you. Whether you’ve never set foot on a sailboat or you’ve always wanted to make it official, this course is your welcome aboard. You’ll learn to speak the language of sailing, get comfortable handling a boat, and walk away with the confidence to skipper your own vessel. No experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to get out on the water.

By the end of the course
Skipper a sloop-rigged keelboat of 20–27 feet in daylight and light to moderate conditions, with winds up to 15 knots.

What you will learn

Taught to the American Sailing standard by ASA-certified instructors, on our accessible fleet in Coconut Grove.

Your textbook
Sailing Made Easy (American Sailing Association)

You’ll train to skipper a sloop-rigged keelboat by day, in light to moderate winds up to 15 knots. Along the way you’ll pick up:

  • Basic sailing terminology and the parts of a boat
  • Points of sail and how to read the wind
  • Sail trim, tacking, and jibing
  • Helm commands and crew communication
  • Docking basics
  • Navigation rules and buoy markers
  • Safety equipment and procedures
  • Core seamanship skills
Why sail with us

A course built around every sailor

Accessibility

Sailing that welcomes everyone

At Shake-A-Leg Miami, the water is for everybody. We work closely with each sailor to accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory, cognitive, and other disabilities, so that no one is left on the dock. If you have questions about accommodations before you sign up, just ask — we’re happy to talk it through and make sure you feel ready and supported from day one.

The standard

Certification you can trust

Earning your ASA 101 certification is more than a checkbox. It’s not just about showing up to class — you’ll need to demonstrate real skill and confidence on the water and in your written exam. We hold every sailor to a high standard because safety isn’t just a lesson here, it’s the whole point. When you walk away certified, you’ll have the foundation for every sailing adventure ahead — including ASA 103 and beyond.

Ready to

take the helm?

Courses are open to sailors of all abilities. Questions about dates, prerequisites or accessibility — just ask.

Saturdays · 5-week course · Fall cohorts Sep–Dec