Today I received my sticker for my ASA 110 sailing certification. This is a day sailing standard on monohull or multihull sailboats less than 20 feet in length and without a fixed, weighted keel. I don’t expect to use it much (I like big boats, and I cannot lie!) but I really enjoyed getting it since it was with Out-Island Explorers in the Exumas, Bahamas.
Out-Island Explorers (OIE) does many sailboat and kayak trips during the year for happy tourists in the Bahamas but this excursion was sponsored by the American Sailing Association (ASA). You have to join or be a member of the ASA to go on the trip (due to the discounted rate) but in exchange a certified ASA instructor comes along and helps you along the way. At the end of the trip you can take the test for the ASA110 cert.
Overall the trip was fantastic. You sail a 21′ Sea Pearl to get to your destinations but the guide boat is always close by in case you run into trouble. You visit 5 or 6 cays on the trip and camp on 3-4 different beaches. The weather was great for most of the trip (I think it only rained one night) with a steady wind and light waves. Although breakfast and lunch were standard camp fare the guides worked magic with dinner – most of which was cooked over a campfire – including fresh caught Mahi. There were activities to keep you busy almost every day such as snorkeling, fishing, daysailing, swimming, hiking and more.
OIE did a fantastic job of making sure that everyone was happy, taken care of, and as comfortable as can be on a camping trip. Tents, food, snorkeling gear, and necessities were taken care of. All you had to provide were clothing, alcohol (if you wanted it), and a good attitude. This was an active trip and I would caution you against going if you can’t swim, don’t like to camp, or won’t pee in the wilderness. I would also suggest that you do have some sailing experience, although if you don’t Out-Island Explorers will make sure that you are put in a boat with someone who does.
If you have taken ASA course stateside this will not be the rigorous program you are used too. I don’t think that had much to do with OIE and more to do with the ASA instructor that was assigned to our trip; I heard that the previous week the instructor was more involved. As the ASA is fond of saying, “remember that your sailing education begins, not ends, with your earning the certification sticker”.
If you have the opportunity I highly recommend you try Out-Island Explorers for a trip. Whether or not you attend the ASA Flotilla sail or just attend one of OIE standard excursions, I am sure you will have just as much fun as I did!
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