ASA 108: Offshore Passagemaking
Advanced Offshore Sailing Certification
ASA 108: Offshore Passagemaking is the highest level of certification in the American Sailing pathway. This isn’t a dockside seminar or a checklist course. It’s an intensive liveaboard offshore training expedition designed for sailors preparing to take full responsibility for vessel, crew, and voyage on open water.
If your goal is serious bluewater cruising, extended offshore passages, or commanding a vessel beyond sight of land, this course is built for you.
Bluewater Passage Training in the Pacific Northwest
$2,995
Schedule
4 consecutive days / 3 nights onboard
Location
Port Angeles
What ASA 108 Really Prepares You For
Offshore sailing demands more than boat handling. It demands judgment under pressure, systems knowledge, fatigue management, and disciplined decision-making when help is far away.
During this four day, three night liveaboard expedition out of Port Angeles, you’ll plan and execute a real offshore style passage. You’ll operate as an offshore crew, stand watch rotations, manage navigation and weather, and respond to evolving conditions as they unfold. This is where theory meets consequence.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in:
Offshore passage planning and weather routing
Heavy weather tactics and storm preparation
Watchkeeping systems and crew leadership
Man overboard recovery in offshore conditions
Abandon ship procedures and liferaft deployment
Ditch bag preparation and emergency readiness
Advanced sail repair under way
Offshore first aid and medical planning
Sextant use and integration of celestial navigation
Long-range navigation redundancy and systems management
4-day / 3-night liveaboard training expedition
ASA “Offshore Passagemaking” textbook (shipping not included)
Pre-course online learning module
ASA 108 registration and certification fees
All required safety gear and navigation tools
What’s Included
ASA 108 is conducted over four consecutive days and three nights onboard. This liveaboard format mirrors the realities of offshore travel, including watch rotations, fatigue management, and shared responsibility.
Prerequisites
You must have successfully completed all of the following:
If you earned any certifications outside of PSSI, please contact our office with your ASA number to verify eligibility.
Club Members, please contact the office to register for classes to obtain your club level discount.