Affiliates, it would be useful if you could make your socially-conscious students more aware of ASA’s history and the activities with which we involve ourselves today beyond providing the best and most-respected training for sailing in the world. Since our founding in 1983, working out of a small trailer in Marina del Rey, CA, ASA today has seven thousand certified instructors and three hundred affiliates in the United States with an additional fifty schools in other countries. We have taught over 500,000 people to sail and have awarded 1,000,000 certifications at several levels of sailing proficiency. Please consider promoting ASA and your club or school as part of this exciting lifestyle.

With the help of our membership, we can do so much more! Some parts of the oceans are clogged with plastic and the government wants to regulate boating. Members, new and old, can help make a difference by joining ASA and keeping their dues current. When your students join ASA, tell them they will meet like-minded people who enjoy the same things they do. Together, we can help to keep the oceans clean and sailing fun, safe, and accessible to all. 

If you do not do so already, please ask your students to join ASA at asa.com/membership.

With the increasing number of states enacting a requirement for something akin to a “State Boater Card”, we are frequently asked if an ASA class certification is sufficient. We have looked at this in detail and have decided that it would be impractical for ASA to try to accommodate each state’s differing requirements and processes. We will continue to focus on national and international requirements.

The good news is that, as a service, we have created a partnership that allows your students to get their state’s Boater Education Card or Boating License ONLINE! By taking a boating safety course with the American Sailing Association’s partner, BoaterExam.com™, you help make our waterways safer and more enjoyable. Your boater education card may help you avoid fines from states where mandatory boater education laws are in effect, and may also entitle you to a reduction on your marine insurance.

For information about the partnership, process, your state requirements and ASA discounts, please go to asa.com/boater-education-card/

On the weekend of 23-24 Jun 2018, ASA is once again a Gold Level Sponsor of the 18th annual Summer Sailstice, the biggest sail event of the year where everybody everywhere sails at the same time. 

Founded in Feb 2001 by John Arndt, Associate Publisher at Latitude 38, Summer Sailstice is the annual global celebration of sailing held on the weekend nearest the summer solstice and the longest days of the year in the northern hemisphere. The event has grown from 200 boats in 2001 to over 5000 boats around the world, uniting thousands of sailors with a schedule of events that encourages everyone to participate. We encourage all ASA affiliates, instructors, and regular members to join this celebration of sailing.

Use ASA’s GOSAILING app to connect with other sailors locally and to join with Summer Sailstice globally! ASA Chairman and Founder Lenny Shabes commented that, “With 350 affiliate schools spread across the globe, it is a challenge to unite in a common promotion. The Summer Sailstice celebration gives ASA an ideal opportunity to connect with all our schools in a global promotion for sailing on the first weekend of summer”. 

We encourage all Affiliates to sign up! Join ASA schools worldwide to promote sailing and to attract new and eager students to your club or school. There are many ways to be part of the event from demos to open houses, from BBQs to free sails. There is no wrong way to participate. Look for ideas at www.summersailstice.com Put your school or club on the roster of ASA affiliates participating in Summer Sailstice and download ASA’s GOSAILING app to help make it all happen. One weekend. All sailors. Everywhere. Sailing!

American Sailing Association has placed COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE specifically for Certified Instructors as a benefit. This is a reminder for all ASA Affiliates and Instructors to review the policy and make sure that it is understood and properly part of the class waiver process.

The policy provides defense coverage (if the Certified Instructor is named personally) in a lawsuit for bodily injury or property damage negligently caused by instructional activities. The ASA policy is solely for the protection of the individual instructors of ASA (while teaching for ASA Certified Schools). It does not share its limits with the schools or the national organization itself. In the event of a sole proprietor, the ASA policy would still benefit him/her as it provides another $1,000,000 in coverage as a certified instructor.

The Insurance plan is described here: asa.com/insurance-for-certified-instructors/

Please note that there are important coverage stipulations. Among them are: