ASA 117, Basic Celestial Endorsement
Able to apply basic celestial navigation theory and practice to determine latitude and longitude at sea using a sextant and Nautical Almanac.
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SKILLS
1. Describe the terms and theory of Basic Celestial Navigation.
Using a traditional sextant and Nautical Almanac and without the use of a programmed calculator or computer:
2. Convert between standard time and zone time to GMT/UT in either direction.
3. Calculate the zone time at a given longitude.
4. Determine the times of sunrise, sunset and civil twilight for a vessel’s position.
5. Describe and identify the parts, principals and operation of a traditional sextant.
6. Determine altitudes of the Sun and Polaris by a traditional sextant.
7. Obtain Latitude and Longitude at noon (LAN) by applying the sextant corrections for conversions of the raw sextant altitudes (hs) of the Sun to the true celestial altitudes (HO) of the Sun.
8. Determine the vessel’s latitude and Estimated Position at morning and evening twilight by means of the altitude of Polaris.
9. Plot latitudes and EPs on a chart.
ASA Certified Sailing Schools
There are 27 ASA Certified Sailing Schools that teach ASA 117, Basic Celestial Endorsement
Show List Of Schools
Anchors Aweigh Sailing School New London, Connecticut
(860) 514-0137 anchorsaweighsailing.com
At Anchors Aweigh, we believe sailing is a passion; it is more than boating, it is a connection with the wind and the water. We can help you reach your sailing goal, whether it be to sail on your local lake, spend a day on the Long Island Sound, race in regattas, or sail to the Bahamas.
Austin Yacht Club Austin, Austin Area, Texas
(512) 266-1336 www.austinyachtclub.net
Aventura Sailing Academy Dana Point, Southern California
(949) 493-9493 aventurasailing.com
Aventura Sailing Academy is Dana Point Harbor’s Premier Sailing Club and Academy. For over 44 years we have been successfully teaching students, from the beginner to the advanced. We are a West Coast leader in producing well trained Sailors.
USCG Master Class 100T Captain Ric Dahlin (Director of Academy) is also a Collegiate level sailing instructor, and as a professional educator, Aventura’s classroom and lectures have been providing “best in class” sailing instruction with top results. All of our Certified ASA instructors are friendly and dedicated to your sailing instruction. Aventura Academy’s classes are challenging, fun and engaging but most importantly highly effective.
Barefoot Offshore Sailing School (BOSS) Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
(784) 456-9526 barefootoffshore.com
Barefoot Offshore Sailing School (B.O.S.S.) is the longest-established (more than 20 years) and most active American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing school in the south-eastern Caribbean. BOSS is a subsidiary of Barefoot Yacht Charters, owned and run by folks who have been sailing and living here for more than 3 generations, and this gives us the unusual advantages of insight and local knowledge that most charter companies, no matter how experienced, simply cannot offer.
BE-Nautical Wilmette, Illinois
(847) 917-7245 www.BE-Nautical.com
Learning is a continuum. At BE-Nautical we seek to understand your educational and sailing goals to provide a curriculum rich with learning. Learn individually, as a couple or as a family – BE-Nautical has a course of learning to meet your specific sailing goals and needs.
Delmarva Sailing School Rock Hall, Maryland
(410) 810-4230 delmarvasailingschool.com
Delmarva Sailing School operates on the Chesapeake Bay from May-October. We run as Virgin Islands Sailing Academy in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands from December-April, with the same great sailboat and instructors. We also teach Ocean Passage Making, as we move our teaching vessel in between the Chesapeake Bay and Saint Thomas.
Fair Winds Sailing Greece Corfu Town, Greece
(+30) 6932755635 fairwindssailinggreece.com
Fair Winds Sailing Greece is located in Corfu Island – one of the finest destinations in the Med with lots of sailing options in the Ionian Sea. The west Greek mainland and the Ionian Islands form an extensive coastline that provides countless protected bays and beaches of rare beauty, ideal for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Flagship Sailing School Ruskin, Central West Florida
(727) 946-6542 www.flagshipsailing.com
Island Cruising Sidney, Canada
(250) 656-7070 www.islandcruising.ca
Fun, Learning and Safety! We teach from sailing fundamentals to Offshore . We are experienced sailors and our Outstanding ASA Instructors know how to tune in to each sailor’s individual learning style.
New England Sailing Center Jamestown, Rhode Island
(401) 619-1697 nesailingcenter.com
Considered by many to be the sailing capital of the world, Newport-Jamestown offers unsurpassed sailing conditions on Narragansett Bay. Sailors in training enjoy their beautiful surroundings while cruising scenic Newport Harbor and the many lovely harbors throughout the Bay.
Nockamixon Sailing School Quakertown, Pennsylvania
(215) 499-0335 nockamixonsailingschool.com
We teach and certify our students to ASA standards, and offer beginning and intermediate level sailing classes. By choosing Nockamixon Sailing School for your sailing education you can realize your dream of learning to sail. Our alumni charter sailboats in destinations all over the world, and many have purchased their own sailboat.
Northern Breezes Sailing School – Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota
(763) 542-9707 NorthernBreezesSailing.com
R&R Charters and Sail School Grasonville, Maryland
(570) 690-3645 randrchartersandsailschool.net
We own three boats, a Cal 22, a Hunter 28, and a new Beneteau Oceanis 41 for our 104 and 106 classes. Our beginning courses are taught over three days in the peaceful Chester River just off the Chesapeake Bay. For our 104 class we explore the calm rural anchorage areas of the Eastern Shore and visit Annapolis. Our 106 class does a Delmarva circumnavigation of approximately 450-500 nm with lots of night and ocean sailing experience.
SailTime Chesapeake Bay South Norfolk, Virginia
(757) 480-7245 sailtime.com/virginia
If sailing the Chesapeake Bay is your dream, we are here to get you on the water. SailTime Chesapeake Bay South is located at Morningstar Marina on Little Creek in Norfolk, VA. We offer courses to get you on the water fast with comprehensive hands-on training in a fun relaxing 2-day course.
Sea Safaris Sailing School – Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(800) 724-5272 seasafarissailingschool.com
At Sea Safaris Sailing School, We prepare our students on how to become safe sailors by learning basic skills and best practices on the water. All of our fun filler courses start with the basics and elevate your skills to the next level. We believe learning is a continuum as many students start with basic sailing and keep improving to learn more advanced skills such as coastal navigation, celestial navigation, and marine weather.
Sonset Sailing School Port Sanilac, Michigan
(989) 635-2696 sonsetmarine.com
Located in the summer vacation resort village of Port Sanilac, we can certify you and prepare you for your next sailing adventure. Capt’n John Diel has over 40 years of sailing experience and almost 100,000 miles of sailing logged. He has sailed and trained many for family adventures and for long distance blue water passage making. He is a “Salty Dog” – a title given by ARC to those who have sailed many miles and ocean passages.
South Coast Sailing Adventures Seabrook, Houston / Galveston Area, Texas
(281) 334-4606 www.southcoastsailing.com
South Coast Sailing Adventures is conveniently located in Kemah, Texas – 30 minutes from downtown Houston or Galveston. All of our instructors are U.S.C.G. licensed captains and are certified by the ASA. We utilize training boats specifically designed to teach beginning sailors and we have the largest sailing fleet along the northern Gulf Coast with 24+ boats ranging from 23-45′ from manufacturers like Colgate, Catalina, Beneteau, and Hunter.
Spinnaker Crew Sailing Chicago, Illinois
855.SP.CREW.1 spinnakercrewsailing.com
Spinnaker Crew Sailing is not just a sailing school… But rather is a brand that reflects the idea that Freedom and Adventure are core tenets in our belief system. At Spinnaker Crew Sailing we strive to make our experiences fun so that they become indelibly etched into our memories.
Spinnaker Sailing Redwood City, Northern California
650-363-1390 spinnakersailing.com
Spinnaker Sailing in Redwood City is the perfect sailing club providing, sailing instruction and sailing activities for those living on the San Francisco Peninsula, South Bay and East Bay locations. Students who graduate from Spinnaker Sailing School not only received the internationally recognized certification from ASA but the confidence to sail anywhere in the world.
Spinnaker Sailing – San Francisco San Francisco, Northern California
(415) 543-7333 www.spinnaker-sailing.com
Spinnaker Sailing has been in business for 35 years. and is located in one of the Best Marinas on the West Coast, South Beach Harbor. This location is perfect as the breeze is fresh, the water is flat and it’s only 3 minutes from the boats berth to our teaching grounds…no long channels.
Starpath School of Navigation Seattle, Washington
(206) 783-1414 Starpath.com
Starpath School of Navigation is a world leader in marine navigation and weather training. We are a unique resource with over 18 years’ experience in online teaching. Our courses are guaranteed to make your time on the water safer and more enjoyable.
TMS – Kaohsiung Sailing School Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
(+886) 75510500 twmarine.com.tw
Taiwan Marine Sailing School update our own vessels every year, and also enhances the skills of the instructors, allowing the trainees to learn the most solid training, and because the ship is updated, the students can learn more. Rather than just providing teaching, we can also let all people come together to experience the elegance and excitement of the sailing boat.
Victoria Sailing School Denver, Colorado
(303) 697-7433 www.victoriasailingschool.com
The Victoria Sailing School is Colorado’s oldest and largest sailing school. Since its founding in 1986, we have trained thousands of students from the Rocky Mountain area. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality product. Our courses range from introductory sailing classes through Coastal and Celestial Navigation, for those wishing to fulfill their ultimate dream. There is an old expression about learning how to sail “The Fastest Way to Learn How to Sail – Start in the Smallest Boat in the Coldest Water”. We do not take this expression to extremes, but the J/22 offers an exceptional sailing experience …
Virgin Island Sailing School St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands
(805) 850-8135 sailusvis.com
In the Caribbean, the water is 78-82 and air, about the same with 10-15 knot breezes 340 days a year. We are based in St Thomas (which is more economical to fly in to) but spend most of our time island hopping in the BVIs. With so many islands, the majority of ocean swells are block making for fast, comfortable sailing. Students are limited to 6 per class and matched to our small but outstanding group of highly experienced instructors.
Virgin Islands Sailing Academy Red Hook, US Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands
(340) 690-6011 virginislandssailingacademy.com
All of our sailing classes are taught in a 3-9 day, live aboard approach, where students are totally immersed into learning to sail and cruise, and no hotels are required. Class size is kept small and is typically 3-4 students. Visit exotic destinations in Tortola, Jost van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, St. John, and St. Thomas while taking beginner to intermediate level sailing classes. Visit St. Croix, Anegada, Vieques, and Culebra in advanced classes.
West Coast Multihulls San Diego, Southern California
(619) 365-4326 charter-catamaran.com
Catamarans and trimarans are not just another income stream for West Coast Multihulls, they are our passion. If your sailing goal is to become a proficient confident multihull sailor, we are the school for you. Our staff and Instructors have decades of multihull, training, sailing and live-aboard experience to draw from and share with you. We sail out of beautiful San Diego, CA with sailing classes offered year-round from the Sunroad Resort Marina. San Diego enjoys a comfortable, moderate climate with light to moderate winds throughout the year. We are the only catamaran and trimaran specialists in California. West Coast …
Windward SeaVenture Charters Kemah, Houston / Galveston Area, Texas
(281) 467-2279 www.windwardseaventure.com
Windward SeaVenture Charters has instructors voted “Instructor of the Year” in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2013 and they all are USCG Master Level licensed captains with over 30 years’ experience in sailing and teaching. We also offer you a discount on all charters you take with us for 1 year from your date of completion of any class with no monthly club dues or yearly fees. Our class sizes are limited to 4 persons plus instructor, so that you will have individual attention.
Recommended Endorsements
Once you have passed your ASA 117, Basic Celestial Endorsement you may find the following Endorsement Courses to be beneficial
Learn to observe and forecast weather conditions using traditional maritime skills and modern technology. Knowledge of weather information for planning and adapting navigation during short duration and extended voyages.
Learn to properly use small-craft radar (or radar simulator) for piloting, navigation, and collision avoidance. Knowledge of radar principles and practical matters of radar operation.
