ASA Certification Standards: ASA 108, Offshore Passagemaking

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Prerequisites: All previous keelboat and navigation standards.

General Description: A certified student is able to safely act as skipper or crew of a sailing vessel on offshore passages requiring celestial navigation.

I. Sailing Knowledge

Plan a passage across the North Atlantic or Pacific Ocean using publications and instruments required for navigation on an
offshore passage.
State advantages vs. disadvantages of various ocean routes.
Plot a series of rhumb lines on a Mercator chart to approximate a great circle route.
State the essential factors to be considered when selecting a vessel for an ocean passage of at least 1,000 miles.
List all items essential for minor repairs to vessel systems, including rigging and sails.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of three self steering methods/devices.
Plan meals for a minimum of four people on a seven day offshore passage and methods of preserving/storing food without refrigeration.
State the factors to be considered when selecting crew members for an offshore passage.
State a source of obtaining advanced first aid information while on an offshore passage.
Identify and describe the basic treatment of potential medical problems and list the items that should be carried in a first aid kit for an offshore passage.
Describe methods of preventing injury to the cook or nearby persons while cooking at sea.
Prepare and file a passage plan prior to departure.
Describe three watchkeeping systems and alternate arrangements in the event crew members are incapacitated.
Describe the duties during and after the watch.
Establish a routine schedule to periodically inspect and maintain vessels systems, including cleaning the vessel underway.
Describe how to rig a trailing person overboard line with an alarm and alternative methods of alerting the crew to a person overboard situation.
Describe what actions should be taken when a person overboard is not located on the first pass.
Describe proper actions to be taken after vessel has been struck by lightning.
Describe how to organize the crew for a routine fire drill.
Describe possible methods of jury rigging the vessel in the event of dismasting and the following course adjustments.
List essential survival items to be kept in a standby kit for abandoning ship offshore.
Describe additional items and their useful functions for survival and rescue.
Describe general abandon ship procedures and procedures for launching, inflating and boarding a life raft in heavy weather.
Describe the dangers to be encountered in a life raft at sea and list basic survival techniques.
List safety equipment recommended in addition to that required by the U.S. Coast Guard.
List eight of ten international distress signals and demonstrate knowledge of their usage.
Know and apply the 1972 International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGS) in order to maintain safe navigation in any waters day and night.

II. Sailing Skills

Obtain a celestial fix using a running fix or three celestial bodies.
Calibrate compass for current heading using celestial fix, update deviation card.
Apply all sailing knowledge stated in the ASA Celestial Navigation standard and in all other ASA standards.
Act as skipper and crew on an offshore passage of no less than 72 hours and 100 nm without touching land.

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