About the Course
7:30pm to 11:30pm
Learn skills and techniques to become confident sailing Boston Harbor and beyond at night and in low visibility. We cover light signals, navigation, AIS, and more aboard our cruising sailboat this on-the-water clinic.
Topics Included in the Night Sailing Clinic
Night Sailing Preparation and Equipment
Learn how to create a passage plan for sailing at night, how to set up your boat and equipment for best efficiency in the dark and what kind of equipment to bring.
Common Aids to Navigation and Vessel Navigation Lights
Review common types of lights found on aids to navigation such as day markers, buoys, light houses and specialty lights. We also review all of the types of vessels commonly found in the area and how to identify them by their light configurations.
Sail Trim at Night
Learn tricks for effectively trimming your sails at night including different lighting techniques, sheeting tricks as well as different auto-
Visual and Electronic Navigation at Night
Practice navigating using paper charts, compass and visual fixes throughout Boston harbor. We also cover using electronic instruments and the chart plotter in the later portions of the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to the clinic?
Every student is required to bring their own headlamp that is capable of producing white and red light. In addition to the headlamp, we recommend bringing a few extra clothing layers as it is colder on the water at night.
What is the course format?
We begin the course in the classroom with a short 30 minute lecture on preparing for night sailing and route planning. Then we head down to the boat and spend the rest of the time sailing around Boston Harbor. The course is taught aboard our 36' cruising boat, "Maxime"
What other ASA-certified courses are offered at First Reef Sailing?
In addition to ASA 101 Basic Keelboat, First Reef Sailing offers the following ASA courses in Boston, Massachusetts:
