Cruising Readiness Online Course

This 4-part online class will offer a comprehensive guide to the cruising lifestyle offering valuable insight, expertise, and practical knowledge to prepare participants for extended periods onboard.

4x 90 Min Sessions English Unlimited Access

For anybody curious about becoming a full-time liveaboard, this online series will help demystify, inform and inspire. Join Lisa and Andy Batchelor, ASA Master Instructors and writers of numerous ASA cruising textbooks, as they share their wealth of sailing and cruising knowledge covering a range of topics to help ensure participants are well-equipped to plan, prepare, and successfully achieve their cruising dreams.

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Great class with good info. Touched on a lot of important issues. Gave enough knowledge for a great start. Now I can do more research. Thank you for putting together this class.
~ Brad D. from L'Anse, Michigan

Great class for even an experienced cruiser. Lots and lots of details from teachers with decades of experience who have been on the water and learned by doing.

~ Mike L. from Seattle, Washington

WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?

Have you ever dreamed of cruising, but didn’t know where to start? Are you planning on becoming a full-time liveaboard? This class will gear you up for what’s ahead. Maybe you’re already out there cruising? Sharpen your knowledge from the experts with this 4-part deep dive into the cruising lifestyle, what it takes, and knowledge to keep you better prepared for your next voyage.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Cruising and living onboard for extended periods present unique opportunities for cruisers. And yet, preparing yourself and your boat for the cruising lifestyle can be an exciting albeit confusing prospect. Whether you are an aspiring cruiser, a weekend cruiser or you plan to someday embark on a circumnavigation, this series will provide a comprehensive deep dive into the cruising lifestyle covering a wide-range of topics and equipping participants with the essential knowledge and preparation to operate smoothly and safely.


TOPICS COVERED

SESSION 1

  • FINDING YOUR CRUISING "WHY"
    Why, How, What. Timing & Budget. Knowledge & Skills Development. Meeting the Challenges. Tips: Roles, Safety, Health & Well-Being.
  • BOAT SELECTION
    Principles & Constraints. Features. Driving Factors. New vs Old.

SESSION 2

  • OUTFITTING FOR CRUISERS
    Power Management. Electronics. Communications Gear. Safety Gear. Selecting Dinghy and Outboard.
  • DEPARTURE PREPARATION
    Principles & Focus Areas: Mechanical, Rigging, Steering, Systems.

SESSION 3

  • SAILPOWER FOR CRUISERS
    Cruising rigs. Mainsail Types & Trim. Headsail Choices & Trim. Balanced Sail Plan. Heavy Weather. Downwind / Reaching Sails.
  • PROVISIONING FOR CRUISERS
    Goals & Constraints. Passagemaking. Cruising

SESSION 4

  • PASSAGEMAKING
    Preparation. Watchkeeping. Night Sailing. Situational Awareness & Orientation. Collision Avoidance.
  • NAVIGATION & WEATHER PLANNING FOR PASSAGES
    Methodology. Charting Basics. Tides & Currents. Marine Weather – Parameters, Sources, Formats. Inland & Coastal Considerations. Routing & Course Shaping.

YOUR HOSTS

CAPTAINS ANDY BATCHELOR AND LISA BATCHELOR FRAILEY

Sail Solomons ASA School & Charter Base, Founders

Captains Andy Batchelor and Lisa Batchelor Frailey are both lifelong sailors and retired military officers. Andy served in the Royal Air Force in aviation and intelligence, and Lisa served in the US Navy in aviation, meteorology and oceanography – a combination of skills that have proven very useful to sailing and passagemaking.

They founded and operated Sail Solomons ASA school and charter base, receiving numerous awards for ASA Outstanding School and Outstanding

School and Outstanding Instructors. Andy and Lisa wrote ASA’s textbooks for Bareboat Cruising, Catamaran Cruising, and Dinghies and Outboard and are the primary contributors to ASA’s Advanced Cruising and Seamanship text. Their most recent book, “Docking & Maneuvering Made Easy,” id American Sailing’s new textbook for the ASA 118 Docking Endorsement.

Cruising for seven years onboard their Passport 47 ZINGARO and Outbound 46 KINETIC, Andy and Lisa have made numerous coastal passages and ocean voyages, conducting cruising and passagemaking training while living aboard in exotic locations. They also organize and lead sailing flotillas on cruising catamarans and monohulls in the Caribbean. Andy and Lisa are regular speakers at Cruisers’ University and present many live and virtual seminars.

Andy and Lisa launched Kinetic Sailing to offer marine consulting, charter brokerage, instructional yacht deliveries and tailored instruction with a global scope. They are USCG Captains, cruisers, instructors, analysts and business owners with a wealth of experience in the sailing industry.