Captain Dan Ryder is a certified American Sailing Association (ASA) instructor teaching in the Oxnard and Ventura Harbors of southern California. He'll literally teach you the ropes in private lessons and will guide you to qualifications that are recognized worldwide.

We sail when you say and will develop a curriculum that will build on your current knowledge. That's the advantage of private lessons. We offer four levels of ASA instruction.

"He had the patience of Job and I had the time of my life."

Basic Keelboat Handling (ASA101)

Prerequisites: None - This course is the first step and no previous experience or knowledge is required.

Course objective: The successful student will be able to sail a 22' boat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. A graduate will master all points of sail and all fundamental maneuvers including heaving to and recovering a crew overboard.

Fees: $1150, additional person $650. All materials and ASA membership included.


• ASA 101 complete curriculum

Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA103)

Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing Certificate

Course objective: The successful student will learn to cruise safely in local and regional waters and will be able to act as skipper and or on a 36' sailboat during daytime in moderate winds and sea conditions.

Fees: $1325, additional person $650. All materials included.


• ASA 103 complete curriculum

Bareboat Chartering (ASA104)

Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising Certification

Course Objective: The student can choose either a Catalina 36 or a Jeanneau 46 for an overnight - or multi-night - sail to Santa Cruz Island. The student will be able to operate all boats systems and will be qualified to act as skipper for all daytime operations, including anchoring, crew overboard, piloting and basic dead reckoning navigation.

The course includes the use of radar (with MARPA target tracking on the Jeanneau), GPS and chart plotter. 104 is all practical.

Fees: Fees are based on the boat and number of days you choose to sail. Our Jeanneau can accommodate two couples, the Catalina, one couple. The Jeanneau, by the way, is typical of the boats you might charter from Moorings or Sunsail in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.


• ASA 104 complete curriculum

Coastal Navigation (ASA105)

Prerequisites: None

Course objective: The successful student will be able to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters without the aid of GPS, radar or anything else that requires electricity. You'll learn chart interpretation, be able to chart a course, find a position, take visual fixes, anticipate tidal fluctuation, understand ocean currents and plan extensive cruises. There is no Sailing Skills part to this Standard and practical application of this sailing knowledge is found in the Advanced Coastal Cruising Standard.

Fees: $750, additional person $450. All necessary navigation tools and publications are provided and are yours to keep.


• ASA 105 complete curriculum

Advanced Coastal Crusing (ASA106)

Prerequisites: ASA 101, 103, 104, 105

General Description:


• We'll take you and your crew on an extended sail (four to five days) in Sancerre, our Jeanneu 46 to a challenging destination such as San Miguel or Santa Barbara Island or a point you pick to the south.



• You'll exercise all of the skills you've learned previously in boat handling and navigation. You'll use all of your DR skills and integrate electronic navigation.



• You'll launch and maneuver the dinghy and/or our kayaks to explore the coast.



• You'll devise the menu, but we'll take care of getting it all aboard. You'll help us stow groceries, so we all know where everything is, and, once you've mastered the propane stove and water-saving clean-up practices, you can leave the cooking and clean-up to us.



• If you love to cook. Well, we love to eat. We'd be happy to follow your directions in the galley.



• After dinner and as we come across teachable moments, we'll discuss weather forecasting, at-sea maintenance and repair, emergency preparedness.



• We'll anchor in some narrow anchorages, where precision setting of both bow and stern anchor is critical. You'll learn to use traditional bearing taking to ensure the boat stays in position, but we'll also integrate GPS and radar into the equation, adding skills beyond the ASA curriculum.



• We'll do an extended leg (or more) of night sailing, emphasizing precise navigation and safety precautions (in addition to always wearing life jackets, we rig and use jacklines for any out-of-cockpit adventures, including anchor watch). We'll do some man-overboard maneuvers at night, which will make it very clear that everyone needs to be clipped in after dark.



Fees: Are based on the number of days and size of your crew (up to 4) on our Jeanneau. The Jeanneau, by the way, is typical of the boats you might charter from Moorings or Sunsail in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.



• ASA 106 complete curriculum