The American Sailing Association promotes recreational sailing

Sailing

Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...

 in the United States of America

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 by administering a system of sailing qualifications. The ASA is an association of sailors, professional sailing instructors, sailing schools and charter companies. The ASA's education system consists of certification standards for students and instructors.

Sailing instruction

The ASA established the first national standards for keelboat sailing instruction in the United States, when it created its certification program in 1983. The ASA educational system was originally based on the Canadian Yachting Association's

Canadian Yachting Association

The Canadian Yachting Association is Canada's organization for controlling the water.CYA is a "Member National Authority" of the International Sailing Federation . Organization of sailing in Canada is divided into four groups, Yacht Clubs, Provincial Sailing Associations, Class Associations, and...

(CYA) "Learn to Cruise" program and was licensed by the ASA for use in the U.S. All ASA standards have a written exam that tests the student at the appropriate level. All standards, except the two navigation levels, require a practical on-the-water checkout as well.