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Tuesday January 5th, 2027

4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET

Radar & AIS

with

Ben & Teresa Carey

Morse Alpha Expeditions

Learn how to confidently use radar, AIS, and chartplotters together to navigate safely, avoid collisions, and make informed decisions in busy waterways and low-visibility conditions.

90-Minute Live Session

On Demand Replay Available

Live Q&A

This online class on radar and AIS will help sailors understand the complete electronic picture when navigating among other vessels. You’ll learn from Captains Ben and Teresa Carey on how radar and AIS complement each other, what each system can and cannot detect, and how to interpret overlapping information into one coherent understanding of the traffic around you. We’ll also discuss reduced visibility. Fog and darkness demand more than electronics—you'll learn to integrate radar, AIS, chartplotters, sound signals, and disciplined lookout practices into a complete strategy for navigating safely when you can't see your surroundings. We’ll share real-world experiences from Coast Guard reports on near misses and our real-world experience managing traffic and limited-visibility conditions during our coastal sailing trips, our recent transatlantic crossing, and our current cruise in the Mediterranean.

FREE

Radar & AIS

Online class overview

Learn to navigate with confidence using radar, AIS, and chartplotters in this practical online class with Captains Teresa Carey and Ben Eriksen Carey. Discover how these essential navigation tools work together to improve situational awareness, identify surrounding vessel traffic, and prevent collisions. Through real-world experiences and practical examples, you’ll learn to interpret radar and AIS information, recognize electronic blind spots, and apply effective navigation strategies in fog, darkness, and busy waterways. Whether you’re a coastal cruiser or offshore sailor, you’ll gain the skills to make informed decisions and navigate safely when visibility is limited.

Who is this online class for?

This online class is for sailors who are considering purchasing a radar and/or AIS or who already have them and want to use them with confidence. This online class is ideal for coastal cruisers, offshore passage-makers, charter boat sailors, and anyone who has looked at a radar screen and wondered what they’re actually looking at. Whether you’re preparing for your first night passage or you’ve crossed oceans, we’ll give you practical frameworks for interpreting what your electronics are telling you—and knowing when to trust them and when to question them. You’ll leave with a clear mental checklist for collision avoidance and low-visibility navigation that you can apply to your next sail.

What will I learn?

Learn how to use radar, AIS, and chartplotters together to track vessel traffic, avoid collisions, and navigate confidently in fog, darkness, and busy waterways.

List of topics:

How radar works
Electronic Blind Spots
Understanding AIS transmissions
Reconciling what radar sees vs. what AIS shows
Interpreting target motion: CPA, relative bearings, etc.
Collision avoidance rules in traffic
Radar settings for fog and darkness
Sound signals, rules and responsibilities
Effective lookout practices and watchkeeping
Using the chartplotter as a third layer of awareness
Building a complete picture before conditions deteriorate

SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE. SAIL WITH CONFIDENCE.

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ELECTRONICS ARE REALLY TELLING YOU

Radar and AIS are powerful navigation tools, but knowing how to interpret their information is what makes them effective. Join Captains Teresa Carey and Ben Eriksen Carey to discover how radar, AIS, and chartplotters work together to create a clearer picture of surrounding vessel traffic. Learn what each system can and cannot detect, recognize electronic blind spots, and develop the confidence to make informed decisions on the water.

NAVIGATE SAFELY WHEN VISIBILITY DISAPPEARS

Fog, darkness, and busy waterways demand more than simply watching a screen. Learn how to interpret target movement, closest point of approach (CPA), and relative bearings while applying collision avoidance rules, sound signals, and effective lookout practices. Through real-world examples and lessons from offshore passages, you’ll discover how to combine electronic information with traditional seamanship to navigate challenging conditions safely.

TURN INFORMATION INTO CONFIDENT DECISIONS

Knowing what your instruments display is only half the challenge—knowing what to do with that information is what matters. Whether you’re preparing for your first night passage, cruising coastal waters, or planning an offshore adventure, this online class provides practical strategies for evaluating vessel traffic, recognizing potential hazards, and maintaining situational awareness. You’ll leave with a repeatable framework for collision avoidance and low-visibility navigation that you can apply every time you set sail.

Your Host

Ben & Teresa Carey

Teresa Carey & Ben Eriksen Carey are seasoned maritime professionals and co-owners of Morse Alpha Expeditions, a renowned coastal and offshore sail-training program. Teresa is a US Coast Guard licensed captain, educator, and accomplished media producer. Her experience includes captaining diverse vessels—schooners, motor yachts, sailing yachts, and even a lobster boat—and teaching for sea programs like Outward Bound. Teresa’s solo offshore sailing and her work as a science journalist, and experience teaching high school, college, and on-the-water enrich her teaching with practical and scientific insights. Ben holds a 200 Ton Oceans US Coast Guard Master’s License and a 500 Ton Mate of Towing credential. His extensive maritime career spans schooners, tugboats, sailing and motor yachts, with expertise as captain, mate, and beyond. A lifelong waterman and marine biology graduate, Ben brings a deep understanding of seamanship and safety to his instruction. Together, Ben and Teresa have sailed thousands of nautical miles, co-founded Morse Alpha Expeditions, and produced engaging sailing media including podcasts, like the Morning Muster Sailing Podcast, and documentaries. Their combined hands-on experience and passion for education make them exceptional instructors for this online class. This past summer, Morse Alpha Expeditions — historically based in the Northwest Atlantic — completed a transatlantic crossing and multiple Mediterranean passages, all with student crew aboard. In 2027, our voyages will carry us across the Mediterranean and north to the UK. Enroll now and come learn by doing. MorseAlpha.com.

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Online Class Registration

Tuesday January 5th, 2027

@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)

Regular Price

ASA Member Price

On-Demand Access

All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.

ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT

American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you’re not a current member then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!

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The ASA Logbook is a living document that chronicles your certifications and can also be used to keep a record of any and all sea-hours accrued along the way. If you chose to earn an ASA Online Achievement Seal and don't have an ASA Logbook then you *must* chose this option and purchase one.
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Radar & AIS

Online class overview

Who is this online class for?

What will I learn?

List of topics:

Get the class Bundle

Online Course

ASA Certification

Registration Information

Purchase Summary

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