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Sailing Okinawa

Since 2004 Sailing Okinawa has become an affordable small sailing school and resource center for those who want to enjoy local sailing and/or study for the Japan Small Vessel Operator’s Permit.

ASA affiliate school #552, offers a full-range of English-based sailing courses in the exotic waters of the Kerama Islands, Okinawa and Osaka, Japan.

Instructors with the affiliate have a wide-range of experience to help you meet your sailing education goals while in Japan.
Originally established in 2004 as BLISS (Bill’s Little Informal Sailboat School), management and ownership of the affiliate transferred to Okinawa in 2022. BLISS still offers sailing courses in the waters of Osaka Bay.

Affiliate #552 students are also eligible to enroll in BLISS’ study school to help obtain a Japan Small Vessel Operator’s Permit — a requirement in Japan.

Certifications

101

Keelboat Sailing 1

Welcome aboard to ASA 101, the gateway to your sailing adventure! This foundational course sets the stage for mastering the art of sailing

103 Coastal Cruising

Welcome to ASA 103 Coastal Cruising, where you take your sailing skills to the next level!

104 Bareboat Cruising

ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising, where your sailing journey reaches a new level of independence and adventure

105 Coastal Navigation

ASA 105 Coastal Navigation is essential for anyone ready to move beyond day sailing and take command of extended trips along the coast.

Amenities

ASA 'Challenges'Couples CoursesPrivate CoursesSunset CruisesWeekend Courses

INITIATIVES

10% Discount

Veterans Program

At American Sailing we recognize the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served or are serving in our country’s armed forces. As a token of our appreciation, and our way of saying thank you, we invite veterans and active military personnel to share our passion for sailing by offering a discount on our ASA 101 Keelboat 1 sailing course.

Learn More

Gallery

Students aboard our 26-foot Yamaha sailboat with tiller practice sailing on various points of sail during our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course on the East China Sea. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

A married couple works together on a tack during our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course on the west coast of Okinawa. We offer courses for couples who want to start their sailing journey together. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Private lessons can be arranged for students who want to learn the basics of sailing in the ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Docking a boat is one of the many standards students learn and master during one of our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course offerings. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Tying knots are an essential skill student sailors learn and master during a dockside lesson in our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Students in an ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course sail our 27-foot sloop in Osaka Bay. (Photo by William Payne, Copyright 2022. Used with permission of the copyright holder).

Instructors with our affiliate have a wide-range of sailing experience to help students in our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Course learn the skills needed to achieve certification. (Photo by William Payne, Copyright 2022. Used with permission of the copyright holder).

Students in our ASA 103 Coast Cruising Course sail past one of several islands in Japan’s Kerama National Park. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Students in our ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Course learn to sail and maintain a course heading with wheel steering on one of several points of sail in waters of the East China Sea off the west coast of Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

One of our instructors teaches a student in our ASA 103 Coastal  Cruising Course how to raise the anchor aboard our 34-foot performance cruiser in Arahen Bay at Tokushiki Island, Japan. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

During our ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Course we offer a chance for students to snorkel, relax and enjoy the Kerama blue waters after performing proper anchor techniques in Arahen Bay off Tokushiki Island, Japan. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Students in our ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Course learn to sail in Osaka Bay, Japan. (Photo by William Payne, Copyright 2022. Used with permission of the copyright holder).

Students in our ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Course take the tiller and feel the winds of Osaka Bay, Japan. (Photo by William Payne, Copyright 2022. Used with permission of the copyright holder).

Students in our ASA 104 Bareboat Charter Course make their way under sail past Aka Island in the scenic waters of Japan’s Kerama  National Park. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Students in our ASA 104 Bareboat Charter Course prepare to dock in the beautiful Kerama blue waters of Zamami Port, Japan. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2018.)

All students in our ASA 104 Bareboat Charter Course get the opportunity to provision, plan and cook meals aboard our 34-foot performance cruiser. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2020.)

During our ASA 104 Bareboat Charter Course, students will work with charts to plan and log their route through the many islands in Japan’s Kerama National Park. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Our ASA 104 Bareboat Charter Course not only leads to certification but also provides epic experiences and lifetime memories in the unique Kerama blue waters of locales like Arahen Bay at Tokushiki Island, Japan. (Photo by Adam Johnston, Copyright 2022.)

Mitch

Bill’s philosophy about sailing has given me a new perspective and eagerness to learn more. Despite his wealth of knowledge and vast experience, he does not pretend to know everything. His quietly spoken manner has helped me to feel relaxed and enjoy

Emma

This course was a fantastic introduction to sailing. I not only became familiar with the parts of the sailboat, but became comfortable with operating the boat by tacking, gybing, and docking. The emphasis on & safe and controlled sailing provided me

Neda

he Basic Keelboat Sailing Couples Course allowed my husband and I to become comfortable with the basic concepts and skills of sailing in just one weekend. We can’t wait to start crewing to further develop our skills