Practical Skills
Preparation to Sail:
- Demonstrate ability to recognize and forecast prevailing local weather conditions.
- Demonstrate how to properly board a boat.
- Perform a presail check for the boat’s flotation integrity, safety and legally required equipment, and crew indoctrination.
- Demonstrate the proper rigging of the sails, halyards, sheets, blocks, and winches.
- Check all other equipment specific to your boat not indicated above.
Crew Operations and Skills:
- Demonstrate how to put on a life jacket.
- Demonstrate tying and use of knots: stopper knot, bowline, cleat hitch and square knot.
- Demonstrate the use of these sail controls: halyards, sheets, cunningham/downhaul and outhaul.
Leaving the Dock or Mooring
- Demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and skills for departure suitable to the conditions: raising sails, line handling, casting off and boathandling.
Boat Control in Confined Waters:
- Demonstrate in close quarters under sail: starting, stopping, speed control, tacking, jibing, steering control, sail luffing, the No-Go Zone, getting out of irons, backing the jib, and crew coordination and communication.
- Demonstrate sailing a predetermined closed course and maneuvering around obstacles.
Navigation:
- Point out Aids to Navigation in the harbor and local waters that you are sailing, and respond accordingly.
Navigation Rules, International-Inland:
- Demonstrate use of Navigation Rules while sailing.
Boat Control in Open Water:
- Demonstrate proper sail trim with accurate sheet adjustment of the main and headsails. Make use of the sail telltales and identify points of sail.
- Perform a heaving-to maneuver.
- When appropriate, demonstrate sailing “by the lee” and explain the inherent dangers involved.
Heavy Weather Sailing:
- Demonstrate how to reef and/or depower sails.
Overboard Rescue Methods:
- Properly demonstrate one of the overboard rescue methods, which is most appropriate for: your sailing ability, boat type, crew experience, wind and sea conditions, and maintaining constant visual contact with the person in water.
Safety and Emergency Procedures:
- Explain the proper procedure for using an approved distress signal.
Returning to the Dock or Mooring:
- Demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and skills for arrival under sail and/or power suitable to the conditions: boathandling, deploying fenders, stopping, tying up and lowering sails. Explain at least two different approach plans for other conditions.
- Demonstrate stowing of sails, rigging and equipment. Thoroughly clean the boat, and install any covers.
- Check both the electrical and bilge systems for dock operation if required.
- Check the locks on companionway, lockers and hatches. Make a final check of docklines, spring lines and fender placement.
Knowledge
Preparation to Sail:
- Describe personal preparation such as clothing and sun protection.
Crew Operations and Skills:
- Be familiar with the nomenclature for basic parts of the boat, sails, battens and rigging.
- Describe the proper use of life jackets and throwable flotation devices.
- Describe the use of sail controls.
- Explain potential electrical hazards such as overhead electrical wires and lightning.
Sailing Theory:
- Describe basic sailboat design, sail theory and boat dynamics.
- Explain how to read the wind and determine all points of sail.
- Understand what is meant by the term “sailing by the lee” and explain the inherent dangers involved.
Leaving the Dock or Mooring:
- Understand the effects of wind, tide and currents in relation to the boat and surrounding area while preparing to get underway.
- Describe the differences and alternatives for leaving under sail and/or power in upwind, crosswind and downwind situations.
Navigation:
- Be familiar with basic chart reading specific to your local waters.
- Describe Aids to Navigation: buoys, daymarks, regulatory markers, and other markers specific to your local waters.
Navigation Rules, International-Inland:
- Describe the Navigation Rules, International-Inland, for Stand-On and Give-Way sailboats and powerboats for collision avoidance and understand your state and local boating regulations.
Heavy Weather Sailing:
- Describe weather warning sources.
Overboard Rescue Methods:
- Understand the Quick-Stop and Figure-8 overboard rescue methods to include: constant visual contact with the person in water, communication, rescue plan, sequence of maneuvers, boathandling, course sailed, pickup approach and coming alongside the person in water (or simulated object).
- Describe methods of getting a person in water on deck.
Safety and Emergency Procedures:
- Be familiar with treatment of overheating, hypothermia and seasickness.
- Describe the use and regulations for flares.
- Be familiar with at least six different distress and emergency signals per Navigation Rule 37.
- Be familiar with the U.S. Coast Guard requirements for safety equipment.
Anchoring Techniques:
- Be familiar with anchoring procedures for emergency situations such as loss of boat control, sudden storms, prevention from going aground or injured crew situations.
Returning to the Dock or Mooring:
- Describe the differences and alternatives for arrival under sail and/or power in upwind, crosswind and downwind situations.