The first step discussed in the section on learning to steer a boat is learning how to:

sail around in a circle

zig zag upwind

turn the boat when it is standing still

hold a straight and steady course

The part of the sailboat directly involved in turning the hull as it travels through the water is:

the rudder

the keel

the engine

the mast

A boat's rudder is located:

above the water near the bow of the boat

below the water near the stern of the boat

about in the middle of the boat

in the cabin and out of the way

An aid to holding a straight course when there is no fixed point to aim for on the horizon is:

the boatās mast

the boat's boom

the boatās compass

a nautical chart

Starting with a straight and steady course, in order to turn the boat to the left you would:

move the rudder slightly to the left

move the rudder slightly to the right

move your weight to the bow of the boat

let the sails out

The most important reason for understanding wind direction when learning how to sail is:

certain wind directions bring on bad weather

the wind is stronger from some directions than it is from others

there are certain angles to the wind that the boat canāt sail

the wind direction will help you remember your way back home

Using the face of a clock as a guide, if the wind is coming from the 12, which of the following numbers could you sail directly toward:

one

eleven

twelve

three

If you heard or read that a sailboat was ćin ironsä, and you understood the clock-face method of talking about wind angles, what number on the clock would the boat in irons be pointing toward?

twelve

six

eight

four

Four boats are sailing in Long Island Sound. The wind is coming from the 12 on the imaginary clock and each of the boats is heading for a different number on the clock. Which boat is on the starboard tack?

the boat headed for the two

the boat headed for the nine

the boat headed for the three

the boat headed for the five

Which change of direction would change tacks:

a change from the ten to the seven

a change from the five to the three

a change from the two to the ten

all of the above

Which change in direction would not change tacks:

a change from the ten to the two

a change from the nine to the three

a change from the eight to the four

none of the above

Which statement is true about sailing toward the 6 on the clock (when the wind is coming from the 12):

it is impossible

the sails would have to be trimmed in very close to the center of the boat

the boat could be either on starboard tack or port tack

the boat would be coming about

The name for turning the boat into the wind and around until the sails fill on the other side of the boat is called:

coming about

tacking

changing tacks

all of the above

The side on which the jib is hauled in and cleated is:

the leeward side

the windward side

the side closest to the wind

the side where the crew is sitting

Using the clock-face as an example, with the wind coming from 12, the highest hour number that the boat can steer toward directly is:

12

11

10

9

Using the same example as in the previous question, the lowest hour that the boat can steer for directly is:

1

2

3

4

Why is it necessary for the helmsman to warn the crew when the boat is about to tack:

so that they can go down in the cabin and get out of the way

so that they can watch to see that there are no collisions

so that they can read the compass and say when the tack is complete

so that they can tend the jib during the tack

If a boat is sailing upwind on the starboard tack with the jib trimmed close hauled on the port side, what will be the situation after she comes about and is sailing on the new tack:

the boat will now be on port tack with the jib trimmed close hauled on the starboard side

the boat will still be on starboard tack but the jib will be eased on the port side

there will be no change of sides and no change in how the jib is trimmed

all the sails will be eased and the boat will be heading downwind

Telltales are found:

on school playgrounds complaining to the teacher when they want a turn on the swing

on the collars of shirts that need to go to the laundry

in the sky when the weather is changing and a storm is approaching

on the sails of a boat where they will stream back when the boat is in the groove

Jib telltales come in pairs, left (port) and right (starboard). Which is true of how these telltales may look while you are sailing:

both telltales may be streaming (blowing back in the wind)

one telltale may be streaming, while the other one is stalled (not streaming)

both telltales may be stalled

any one of the above choices

When sailing close hauled, signals received from the jib telltales should typically result in adjustments of:

the boatās course through the water

the jib sheet

the main sheet

the number of crew members sitting on the windward side

Using the clock-face example (with the wind coming from 12), sailing for any number above 2 and below 10 (except for 6) is called:

running free

sailing close hauled

beating

reaching

You are headed due west and the wind is due south. How should your sails be set?

The sheets should be trimmed hauling the sails in as far as they can go.

The sheets should be eased, letting the sails out as far as they can go.

The sheets should be adjusted to the place where all sail telltales are streaming.

The main sail should be let out entirely, but the jib should be hauled in close.

The wind is blowing from the 12 on the clock and you are steering toward the 8. Which sentence would describe your tack and point of sail?

running on the port tack

reaching on the port tack

reaching on the starboard tack

close-hauled on the starboard tack

When reaching, signals received from sail telltales should typically result in adjustments of:

the boatās course through the water

the sail trim of the jib and mainsail

the tension on the boom vang

the number of crew members sitting on the windward side

Steering directly downwind, steering for the 6 in the clock-face example, is called:

sailing close-hauled

beating

reaching

running

When the boat is headed downwind (as described in the previous question) the sails are set as follows:

both sails are trimmed in as far as possible

the mainsail is eased out as far as possible and the jib may be eased on the side opposite the mainsail

both the mainsail and the jib are on the same side, and are eased about half way out

none of the above

When sailing directly downwind,

the boat is on the starboard tack

the boat is on the port tack

the boat is not on any tack

the boat may be on either tack

"Winging" the jib:

is impossible

is recommended on any point of sail

is a good way to use the jib when sailing directly downwind

is the way mariners of olden times trapped waterfowl for an evening meal

When sailing off the wind, the act of steering the boat so that the boom changes sides and the boat ends up on the opposite tack is called:

coming about

gybing

tacking

heading up

The four terms below refer to changes in a sailboatās course initiated by the person steering. Which of the four, if done suddenly and without warning, involves the most risk of injury to the boat and the crew?

coming about

gybing

bearing off

heading up

What action on the part of the crew, helps control the mainsail during a gybe?

The mainsail is taken down.

The jib is trimmed.

The main sheet is let out as far as it can go.

The main is trimmed in just before the gybe and eased directly after it.

Which of the following items would not, typically be part of a mooring?

cell phone or vhf radio

a heavy object used as an anchor

chain, cable or heavy line

a buoy floating on the surface

When approaching a mooring buoy to which you intend to secure the boat, which way should the boat be heading, (assuming there is little or no current at the time)?

into the wind

downwind

across the wind

toward the nearest shore

Which of the following is true of a sailboat equipped with an inboard auxiliary gasoline-powered engine?

The bilge should be cleared of any gasoline fumes before the engine is started.

The engine is used for most docking.

The engine is used when it is either unsafe or impractical to sail.

All of the above.

To sail a boat upwind (toward the source of the wind) it is necessary to:

take down the sails

turn on the engine

sail a zigzag course

it is impossible to sail in this direction

Which of the terms below refers to steering the boat away from the source of the wind?

coming about

heading up

"hard-a-lee"

bearing off

Which of the terms below is not a line on a sailboat?

auxiliary

mainsheet

jib sheet

anchor line

When discussing the adjustment of sails, which term means the opposite of "trim"?

cleat

winch

lower

ease

The term that means "a nautical mile per hour" is:

knot

leech

groove

keel

Which of the terms below does not refer to a sail?

spinnaker

winch

mainsail

jib

At one of the points of sail listed below, the boat is heading on a course that is about 45 degrees from the source of the wind:

reaching

running

in irons

close-hauled

Which of the terms below means the opposite of "windward":

starboard

port

homeward

leeward

How is a boatās sail like an airplane wing?

they are both made of the same material

they are both attached to a mast an a boom

they both develop lift because of moving air

they both extend vertically from their base

Which of the terms below refers to a sail that is acting like a flag?

telltale

luff

leech

lift

Which of the terms below is the opposite of coming about?

heading up

bearing off

holding a course

gybing

How many sheets are attached to the jib?

one

two

three

four

Which of the terms below means the opposite of "forward" on a boat?

starboard

port

upward

aft

Which is the longest spar on most modern sailboats?

gaff

mast

boom

spinnaker pole

Which every-day word means the same thing as "starboard"?

left

port

tack

right