ASA 106 Syllabus Requirements

Question 1

Describe theory of true and apparent winds

Answer 1

I’m ok on this

Question 2

Describe theory of sailing using force diagrams. Graphically find the Center of Effort and Center of Resistance.

Answer 2

Find COE of each sail, then COE between those. CLR is built in to boat design. Ideally, CE is forward of the CLR to create that 3 degree weather helm.

Question 3

Describe with aid of diagrams the causes of lee and weather helm and methods to correct them. Include reasons for preferred weather helm, sail selection, mast position and mast rake

Answer 3

Weather helm - CAUSES: CE too far aft , CLR too far forward; main over trimmed, jib under trimmed; boat healing over too far, asymmetry of the hull; FIXES: mainsail traveller down, easing sheet to spill air, unrake the mast, unrake the mast, crew and other weight on board to windward and aft Lee helm - CAUSES: CE too far forward, CLR too far aft. mast raked too far forward, capped leach on the jib or to far inboard, main untrimmed, FIX: more power in mainsail, rake the mast, adjust jib cars back to increase jib twist/spill,move weight on boat forward

Question 4

Describe sail shapes and sail interactions for different wind conditions and points of sail. Describe the effects on sail shape and interaction when adjusting the following (luff tension, leech line, backstay tension, mainsteet, outhaul, boomvang, jib fairleads, traveller, downhaul, cunningham, jib sheet tension

Answer 4

• mainsheet trimming – angle of attack, twist decrease, tighting leech, watch cupping as it impedes airflow and adds weather helm
• luff tension increase - larger more fuller draft
• leach line increase - stop fluttering but cupping
• backstay tension increase – fuller draft
• outhaul tensioning - pulls mainsail foot aft, flatter sail, impacts bottom 1/3rd of sail
• boom vang tensioning - pulls down on boom, reduces twist, particularly used on reaches and runs; set so boom parallel to deck, with 5-10% twist above
• traveller – narrowing angle of attach, no change to twist, improves pointing ability, increases weather helm
• downhaul -
• cunningham - stretches mainsail or jib’s luff to change fore-aft position of highest camber; tighter more forward
• jib sheet tension - tightens jib foot and leech
• jib fairleads – move forward pulls down more to tighten leech, pulls horizontally less so deeper foot
• topping lift – supports boom when main is lowered

Question 5

Identify how to use a barometer and thermometer either singly or together to assist in weather predicting

Answer 5

• If barometer rises or falls quickly, prepare for increasing winds. Head to harbor. Change of 1 millibar (0.03 inches) per 3 hours, substantial change. Change of 1 millibar per 1 hour, dangerous “bomb” conditions imminent.
• In general, lower the barometric pressure, the worse the weather. The faster it falls, the higher the wind.
• Great chart on 131 of Rousmaniere

Question 6

Describe cirrus, cirrostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds and the weather to be expected from each

Answer 6

Other 106 deck

Question 7

Describe local weather in relation to thermal winds and prevailing winds

Question 8

Describe three sources of weather for US yachtsmen

Answer 8

NOAA online; VHF radio; SSB radio; local weater reports

Question 9

Describe the proper selection of sails on a given boat for all weather conditions and give reasons for selection made

Answer 9

Wind strength current and expected

Likely points of sail

Light winds lighter sails; prep a pole

Full sails versus stay sails / reefed sails

Question 10

Describe appropriate boat precautions when expecting heaving weather

Answer 10

• Cabin ready? - stow everything, particularly heavy and sharp things; lockers locked; stove fuel; tools, tape, flashlight, and light line at the ready; food ready for length of storm;
• Water tightness ready? – bilge checked emptied; hatches and portlights secured; secocks & valves; companionway/washboards closed and latched;
• Navigator ready? – barometer reading; current position; risks ahead; plan; back-up plan; log book up-to-date; radio/comms ready; running lights proper
• On deck ready? – everything secured; jack lines in-place;lines recoiled to ensure run free; lazerettes locked; manual bilge handle secured; winch handles secured; double check all fittings, cleats, jammers, etc.; check chafe points
• Sails ready? – smaller sails; reefed sails; tight sails; traveller position
• Emergency ready? – emergency equipment, raft, ditch bag, MOB all secured but readily accessible;
• People ready? – clothing; PDFs; harnesses; roles; schedule;
• Special equipment ready? – drogues; sea anchors;

Question 11

What’s the difference between a drogue and a sea anchor? How attach a drogue to the boat? When using a droque, ahead-of-time consideration should be given to….

Answer 11

• Drogue – to slow DOWN the boat down when running; on a bridle so can be adjusted to pull more on one side of the boat or the other; how going to retrieve the drogue, given large pressures on it
• Sea anchor – used when hove-to to slow down drift; keep bow into the wind or current; larger than a drogue, as meant to STOP boat, not slow it;

Question 12

Describe forereaching vs. heaving-to vs. lying ahull

Answer 12

• Heaving-to – sail on close reach; back-winding the jib (a small one, not genoa), put up trysail or heavily reefed main; adjust helm to create slow scalloped motion and fix in that position;
• Forereaching – sail close hauled under reefed mainsail alone; mainsail not luffing when helm is centered; Slow speed upwind scalloping up and down off wind. No jib used. Less leeway
• Lying ahull – no sails, no drogues, no anchor.. just drifting… risk is boat turning broadside to a wave

Question 13

Describe the methods of rafting att anchor and the possible problems with day and night rafting

Answer 13

1. Center boat drops biggest anchor and extends more rode than usual, at max one or two other boats raft
2. Boats tie up alongside, using fenders and full set of bow, stern, and spring lines to keep boats from sliding fore and aft, and to keep spreaders/masts from tangling if boats roll in sway
3. Problems: Trickier in high winds; Must be prepared to unraft very quickly if dragging; have to like your neighbors; fenders must be strong

Why not use multiple anchors?

Question 14

How does one anchor when sailing solo?

Answer 14

1. Heave-to before entering anchorage
2. Lead the rode properly through the chock; cleat off rode with enough distance to do the following
3. Carry anchor aft outside the lifelines/stanchions to the cockpit
4. When found spot, drop anchor from the cockpit and then back down on it, testing hold.
5. Adjust rode.

Question 15

Describe how to prevent the tender/dinghy from riding up and bumping the vessel’s hull while anchored at night

Answer 15

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Question 16

Describe step by step how to secure a boat overnight with one anchor and stem made fast to the shore or dock

Answer 16

1. Understand anchorage in advance - depth, currents, dangers, shores
2. Prepare anchor in advance – ensure easy to release; inspect shackles; rode is free running; rode uplimately cleated; run rode over windlass with brake on; crew directions;
3. Approach slowly and scope out available spots, noting other boats, wind conditions, bottom conditions, lee shores.
4. Noting other boats – big ones, lay to the wind, smaller ones to the current; best to anchor in proximity and similarly spaced as comparable boats already there; note angle of their rode into water – vertical, long; sharper - shorter
5. Approach upwind if possible. Drop and then back down.
   
   1. If downwind, then drop and drift, boat will spin
6. Drop two anchors by sailing an arc with desired lie at the midpoint, backing down after the second one. Need lots of rode out on the first one to place second one, but once done, less overall rode needed.
   
   1. Or drop two, bow and aft connected. The first one dropped should be opposite to boats general direction to settle. 4:1 scope ultimately, but 8:1 when dropping the first.
7. Alternatively, drop an anchor then back into a wharf alongside other boats. Board and leave boat by planks.
8. Clean up the deck; attach snubber line.
9. Adjust lights; running lights off; masthead 360 or hang a white light from headstay; one black ball there in daytime.
10. Set GPS and alarm; take visual bearings or transits
11. Leave anchorage and coast charts open on nav table.

Question 17

Swinging radius formula

Answer 17

length of boat + sq. root of [rode length^2 + (depth + freeboard)^2]

essentially the length of the boat + distance over ground of from anchor to bow

Above using a2 + b2 = c2

Question 18

How to weigh anchor (normal)

Answer 18

1. Remove snubber line; make deck clear
2. Power boat forward, collecting rode as you go.
3. Stop boat when rode is vertical.
4. Cleat road / lock brake.
5. Power forward in direction opposite of how flukes are dug in (think back to how it was dropped backed down when achoring;
6. Feel anchor break free and the bow bobbing
7. Retrieve and try to clean anchor (if needed) before bringing aboard. Caution not to have anchor bang the gelcoat
   8.

Question 19

Describe two ways of using two anchors

Answer 19

1. Sail an arc between two points, dropping an anchor at each one.
2. After backing down on second one, adjust rodes to lie amidst them. Rode of 4:1 instead of 7:1 ok.
3. Drop two anchors, fore and aft. Drop first one away from the direction the boat will move or drift. Let out 8:1 rode. Drop second one, then back down toward the first until front and back both have 4:1 rodes.
   
   1. WAIT – one of these lines has to be 7:1 to hold. So maybe let out 11:1 rode on the first, drop second then back down to a mix of 7:1 and 4:1
4. Drop one anchor then take a line ashore to achor a second line to a dock, piling, tree, etc.

Question 20

Describe four ways to retrieve a fouled anchor

Answer 20

1. Use pre-set buoy and trip line
2. Power away from the diretion the flukes set
3. Use boat hook, grapnel, or weighted line try and move the obstruction, lift an overlying cable, etc.
4. Dive to it

Question 21

When and how to use a trip line and buoy

Answer 21

When – some expectation of a stuck anchor – “rky” botton, area of cables, old anchors, et.

How, tie a trip line at the crown of the anchor so line will pull in the directino of the flukes. Tie buoy at point of line each to depth so that it floats over the anchor.

When ready to retrive, may have to disconnect rode from boat and float it off separately. You want shank lying flat on bottom, reducing any resistance.

Then use trip line to pull away from the diretion the flukes set.

Question 22

Describe when and how to set an anchor watch and the responsibilities of such a watch

Answer 22

1. Ensure GPS set to thousands of min and alarm is set (if available). Record GPS position. Could record Not to Exceed values – allowing for swing, etc.
2. Determine bearings, transits, other markers of position
3. Check weather for changes in wind, current, conditions
4. Based on that, plan anchor watch interval
5. Set alarm

Responsibilities

1. Determine if position secure, reset alarm
2. If position not secure
   
   1. Determine severity of situation
   2. Wake others if severe; alert other boat(s) if severe
   3. If not severe, plan out actions first, wake when needed
      
      1. More rode
      2. Second / third anchor
      3. Re-anchor
      4. Leave
   4. Ensure doing safely, particularly when alone – PDFs, harnesses if needed

Question 23

If coming alongside another boat, approach from the _____ side while both boats moving ahead slowly, and try to have the two boats’ _______ meet before the bow.

Answer 23

leeward; quarters

Question 24

Describe how to perpare a towing bridle

Answer 24

A line between two strong points on rear of boat.

Long enough to distribute load of two line.

Tow line fastened to the middle of the bridle.

All lines clear of anything on deck (stanchions, etc.)

KEEP LINES AWAY FROM PROPELLERS

Question 25

Describe how to pass a tow line

Answer 25

Pass a tow line as you would any dock line rope, splitting the coil into two hands, the non-tossing hand open to allow uncoiling, the other coil thrown.

BE MINDFUL OF PROPELLERS

Potentially use polypopylene line as a feeder line to then pull across a heavier line line the rode

Question 26

Describe how to get underway and what speeds to use

Answer 26

1. Establish hand signals. Ahead slow, ahead, stop, reverse, reverse slow
2. If pulling off grounding, move crew or weight to most favorable position to help.
3. If pulling off grounding, consider a kedge anchor or another line to heel the boat.
4. Be careful of reverse direction or anything else that might harm the rudder.
5. Everyone out of the way of a snapping line. On both boats!
6. Slowly draw lines taught. Check lines.
7. Begin tow. May need rocking if coming off grounding.
8. Slow speed until moving.
9. Higher speeds at limitation of boat being towed.
10. Lengthen line between boats as speed increases.

Question 27

Describe how to avoid fouling the rudder while towing

Answer 27

1. Use polypropylene lines
2. Keep lines held snug between boats before actually towing
3. Slowly let out line as boats move apart slowly
4. Stay out of the direction of potential line breakage

Question 28

Describe how to make proper lookout arrangements

Answer 28

One or two crew always designated as lookout.

Doesn’t have to be helmsman.

Assign most conscientious crew to this job

Remember the Titanic…

Question 29

Question to ask if offered a tow

Answer 29

1. Are you a tow service? If yes, then how much do you charge?

If no, ask if they have experience towing?

Question 30

Tow preparation considerations

Answer 30

1. Consider strongest line (maybe rode)
2. Small boat, attach to a keel stepped mast (never to a deck-stepped)
3. Larger boat, attach to the mast or strong through hull cleat at bow
4. Wrap excess line around strongest cockpit winch a few times and tighten to offset load about to be pulled forward on the cleat or mast
5. Pass through a chock or fairlead, using protection against chafe.
6. Contact towwer on VHF, explain need, condition of boat, max speed under tow
7. Ensure towwer is using a bridle

Question 31

Why is it important to remain aboard during a tow?

Answer 31

To avoid claims of a salvage ownership

Question 32

List from memory the visual distress signals from USCG publications

Answer 32

Orange only in the day; Red either in the day or night

three red self-propelled rocket flares or pistol-projected

three handheld red flares

three floating orange smoke (white is merely a location marker, not distress)

three handheld orange smoke

strobes, electric light, flashlight

orange flag with black square and circle

Question 33

How should boat be handled?

Answer 33

1. Ensure everyone ok. Don emergency equipment, Jacklines, Harnesses.
2. Keep any aspect of broken spar from further harming the hull or boat. Temporary fenders, etc.
3. Get it back on board (better option), or
   
   1. Cut it lose (lines, sails, shackles, turnbuckles) then let it sink
   2. # 1 a better options as you may need all those parts in a jerry-rigged ride home, it takes longer to cut it lose, doing so may require hanging overboard
4. Begin thinking of jerry rigged approach
   
   1. Creatively use remaining sails to get some seaway
      2.

Question 34

What to do when shroud breaks

Answer 34

1. IMMEDIATELY depower ALL sails.
2. Remove all stresses from the side of the mast which broke.
3. Move broken side to leeward side of the boat
4. Consider using a halyard to take up side pressure, potentially running it through the end of the spreader now empty. Tighten very hard.
5. Nurse the boat along using jerry-rigged approach

Question 35

What should be done when water doesn’t flow out of exhaust

Answer 35

1. Stop engine immediately
2. Check thru-hull in right position
3. Check raw-water strainer
4. Check nothing under boat blocking in-flow
5. Check water pump operational; impeller ok
6. Bypass thermostat?

Question 36

What to do when engine fails in an crowded anchorage

Answer 36

1. Determine dangerous areas, channels, wind direction
2. Hoist some sail to give leeway
3. Someone on the boathook

Question 37

What to do when engine fails in busy channel

Answer 37

1.

Question 38

State fuel capacity and impacts on range

Answer 38

Argo II ~28 gallons

Impacts on the range

1. Amount of engine use / start/stop impact / needed for charging when not moving
2. Engine tuning / health
3. RPMs when in use; not over “best” for optimal speed forward
4. Wind, waves and current vs. general course planned
5. Motorsailing or not
6. Differential weight aboard likely a small impact

Question 39

What is water tank capacity and allowance for water use each day

Answer 39

Argo II 85 gallons

Allowance:

1. Consumption 1/2 gallon per day (in normal temperatures) per person
2. 5 gallons per day for showers, cleaning, cooking (is this per person?)

10 day trip, four people:

Consumption = 10*4*1/2 = 20 gallons

Daily usage = 5*10 = 20 gallons

Total = 70 gallons

Question 40

Describe different flags and uses

Answer 40

1. National flag – The Ensign (two choices in US –> national flag or yacht ensign)
   
   1. The horizontal measurement being 1” for each 1’ of boat length
   2. 8 a.m. to sunset with three exceptions
      
      1. Not flown on a sailing boat
      2. Out-of-sight of other boats
      3. Also flown at night when entering or leaving a port
2. The Burgee – yacht club or sailing organization, usually at top of mast
3. Private flag – of meaning to the owner
4. Yellow quarantine flag – flown in foreign waters pre-pratique
5. Courtesy flag – host country only flow post-pratique

Question 41

List the documents required and procedures when entering/leaving US waters

Answer 41

1. Documentation
   
   1. Boat hull numbers + certificate + registration
   2. Passports / visas of those aboard
   3. Clearances for pets
   4. Exit paperwork from last place visited
   5. (Placard aboard on oil and waste management)
   6. (Navigation rules aboard)
2. Procedures
   
   1. Review cruising guide for points of contact
   2. Contact harbor or dock officials for anchorage
   3. Fly Q flag on starboard spreader
   4. Take documents and cash ashore in a water tight holder
      
      1. Either just captain or entire crew goes
   5. Check in with dock master then proceed to customs/immigration
      
      1. No other activities before that
   6. Replace Q flag with Courtesy flag