US SAILING Lessons and Sailing School></td>
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A score of 71% is required to pass the Novice Sailing Test

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1. You fall overboard and a rope is thrown to you.  What Knot should you use to tie the rope to your harness ?

Square Knot or Sheet Bend.
Cleat Hitch.
A Clove Hitch.
A Bowline or Fisherman's Bend.

2.  Which knot used to tie two ropes together?

Square Knot or Sheet Bend.
Cleat Hitch.
A Clove Hitch.
A Bowline or Fisherman's Bend.

3.  Which statement is TRUE about rope ?

Kevlar is a stronger rope than either Nylon or Dacron.
A woven three strand rope is stronger than a braided rope.
A braided nylon rope has the most stretch.
A knot will not appreciably decrease the strength of a rope.

4.  You wish to choose a dock line which has maximum stretch for your 30 foot sailboat, what type of rope would you choose ?

  Braided Dacron
  Three strand Dacron
  Braided Nylon
  Three strand Nylon
  Kevlar

5.  A novice sailor may use the following as a guide:  For maximum sailing efficiency, in mild to moderate winds, how far back from the luff (front edge of the sail) should the draft (point of maximum sail curvature) of a sail be ?

  10%
  30%
  45%
  60%
  The sail should be as flat as possible.
  The sail should be cupped.

6. The point of sail where the wind is blowing at a 90 degree angle to the long axis of the sailboat is a ?

  Beam Reach
  Broad Reach
  Close Reach
  Running
  Close Hauled
  In Irons

7. The Horn Signal used for a sailboat making way in fog or reduced visibility conditions is ?

  Three Short Blasts
  One Long Blast and Three Short Blasts
  Five Short Blasts
  Three Long Blasts
  One Long Blast and Two Short Blasts

8.  Which statement is TRUE :

  A sailboat on a port tack has the right of way when encountering a sailboat on a starboard tack.
  A sailboat must give way when it is overtaking a recreational powerboat.
  The sailboat downwind must give way to an upwind boat.
  A sailboat has the right of way when approaching a commercial fishing boat engaged in fishing.
  A sailboat has the right of way when approaching a tugboat pushing barges.

9.  Which line or cable does not attach to the top of the mast ?

  Boom Vang
  Backstay
  Boom Topping Lift
  Headstay
  Shroud

10.  Which line attaches to the bottom of a sail and is used to position or trim the sail ?

  Halyard
  Lifeline
  Rode
  Sheet

11.  A line which is attached to the end of the boom and run forward while running with the wind, to prevent the boom from swinging during an accidental jibe,  is called a:

  Safety Line
  Rode
  Forward Sheet
  Preventer
  Halyard

12.  What type of a VHF call is for urgent assistance where there is not a grave imminent danger to the vessel or crew ?

  May Day
  Pan-pan
  Securite
  611

13  What is a chain plate ?

  The anchor is attached to it.
  It is used to attach the s
tanchion to the deck.
  It is used to attach the shroud to the deck.
  The plate which attaches the boom to the mast.
  Attaches the boom topping lift to the top of the mast.

14.  The prop walk generated by a right-handed prop will be expected to move a heavy-displacement cruiser sailboat initially in which direction when the motor's transmission is put in reverse ?

  Swing the stern to port
  Swing the bow to port
  Swing the stern to starboard
  Swing the bow to port
  Move the boat backwards

15.  Your sailboat is sailing at night.  What is the light configuration which should be displayed ?

A single white light on the mast
A white light shown 360 degrees, a red light to port and a green light to starboard
A white light shown 360 degrees, a green light to port and a red light to starboard
A white light shown aft (towards the stern), a red light to port and a green light to starboard
A white light shown aft (towards the stern), a green light to port and a red light to starboard

16.  As a general guideline, what is the ratio (scope) of how much rode (anchor line) to be let out to the depth of the water ?   Assume a combination chain and rope anchor in mild wind and seas.

1 to 1
3 to 1
7 to 1
10 to 1
14 to 1

17.  You are at anchor in a 35 foot LOA sailboat.  You have anchored in 25 feet of water and have let out 125 feet of chain rode.    The distance from the deck at the bow pulpit of your boat to the waterline is 4 feet.  What is the swing radius your boat may make around the anchor ?    (Note:  No one would ever calculate this for anchoring, however the question is present not just for fun but to familiarize you with the terms used in the calculation of the answer.)

  150 feet
  155 feet
  157 feet
  159 feet
  160 feet

18.  You find a sailor on deck who has severe shivering, has slurred speech and is starting to loose manual dexterity.  You should do the following:

  Give him stimulants such as coffee.
  Take the sailor down below and slowly warm him by applying external compresses or body heat.
  Rapidly warm the sailor.
  Massage his limbs to get his circulation going.

19.   You have to have your charter back at 4:30 PM it is now 3:45 PM.  Your current heading is directly toward the dock.  You are 3.7 nautical miles from the dock.   What speed will you have to travel to arrive at the dock in 35 mins. ?   

  5.86 Knots
  6.05 Knots
  6.27 Knots
  6.34 Knots
  6.53 Knots

20.  The battery power switch should be set on the following :

Place the switch on "1" before starting the engine and "All" after the engine is shut off.  This will allow maximum power when under sail.
Place the switch on "All" before starting the engine and to "1" or "2" right after the engine is turned off.
Place the switch on "All" before starting the engine and to "1" or "2" right after the engine starts running.
Always have the switch on "ALL" so both batteries are always used.

21.  The following is FALSE about an inboard diesel motor:

The "glow plug" control is turned on before starting the engine.
The engine is turned off by turning the ignition key to the off position.
The engine is turned off by killing the diesel fuel to the engine.
Before starting the engine, you should check the sea water coolant system by making sure the sea-strainer is not clogged.
After the engine starts, make sure it is spitting sea water out the exhaust port.

22.  You are in high wind conditions and must go to the mast to reef in the sails.  You are going to use your safety line and harness.  You should NOT attach your safety harness's tether to the following:

Life lines
Around the mast
To a heavy ring on the mast
To a heavy ring on the center of the deck
To a jackline

Identify the following structures on the diagrams to the right:   Click on the Pictures to Enlarge !!!

23.  Clew    6   7   8

24.  Tack   7   8

25.  Luff    1 4 8

26.  Cunningham Cringle 7  8

27.  Leech    8
                                                               
                                                                                   
                                                          
                                                             
                                                               
                                                      
                                                              
                                                             
                                                                          

28.  Boom Vang   H

29.  Stanchion   D H

30.  Shroud   H

31.  Headstay  A H

32.  Boom Topping Lift  E H

                                                        
   

33.  A high tide most often occurs how many times a day (although this may vary in different regions) ?

  Once a day.
  Twice a day.
  Three Times a day.
  Four Times a day.

34.  The picture on the right shows a sailboat that is :
 
(Picture Courtesy of Whitaker Creek Yacht Charters, NC)      click on picture to enlarge

  In danger of running aground because it is traveling between two daymarks.
  Is in deep water and about to lay anchor.
  Is leaving a harbor.
  Is approaching a harbor.
    

35.  Which of the following is true regarding the security zone around military, cruise and large merchant ships (such as an oil tanker) ?

The security zone is 1000 yards around all vessels.
The security zone is 250 yards around military vessel, ( 100 yards non-approach zone and another 150  yards zone with reduced speed  to the minimum speed to allow steerage. )
The non-approach security zone around military vessels is 500 yards and 100 yards around commercial shipping.
The reduced speed security zone to allow for steerage around all vessels is 100 yards .
The security zone is 500 yards around military vessel, ( 100 yards non-approach zone and another 400 yards zone with reduced speed  to the minimum speed to allow steerage. )
 

36.  Excessive heeling of a sailboat may :

Increase the leeway or lateral drift of the boat with the wind
because the keel is no longer near vertical.
Makes the boat harder to steer,
Slows the boat.
If a heavy iron keel is present, a heeling error in compass
readings may occur.
All of the Above

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