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US
Sailing Basic Cruising Certification
Purpose
To responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary powered cruising
sailboat during daylight hours within sight of land in moderate sea
and wind conditions. This class is taught aboard either a
J80, a
J105 or a
J120 depending on the class.
Prerequisite
U S Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification
Current US Sailing membership
J World classes to obtain Basic Cruising
certification
Performance Cruising - Five Days
Performance Cruising - Two Weekends
Live-aboard Cruising - Three days
Live-aboard Cruising - Five Days
Curriculum Overview
The Basic Cruising graduate will have successfully demonstrated the
ability to responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary powered
cruising sailboat, during daylight hours, within sight of land in
moderate wind and sea conditions.
Recommended Equipment: It is recommended that Basic Cruising
Certification courses and examinations be conducted on 23’ to 32’
sloop-rigged cruising keelboats with auxiliary power and with
adequate equipment inventory to complete all required certification
outcomes.
Prerequisite: The prerequisite for Basic Cruising
Certification is Basic Keelboat Certification.
Certification Requirements: Basic Cruising Certification
requires the successful completion of the following knowledge and
skill requirements. These requirements are expected to be able to be
performed safely with confident command of the boat in a wind range
of 5 to 15 knots. Some regions may have stronger prevailing
conditions, which are acceptable if the candidate can safely control
the boat, and be aware of his or her limitations in these
conditions. The certified candidate will be able to skipper a
keelboat up to 32 feet in length.
Practical Skills
Preparation to Sail:
1. Demonstrate ability to recognize and forecast prevailing local
weather conditions.
2. Perform an inspection of running rigging, standing rigging and
hull integrity.
3. Check the inventory, location and operation of required safety
equipment.
4. Check the auxiliary power systems (as applicable to your boat):
location and operation of engine controls, engine mechanical and
fluids check, transmission controls, ventilation system and cooling
system.
5. Check the electrical system (as applicable to your boat): main
battery switch, electrical control panel and battery terminals.
6. Check the bilge pump system (as applicable to your boat):
operation of manual and electrical pumps, intake maintenance and
bilge pump alarms.
7. Check the head systems (as applicable to your boat): location of
controls, equipment operation, holding tanks and proper setting of
valves.
8. Check the fresh water system (as applicable to your boat):
adequate quantity, operation of manual and electrical pumps, and
proper setting of valves.
9. Check the anchoring system (as applicable to your boat): anchors,
shackles, rodes, chafing equipment and windlass.
10. Check all other equipment specific to your boat not indicated
above.
Crew Operations and Skills:
11. Demonstrate winch operation and the proper procedure for
clearing a fouled winch.
12. Demonstrate tying and use of knots: clove hitch, sheet bend and
rolling hitch. Review stopper knot, bowline, cleat hitch, round turn
& two half hitches and sail lashing knot.
13. Demonstrate how to heave a line.
14. Demonstrate the use of sail controls: halyards, sheets,
traveler, cunningham/downhaul, outhaul,
adjustable backstay (if applicable), boom vang, leech lines, jib
fairleads and boom toppinglift.
15. Demonstrate the operation of a VHF radio: operation of controls,
channel usage, call sign, weather
channels and simulate an emergency call.
16. Demonstrate a comprehensive crew briefing and plan of
responsibilities.
Leaving the Dock or Mooring:
17. Demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and
skills for departure under power
suitable to the conditions: line handling, casting off, fending off
and boathandling.
18. Demonstrate the use of docklines, including springlines, for
boat control while departing.
19. Demonstrate stowing of docklines and fenders.
Boat Control in Confined Waters:
20. Demonstrate in close quarters under power: speed and momentum
control, windage and prop walk
control, and command of the crew.
21. Demonstrate ability to maneuver under sail in close quarters:
short tacking and controlled jibes.
22. Demonstrate a recovery plan for an engine failure in a crowded
and busy harbor.
Navigation (Piloting):
23. Demonstrate ability to identify chart symbols and corresponding
visual observations.
24. Demonstrate basic dead reckoning: plotting course and position,
calculating time/speed/distance,
taking bearings and fixes.
Boat Control in Open Water:
25. Demonstrate ability to steer a compass course with changes in
course to a given destination.
26. Demonstrate helm and boat control in a variety of wind and sea
conditions.
Heavy Weather Sailing:
27. Demonstrate proper reefing techniques: determining when to reef,
roller furling or changing
headsails, reefing the mainsail, dropping sails, shaking out a reef,
and rehoisting underway.
28. Demonstrate helm and boat control while sailing under shortened
sail.
Overboard Recovery Methods:
29. Properly demonstrate one of the overboard recovery methods,
which is most appropriate for: your
sailing ability, boat type, crew experience, wind and sea
conditions, and maintaining constant
visual contact with the victim.
Safety and Emergency Procedures:
30. Simulate procedure and operation of VHF radio in various
emergency situations.
31. Simulate failure of steering system, and demonstrate steering
and boat control with sails.
Anchoring Techniques:
32. Select an anchorage, and demonstrate appropriate helmsman and
crew coordination and skills for
properly anchoring with a single anchor under power.
33. Demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and
skills for retrieving your anchor under
power.
Returning to the Dock or Mooring:
34. Demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and
skills for arrival under power suitable
to the conditions: boathandling, deploying fenders, stopping and
tying up.
35. Demonstrate correct use and deployment of docklines, including
springlines.
Securing the Boat Properly:
36. Demonstrate stowing of sails, rigging and equipment. Thoroughly
clean the boat, and install any
covers and dock power equipment.
37. Check both the electrical and bilge systems for dock operation.
38. Check the locks on companionway, lockers and hatches. Make a
final check of docklines, spring lines
and fender placement.
Knowledge
Crew Operations and Skills:
1. Describe typical crew responsibilities and communications while
aboard an auxiliary powered cruising
sailboat.
2. Explain weather recognition and forecasting techniques for a day
sail.
3. Explain the sequence for determining blocked engine cooling
system circulation.
4. Understand the different types and operation of stoves, and fuel
systems.
5. Be familiar with the use of a float plan.
6. Understand your state and local boating regulations.
Sailing Theory:
7. Describe sailboat dynamics: Center of Effort, Center of Lateral
Resistance, and effects and influences
of lee and weather helm.
8. Describe real and apparent wind, and their relationship to each
other.
Leaving the Dock or Mooring:
9. Understand the effects of wind, tide and currents in relation to
the boat and surrounding area, while
preparing to get underway.
10. Describe the differences and alternatives for leaving under
power in upwind, crosswind and downwind
situations.
Navigation (Piloting):
11. Be familiar with magnetic influences that may disrupt compass
readings.
12. Understand variation and describe the use of compass rose.
Navigation Rules, International-Inland:
13. Know the Navigation Rules, International-Inland, Rules 4 through
10 for steering and sailing.
14. 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.
Boat Control in Open Water:
15. Explain the dangers of a lee shore.
Overboard Recovery Methods:
16. Understand the Quick-Stop, Lifesling-type, and Quick-Turn
overboard recovery methods under sail to
include: constant visual contact with the victim, communications,
recovery plan, sequence of maneuvers, boathandling, course sailed,
pickup approach and coming alongside the victim (or simulated
object).
17. Describe methods of getting an overboard recovery victim back on
deck after the vessel is stopped
alongside.
18. Explain when overboard recovery should be done under power and
the inherent dangers.
Safety and Emergency Procedures:
19. Describe recovery methods after going aground.
20. Be familiar with fire fighting equipment on board: regulations,
types, location and operation.
21. Be familiar with the location and operation of emergency
steering system and boat control during
failure of the steering system.
22. Understand towing techniques: maneuvering onto a tow, handling
and securing a towline, chafing
protection, boat speed, dropping off a tow and communications.
23. Describe the proper function of lifelines and pulpits.
24. Explain proper fueling techniques and potential hazards.
25. Explain the purpose and use of a radar reflector.
26. Be familiar with the U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements for
auxiliary powered vessels.
27. Be familiar with at least six distress or emergency signals.
Anchoring Techniques:
28. Explain different types of anchors and various bottom conditions
suited for each type.
29. Explain how to determine the required scope of an anchor rode.
30. Describe accepted etiquette when anchoring in the vicinity of
other boats.
Returning to the Dock or Mooring:
31. Describe the differences and alternatives for arrival under
power in upwind, crosswind and
downwind situations.
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