ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising

ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising  Sailboat Terminology 

What will you learn in ASA 103

  • Identify and describe the following cruising sailboat parts, areas, or systems  and their functions:
    • • Turnbuckle Chainplate Stemhead Fitting Rudder Post Transom Compass Binnacle  Cockpit Locker Emergency Tiller Saloon Companionway Galley V-berth Auxiliary  Engine Bilge Bilge Pump Seacock Ground Tackle Windlass Hatch Through-hull  Fitting Self-bailing Cockpit 
  • Safety Equipment & Procedures 
    • List the federally required equipment for a 33-foot recreational vessel  equipped with an inboard diesel engine. 
    • Describe the characteristics and benefits of Personal Flotation Devices  (PFD’s), both Wearable (Life Jackets) and Throwable. 
    • List the ASA recommended safety equipment for a recreational sailing vessel. 
    • Describe ways to keep gear and equipment secure and in their proper  location. 
    • Describe the purpose and proper use of a safety harness and tether. 
    • Describe safe refueling procedures for a vessel equipped with an outboard  engine using gasoline or a diesel engine using diesel fuel. 
  • Navigation & Weather 
    • Demonstrate understanding of basic coastal navigation terminology and  practices, including 
    • Essential navigator’s tools Use of navigation charts and symbols Depth soundings  Bottom types Hazards Aids to navigation Latitude / Longitude Determining  magnetic direction Measuring distance 
    • Describe how to prevent undue magnetic influence on a compass. 10. Describe the dangers of, and how to avoid, a ‘lee shore.’ 
    • Obtain and interpret marine weather information; describe the impact that  present observations and forecasts may have on sailing plans for the next 6  -12 hours. 
    • Describe and identify Cumulonimbus clouds and what dangers they may  signify. 
    • Define ‘small craft advisory’ and ‘gale warning’ and describe precautions to  be taken for each. 
  • Sail Plan 
    • Describe the appropriate sail combinations to carry under the following  wind conditions: light (0-11 knots), moderate (12-19 knots), and heavy (20-33  knots).
    • Describe the procedures for reducing sail using a roller furling jib and a  mainsail reefing system. 
    • Describe the benefits of, and procedures for, heaving-to. 
  • Seamanship 
    • Describe the primary responsibilities of skipper and crew. 
    • For elements 18 – 23, describe, using diagrams as appropriate, the applicable rules for  a 33-foot recreational sailing vessel, as found in the USCG Navigation Rules and  Regulations Handbook: 
    • Proceeding at a safe speed (Rule 6), determination of collision risk (Rule 7),  and taking early and substantial action to avoid collision (Rule 8). 
    • Sailing vessels (Rule 12), overtaking (Rule 13), and power-driven vessels in  head-on (Rule 14) and crossing (Rule 15) situations. 
    • Give-way and Stand-on vessels (Rules 16 & 17). 
    • Location, color and illumination angles of required navigation lights at  anchor, under sail, and under power. 
    • Actions to be taken when operating a vessel in restricted visibility such as  fog or haze including adaptation of speed and use of sound signals. 
    • Basic maneuvering and warning signals (short and prolonged whistle blasts)  for inland waters. 
    • Describe the appearance and purpose of the ‘Diver Down’ and ‘Alpha’ flags. 
    • Describe common anchor types, major considerations for anchorage  selection, and proper scope for short term and overnight anchoring as well as  storm conditions. 
  • Emergencies 
  • Describe the three stages of hypothermia; name symptoms and treatment  for each. 
    • First stage: shivering, reduced circulation; 
    • Second stage: slow, weak pulse, slowed breathing, lack of co-ordination, irritability, confusion and sleepy  behaviour; 
    • Advanced stage: slow, weak or absent respiration and pulse. 
  • Describe two methods for getting a person out of the water and safely back  on board the vessel. 
  • Identify common sources and prevention of fires and/or explosions, as well  as appropriate actions to be taken if these situations arise. Describe different  types of fires and procedures for operating a fire extinguisher.
  • Describe immediate actions to be taken when the following urgent  situations arise: 
    • • Cabin filling with water 
    • • Failed steering system 
    • • Fouled propeller 
    • • Failed running or standing rigging 
    • • Dragging anchor 
    • • Grounding at anchor 
    • • Running aground under sail 
    • • Engine failure 
  • SKILLS 
  • Preliminaries 
    • Locate and examine for compliance the vessel’s federally required and ASA  recommended safety equipment. 
    • Demonstrate on shore or aboard the vessel the correct method for putting  on a life jacket while in the water. 
    • Identify the vessel’s battery selector switch and power distribution panel  and ensure all switches are in the proper position for getting underway. 
    • Ensure navigation lights (sidelights, stern light, steaming light, and anchor  light) operate properly. 
    • Perform a radio check using a working channel on the VHF radio. 
  • Navigation 
    • Visually pilot the training vessel in and out of a harbor, correlating nautical  chart symbols to actual landmarks and aids to navigation. 
    • .Steer a compass course (+/- 5 degrees) under power for a minimum of five  minutes. 
  • Under Power 
    • Visually inspect the auxiliary engine and demonstrate safe engine starting,  operating, and stopping procedures. Demonstrate proper gearshift and throttle  usage. 
    • Ensure vessel & crew readiness and depart dock or slip smoothly and under  control. 
    • Approach a mooring buoy (or other mark as a simulation if no mooring  available); stop the vessel within boathook reach; attach the vessel to the 
    • mooring using an appropriate line or bridle; cast off from the mooring and get  underway. 
    • Set a bow anchor in water depth 8 feet or greater, using correct procedures  including hand signal communication, vessel maneuvers, safety in handling  ground tackle, and proper operation of windlass (if equipped). Anchor should  hold with engine in reverse gear at one-half throttle. Raise anchor and get  underway smoothly using correct procedures. 
    • Describe and demonstrate the correct actions to be taken while under  power from the time a person falls overboard until safely recovered. 
  • Under Sail 
    • Hoist or unfurl sails correctly using halyards and / or furling devices.  Describe the effect on sail trim or performance while adjusting each of the  following lines and controls (if available on the practice vessel): 
    • • downhaul or cunningham outhaul boom vang mainsheet traveler jibsheets  jibsheet fairleads Discuss ways to reduce heeling. 
    • Demonstrate correct winch operation, including safety considerations for  line tension / breakage, hand / finger position, winch handle insertion /  removal, and clearing overrides. 
    • Without coaching or assistance, verbalize appropriate commands and demonstrate  competence, safety and good seamanship in the role of Skipper / Helmsman during  the maneuvers listed below. Honor all aids to navigation and use properly the  Navigation Rules. Ensure sails are trimmed correctly and the vessel is in control at all  times. Adjust sail controls appropriately as the vessel’s heading changes and wind /  sea conditions evolve. 
    • Get out of ‘irons’ then select and maintain a given tack and course. 
    • Head Up, Tack, Bear Away, and Jibe while pausing briefly at each of the  following points of sail: Close Hauled, Close Reach, Beam Reach, Broad Reach,  and Run (with sails “wing on wing”). 
    • Heave-to and get sailing normally again. 
    • While underway, reduce sail area by reefing mainsail and genoa; then  shake out reef. 
    • As crew, give appropriate verbal responses and perform correct actions  during the maneuvers listed above. 
    • Describe and demonstrate the correct actions to be taken while under sail  from the time a person falls overboard until safely recovered.
    • Lower and/or furl all sails and coil or flake and stow all lines properly. 
  • Return to Dock/Slip 
    • Ensure vessel / crew readiness and use the auxiliary engine to bring the  vessel smoothly and under control to a stop next to a parallel dock or into a  slip; secure the vessel using appropriate lines and fenders. 
  • Knots 
    • Describe the purpose of, and construct without assistance and in a timely  manner, each of the following knots: • Figure-8 Square (Reef) Knot Clove Hitch Round Turn & 2 Half Hitches Cleat Hitch  Bowline Sheet Bend Rolling Hitch

If you have any questions, please contact Captain Rene at (586) 770-2518

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