Practice Tests | Intermediate Cruising Skills for Sailboats

Description

In order to set realistic expectations, please note: These questions are NOT official questions that you will find on the official exam. These questions DO cover all the material outlined in the knowledge sections below. This is not an instructional course, it is a set of practice exams to help prepare you for the official exam based on official test material.

NOTE: This course should not be your only study material to prepare for the official exam. These practice tests are meant to supplement topic study material.

Intermediate Cruising Standard

The Intermediate Cruising Standard course follows the Basic Crew or Basic Cruising standards in the Sail Canada keelboat and cruising training system.

Prerequisites

Requirements prior to taking the standard: Basic Cruising Standard, ROC(M) VHF with DSC endorsement, Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card (or equivalent), Sail Canada Basic Coastal Navigation standard.

Recommended prior to taking the standard: Recognized standard first aid and CPR certificate, Sail Canada Intermediate Coastal Navigation standard.

Note: To maximize the likelihood of successfully completing the Intermediate Cruising Standard, a student should:

• Have experience as skipper of at least ten day sails (or equivalent),

• Have applied the knowledge and practised the skills in the Basic Cruising Standard,

• Be able to consistently demonstrate the skills learned in the Basic Cruising Standard.

ASHORE KNOWLEDGE

Section I: Planning

The candidate must be able to:

• State the fuel tank capacity and range of the candidate’s boat and list the factors that could affect the range of the boat under power;

• State the water capacity of the selected boat and the minimum daily water requirements of a person and methods of conserving water;

• State the causes, prevention and cures for seasickness and describe the impact seasickness has on crew effectiveness;

• List the appropriate personal clothing and safety gear for cruising and describe how its choice is related to safety and comfort;

• Discuss menu planning and relate it to suitability for the day’s activities;

• Describe provisioning requirements and the factors to consider in stocking the vessel;

• List the minimum contents of a first aid kit for a one week cruise in familiar waters;

• Know the spare engine parts one might deem prudent for a one week cruise in familiar waters;

• Know the minimum set of tools required for a one week cruise in local waters;

• Describe the general procedures to be followed and the documents required for entering a country after leaving another country, and the current procedures for marine travel between Canada and the USA.

Section II: Living Afloat & Boat Systems

The candidate must be able to:

• Discuss galley procedures in order to minimize the danger of fire, scalding or other galley accidents;

• Describe the common cooking systems (stoves and fuels) with respect to safe procedures for the operation of appliances, including safety checks, igniting appliances and system shut down, convenience, speed of cooking and costs;

• Discuss the common types of cabin heaters with respect to safety, convenience and cost;

• Describe the principle elements of the 120V and 12V vessel systems, their use, and considerations for proper battery management;

• Describe refrigeration system types and state two ways to conserve power when a vessel is        equipped with an electric refrigeration system;

• Describe water distribution systems with multiple tanks and various styles of pumps;

• Describe the proper operating procedures for the head and holding tank, list the precautions necessary to prevent malfunction and identify issues relating to holding tank capacity;

• Identify boating environmental issues, with particular reference to responsible disposal of waste and management of pollutants;

• Describe the safe operation of an anchor windlass, including appropriate vessel handling while using this equipment;

• Differentiate between various sail handling systems and discuss handling and operational considerations of a particular combination of systems including furling systems (foresail, mainsail in mast, and mainsail in boom) and mainsail flaking systems.

Section III: Weather

The candidate must be able to:

• Describe the effect of local heating and cooling of land and water as related to wind and cloud formation;

• Identify conditions likely to lead to fog.

Section IV: Seamanship

The candidate must be able to:

• Describe the complete actions to be taken for the following:

  • Springing a leak,

  • Steering fails,

  • Grounding,

  • Fouling a propeller,

  • Dragging anchor,

  • Collision with another vessel,

  • Fire,

  • Propane leak,

  • Engine failure in an anchorage too crowded to permit safe sailing,

  • Engine failure in a busy channel,

  • Engine cooling water fails to flow;

• Describe in detail two methods of getting a crew overboard back aboard;

• Describe three methods of recovering fouled anchors;

• Describe options for stowing and securing a dinghy when snugging down for the night;

• Describe handling considerations (including stowage, launching/retrieving and towing) and differences between an inflatable dinghy, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and a rigid dinghy;

• Describe precautions for safe handling of an outboard motor for the tender and actions to take in the event of accidental submersion;

• Describe the methods of rafting at anchor and dangers involved;

• State the factors to be considered before allowing anyone to go swimming while the boat is at anchor;

• Describe the information required and the procedures to be followed when tying a boat to a fixed dock in local tidal conditions;

• Describe how to secure the boat with an anchor on the bow or stern and the other end made fast to dock or shore;

• Describe a seamanlike method of preparing a boat in order that it may be left at the dock or on a mooring for a period of a week or more without crew;

• Describe the responsibilities of skipper and crew for the following courtesies, customs and legal obligations:

  • Permission to board,

  • Permission and entitlement to come alongside,

  • Courtesy in crossing adjacent boats when rafted,

  • Rights of first boat at an anchorage,

  • Keeping clear of boats racing (even though cruising boats may be the stand-on vessel),

  • Flag etiquette:

    • National Flag,

    • Courtesy flag,

    • Burgee / house flag,

  • Offering assistance to other yachts in trouble,

  • Alcohol consumption;

• Describe the characteristics, limitations and uses of the following rope:

  • Polypropylene,

  • Dacron,

  • Nylon,

  • High modulus fibres.

Section V: Navigation & Passage Planning

The candidate must be able to:

• Convert directions between true, magnetic and compass, using the compass rose on a current chart;

• Determine speed, time and distance when two are known;

• Determine estimated time of arrival (ETA) and revised ETA.

• Identify sources of navigation information and use this information in route planning.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to safely operate the vessel in daytime in moderate conditions as both skipper and crew. These capabilities will be evaluated as part of the practical sessions. Candidate theory knowledge will be evaluated using a closed book written exam.

For certification a 70% mark on this written exam is required.

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