Sailing Endorsement

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Sailing Endorsement


Credit: 0.2

Time: four hrs classroom; four weeks to complete online

Fee: $115; $50 when taken with any other course

Materials: Downloaded from Site

Sailing endorsement is needed by the master of the vessel only for inspected vessels. It is not needed for uninspected verssels such as a 6-pack.

Topic Hours

1 Types of Sailing Vessels 0.5

2 Parts of a Sailing Vessel 0.5

3 Watchkeeping: COLREGS and Inland Navigational Rules 1.0

4 Why Sailboats Fly 0.5

5 Maneuvers and Commands 0.5

6 Safety 1.0

Total Hours 4.0

Section 1.1 - Types of Sailing Vessels

Student will be able to identify common type sailing vessels such as

  • Catboat
  • Sloop  
  • Cutter
  • Yawl
  • Ketch
  • Schooner

Section 2.1 - Rules of the Road

The student will have a working understand of the Navigation Rules and their application to sailing vessels

  1. Navigation Rules
  2. RULE - Responsibility.
  3. RULE - General Definitions
  4. RULE - Look-out
  5. RULE - Risk of Collision
  6. RULE - Action to Avoid Collision
  7. RULE - Narrow Channel
  8. RULE - Traffic Separation Schemes
  9. RULE - Sailing Vessels
  10. RULE - Overtaking
  11. RULE - Head on Situation
  12. RULE - Crossing Situation
  13. RULE - Action by Give-way Vessel
  14. RULE - Action by Stand on Vessel
  15. RULE - Responsibilities Between Vessels
  16. RULE - Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
  17. RULE - Application Lights and Shapes
  18. RULE - Power Driven Vessels Underway
  19. RULE - Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars
  20. RULE - Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground
  21. RULE - Maneuvering and Warning Signals
  22. RULE - Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility
  23. RULE - Distress Signals

Section 3.1 - Parts of a sailing vessel

The student will have a working knowledge of the various parts of sailing vessels. To work safely around a sailboat you must know the terms for the various parts of the boat and its components.

· Sails – parts of sails.

· Basic types of sails for various vessels

· Rigging – standing, running, sail trimming

· Parts of the vessel proper – hull, mast, and controls

Section 4.1 - Why sailboats fly

The student will have an understanding of the principals of aerodynamics related to sailing vessels

  1. Sailboat can not travel directly into the wind
  2. Center of resistance
  3. Center of effort based  
  4. Weather and Lea Helm
  5. True and apparent winds
  6. Changing center of effort impacts on sailing

SECTION 5.1 - Manuvers and Commands

The student will have an understanding of how to maneuver a sailing vessel under sail

  1. Tacking
  2. Jibing.
  3. Point of Sail
  4. Maneuvering and operating Sails
  5. Heaving To

Section 6.1 - SafTey

The student will have a working knowledge of the safety issues with a sailing vessel.There are many safety issues with sailing vessels. We are covering several of the more important issues and concerns.

1. Man over board

2. Dangers and Concerns

  • Gaff rig
  • Accidental Jibing
  • Head reach
  • Boom
  • Visibility

3. Lines  

4. Anchoring

5. Winch

  • Loading Winches
  • Tailing Winches
  • Grinding Winches
  • Never have jewelry, scarves, or loose clothing,
  • Easing Line
  • Releasing Line  Emergency Measures