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BASIC KEELBOAT
REVIEW QUESTIONS

This hand-out is provided by Spinnaker Sailing to help you prepare for the
American Sailing Association Basic Keelboat Exam
© Spinnaker Sailing 1993, 2011
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1. Identify the following boat parts:

Lifelines ___________________________________________
Keel ___________________________________________
Cabin ___________________________________________
Bow ___________________________________________
Stern Pulpit ___________________________________________
Stern ___________________________________________
Bow pulpit ___________________________________________
Shroud ___________________________________________
Gooseneck ___________________________________________
Mast ___________________________________________
Headstay/Forestay ___________________________________________
Spreader ___________________________________________
Deck ___________________________________________
Traveler ___________________________________________
Boom ___________________________________________
Backstay ___________________________________________

2. Identify the following sail parts

Luff ___________________________________________
Clew ___________________________________________
Tack ___________________________________________
Head ___________________________________________
Leech ___________________________________________
Foot ___________________________________________
Battens ___________________________________________
Bolt Rope ___________________________________________
Hanks ___________________________________________
Genoa ___________________________________________
Mainsail ___________________________________________
Storm Jib ___________________________________________
Working Jib ___________________________________________
Spinnaker ___________________________________________

3. Describe the function of the following parts:

Cleat ___________________________________________
Blocks ___________________________________________
Tiller/Wheel ___________________________________________
Halyard(s) ___________________________________________
Mainsheet ___________________________________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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Fairlead ___________________________________________
Winch ___________________________________________
Jibsheet(s) ___________________________________________
Shackle ___________________________________________
Rudder ___________________________________________

4. Describe the function of the following parts:

Boom Topping Lift ___________________________________________

Outhaul ___________________________________________
Downhaul/Cunningham _________________________________________
Fenders ___________________________________________
Boomvang ___________________________________________
Spring/Breast Lines ___________________________________________
Stays ___________________________________________
Telltales ___________________________________________
Shrouds ___________________________________________

5. Define the following terms:

Windward ___________________________________________
Port ___________________________________________
Starboard ___________________________________________
Leeward ___________________________________________
Astern ___________________________________________
Abeam ___________________________________________
Helmsman ___________________________________________
Ahead ___________________________________________
Crew ___________________________________________
Skipper ___________________________________________
Running Rigging ___________________________________________
Tacking/Coming About _________________________________________
Sailing by-the-lee ___________________________________________
Standing Rigging ___________________________________________
Jibing ___________________________________________
Heel ___________________________________________
Aft ___________________________________________
Forward ___________________________________________
Beam ___________________________________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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6. Identify the windward and leeward boat in each of the following diagrams:

Wind Wind

7. Identify the point of sail for each boat in the diagram:

e
d

b Wind
c
f
a

a. ______________________________________
b. ______________________________________
c. ______________________________________
d. ______________________________________
e. ______________________________________
f. ______________________________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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8. Define the following terms:

Starboard Tack ___________________________________________

Luffing ___________________________________________
Port Tack ___________________________________________
Heading Up ___________________________________________
Sailing by the lee ___________________________________________
Bearing Away/Falling Off ________________________________________

9. Which boat is the give way boat? ________

10. Which boat is the give way boat? ________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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11. Which is the give way boat? _______

sailing fast
motoring slowly

Describe the rule that applies: _____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

12. Which is the give way boat? _______

motoring

Describe the rule that applies:

________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
sailing
________________________

13. Describe the action to be taken by sailboats when encountering vessels

that are engaged in fishing, towing, large ships in confined channels, etc?

__________________________________________________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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14. To whom should a float plan be filed? ____________________________

15. What is the FEDERAL blood alcohol content sufficient for arrest for intoxication?
________

16. What is the number of days allowed for an accident report with damage of more
than $2000 or loss of a vessel? (Not for loss of life.) _________

17. List three sources of navigation information for an area with which you are not
familiar. _________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

18. What is the best angle to cross shipping lanes in order to get across quickly?

______________________

19. Describe the pennants used for Small Craft Warnings and Gale Warnings.

20. Which way would you be traveling along a channel if you saw these buoys?

3 4 4 3

(green) (red) (red) (green)

21. What does the following buoy represent?

white red or

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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22. What do the following buoys represent?

23. List the required safety items for a 23 foot sailboat with outboard engine:
_______________________ ________________________
_______________________ ________________________
_______________________ ________________________

24. Where may plastics be disposed overboard? _______________________

25. Where may garbage be disposed overboard? _______________________

26. What is the fine for discharging oil in navigable waters of the US? _________

27. Where must registration numbers be located on a boat? _________________

28. What is the restriction regarding operating a motorboat in a swim area?

_____________________________

29. What is the Good Samaritan Rule of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971?
__________________________________________________________________

30. What does five or more short blasts from another vessel indicate? ____________

31. What does one short blast from another vessel indicate? ___________________

32. What does two short blasts indicate? ________________________

33. What color lights appear: Port side____________ Starboard side _________
at the stern_________________

34. What color light must be shown in addition to the above three when the vessel is
under power? _______________ Where is it shown? __________________
Which way does it face? _________________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com

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35. What is the purpose for the following knots?

Square Knot (Reef Knot) ____________________________
Bowline ____________________________
Cleat Hitch ____________________________
Figure Eight ____________________________
Round Turn & Two Half Hitches ___________________________
Clove Hitch ____________________________

36. What is the primary danger of sailing by-the-lee?

________________________________________

37. On which points of sail are the greatest danger of an accidental jibe?

_________________________ or ________________________________

38. While sailing on a close reach, name three observations to help determine proper
sail trim.
_____________________ _______________________ ____________________

© Spinnaker Sailing 1993-2007 http://www.spinnakersailing.com