Here is a nice little test of your nautical knowledge - - just 50 or so questions - - see how you do (answers are below)
Answer
the following nautical trivia questions.
- If you are sailing on the Gulf of Mexico and you see cirrocumulus clouds
(mackerel sky), what kind of weather would you expect?
- Clear skies and fine, but breezy
sailing
- An oncoming cold front
- A general warming
- Generally deteriorating conditions
- What is the first thing you should do
if you wake up to find the bilge filled with gas fumes?
- Quickly reach for the Halon fire
extinguisher
- Turn off the electrical switch to the
batteries or shore-power cord.
- Open all the ports as soon as
possible
- Evacuate the boat
- A powerboat not making way in
restricted visibility should sound ______ prolonged blasts on the fog horn
every two minutes.
- You are underway on course 090 degrees
magnetic at 8 knots. After two
hours, you are on your track line but two miles behind your DR plot. What is the set and drift of the
current?
- What are the three factors
contributing to the height of a normal (non-seismic) wave?
6.
Sailors
know that sail trimming must satisfy two goals: Keep the boat sailing ________
and in _________
7.
When
retrieving the anchor, what term is used to indicate that the anchor has
cleared the bottom?
8.
When a
vessel is set off course from a quartering sea, it is referred to as ___________
9. A telltale or a flag attached to a shroud
on a docked boat will indicate the true
or apparent wind
direction.
10. A Sheepshank knot is commonly used by
lobstermen to ____________ _____ __________.
11. Reading the wind: How do you know when a
rainstorm is ending? Northeast-to-south
winds shifting to the east or west usually signal a storm’s
break.
12. You are approaching a drawbridge that will
open any time upon request. What signal
should be sounded with your horn to request that the bridge be opened?
13. A boat with the right-of-way in a head on
or crossing situation is referred to as the _______ ______ vessel.
14. A centerboard does not have to be down
when: beating; running; or reaching.
15. __________
____________ is a general term to describe the anchor, rode, fittings,
etc. used to anchor a boat.
16.
What
is the electronic instrument you’ll bless most when cruising or
passagemaking?
17. In a crew-overboard situation, where should
the life ring be thrown?
- behind and beyond the victim
- to the right of the victim
- in front of the victim
18. An anchor rode should be previously “_________” to facilitate free
running when cast overboard.
19. VHF (Marine Band) Communications: Which of
the following channels should be utilized for distress, safety, and calling
transmissions?
- 13
- 16
- 22a
- 24
- 27
- 71
- 72
20.Seacocks should be cycled (opened/closed) on a regular basis
to prevent corrosion buildup and they should be lubricated every “_________”
months.
21. Neap tides (lower highs, higher lows) occur
twice a month on the “_________” and “___________” quarters of the moon.
22.A tug pushing a barge down the Columbia River would measure
the trip in “______________” miles.
23.Boat hooks are good tools for fending off…… true or false???
24.Cruising in open water, the mate sights a float with a small
flag in the distance, indicating the presence of a:
- fish net
- race marker
- sunken vessel
- diver
- any one of the above
25.
Considering
that a line’s strength is diminished in varying degrees when tied with
different knots…… would a bowline or an anchor bend be preferable when rigging
a towline to a boat’s towing eye? ________ ________ .
26.
How
far will you travel in 45 minutes if your boat speed is 6 knots?
27.What does an symbol in the shape of an anchor on a chart
indicate to the navigator?
28.Onboard toggle switches and circuit breakers can become
frozen/corroded and may not work properly.
It is recommended that all toggle switches and breakers be cycled on and
off on a ______________ basis.
29.Sailboats may incorporate a _________ sail to
dampen the effect of the boat moving to and fro while at anchor.
30.If your dock-lines are becoming stiff due to age or exposure
to the sun, try soaking them overnight in a liquid __________ __________.
31. The navigation rules are not explicit,
however, it may be inferred that a boat emerging from a slip or berth does or does not have the right of way.
32.VHF Communications:
Which channel on the VHF radio should be used to contact a bridge tender
at a draw bridge?
33.You are cruising 20 miles offshore. You observe a yellow flare off your starboard
bow… What does this indicate?
34.When a vessel is kept meticulously in every detail, it is said
to be in ___________ ____________.”
35.There is a new launch driver at your yacht club. You are happy to see that he is dropping off
and picking up passengers on the proper side of the boats… which side is the
proper side?
36.
Using
a scope of six, how many feet of rope should be used in five fathoms of
water? _____________
37.A propane fire is best extinguished by: (a) dousing with
water; (b) using a Type B or C extinguisher; or (c) by shutting off the propane
supply.
38.Navigation lights (red/green bow, white stern, (and white
steaming light if motoring) must be displayed in conditions of reduced
visibility (fog, rain, snow, etc.) and between ________________ and
_______________ .
39.As fog envelops you, you should slow the boat to a speed that
will allow you to stop in _____ ______ the distance of your
visibility. For example, if your
visibility is 200 feet, you should be able to stop in ________ feet.
40.When departing a dock, peer or float with your bow into the
wind and/or current…… you should push off the Bow or Stern first.
41. Lighthouses that flash alternating lights
of different colors have two ranges of visibility – one for white light and
another ______ shorter for red or green lights.
A. 25% B. 40% C. 50%
42.The direction and force the winds seems to have when observed
from a vessel in motion is referred to as ___________ wind.
43.Typically, what is the minimum angle a close-hauled boat can
“point into the wind”?
44.Cruising at night, you observe a vessel with a flashing amber
light (three second intervals) indicating the presence of a _______________.
45.The “_____________ bend” or fisherman’s bend, is used to secure a
line to a buoy or to the ring of an anchor.
46. A tight kink
in a line may reduce the line’s strength by:
A. 15% B. 30%
C. 45%
47. A line “rove”
through a block forms a ____________ .
48. When towing at
sea or in rough waters, the towline should be as _________ as
possible while keeping the two boats “in-step”.
In quiet or protected waters, the towline should be as ________
as possible to allow for better control.
49. True or False:
It is legal to tie your boat to a navigation buoy or other type of lateral
navigation aid.
50. POSH is an
acronym that evolved from what type of reservation request for a first class
state room location on a luxury liner?
51. Who was the
first and only American skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race (now
called the Volvo Ocean Race or VOR)? A.
Dennis Connor B. Paul Cayard C. Dawn Riley
Okay here are the answers...... how'd you do?????
- If you are sailing on the Gulf of Mexico and you see cirrocumulus clouds
(mackerel sky), what kind of weather would you expect?
- Clear skies and fine, but breezy
sailing
- An oncoming cold front
- A general warming
- Generally
deteriorating conditions
- What is the first thing you should do
if you wake up to find the bilge filled with gas fumes?
- Quickly reach for the Halon fire
extinguisher
- Turn off the electrical switch to the
batteries or shore-power cord.
- Open
all the ports as soon as possible – if you are at sea
- Evacuate
the boat – if in port
- A powerboat not making way in
restricted visibility should sound TWO prolonged
blasts on the fog horn every two minutes.
- You are underway on course 090 degrees
magnetic at 8 knots. After two
hours, you are on your track line but two miles behind your DR plot. What is the set and drift of the
current? 270 degrees M at 2 knots
- What are the three factors
contributing to the height of a normal (non-seismic) wave? Wind Speed, Fetch of the wind on the water, and depth of water.
6.
Sailors
know that sail trimming must satisfy two goals: Keep the boat sailing fast and in trim.
7. When retrieving the anchor, what term is
used to indicate that the anchor has cleared the bottom? Anchor’s Aweigh
8.
When a
vessel is set off course from a quartering sea, it is referred to as Yawing.
9. A telltale or a flag attached to a shroud
on a docked boat will indicate the true
or apparent wind
direction. True Wind
10. A Sheepshank knot is commonly used by
lobstermen to Shorten the Line.
11. Reading the wind: How do you know when a
rainstorm is ending? Northeast-to-south
winds shifting to the east or west usually signal a storm’s break.
12.
You
are approaching a drawbridge that will open any time upon request. What signal should be sounded with your horn
to request that the bridge be opened? One long blast on the horn followed
by a short blast
13. A boat with the right-of-way in a head on
or crossing situation is referred to as the Stand On vessel.
14. A centerboard does not have to be down
when: beating; running;
or reaching.
15. Ground
Tackle is a
general term to describe the anchor, rode, fittings, etc. used to anchor a
boat.
16.
What
is the electronic instrument you’ll bless most when cruising or
passagemaking? Depth Sounder
17. In a crew-overboard situation, where should
the life ring be thrown?
- behind
and beyond the victim
- to the right of the victim
- in front of the victim
18. An anchor rode should be previously “faked” to
facilitate free running when cast overboard.
19. VHF (Marine Band) Communications: Which of
the following channels should be utilized for distress, safety, and calling
transmissions?
- 13
- 16
- 22a
- 24
- 27
- 71
- 72
20.Seacocks should be cycled (opened/closed) on a regular basis
to prevent corrosion buildup and they should be lubricated every “three”
months.
21. Neap tides (lower highs, higher lows) occur
twice a month on the “first”
and “third”
quarters of the moon.
22.A tug pushing a barge down the Columbia River would measure
the trip in “statute”
miles.
23.Boat hooks are good tools for fending off…… true or false??? False – boat hooks are for bringing items to you not for fending off
24.Cruising in open water, the mate sights a float with a small
flag in the distance, indicating the presence of a:
- fish net
- race marker
- sunken vessel
- diver
- any
one of the above
25.
Considering
that a line’s strength is diminished in varying degrees when tied with
different knots…… would a bowline or an anchor bend be preferable when rigging
a towline to a boat’s towing eye? Anchor Bend
26.
How
far will you travel in 45 minutes if your boat speed is 6 knots? 4.5 nautical miles
27.
What
does an symbol in the shape of an anchor on a chart indicate to the navigator? The anchor symbol indicates an approved anchorage – there are likely to
be boats anchored at that location and since it is an approved anchorage, a
masthead anchor light is not required.
28.Onboard toggle switches and circuit breakers can become
frozen/corroded and may not work properly.
It is recommended that all toggle switches and breakers be cycled on and
off on a Monthly
basis.
29.Sailboats may incorporate a Riding sail to dampen the effect of the
boat moving to and fro while at anchor.
30.If your dock-lines are becoming stiff due to age or exposure
to the sun, try soaking them overnight in a liquid fabric softener.
31. The navigation rules are not explicit,
however, it may be inferred that a boat emerging from a slip or berth does or does not
have the right of way.
32.VHF Communications:
Which channel on the VHF radio should be used to contact a bridge tender
at a draw bridge? Use VHF channel 13 to contact the bridge tender.
33.
You
are cruising 20 miles offshore. You
observe a yellow flare off your starboard bow… What does this indicate? A yellow flare indicates a submarine is surfacing near the flare.
34.When a vessel is kept meticulously in every detail, it is said
to be in Bristol Fashion
.”
35.There is a new launch driver at your yacht club. You are happy to see that he is dropping off
and picking up passengers on the proper side of the boats… which side is the
proper side? The launch driver should approach boats on the
starboard side.
36.
Using
a scope of six, how many feet of rope should be used in five fathoms of
water? 180 feet
37.A propane fire is best extinguished by: (a) dousing with
water; (b) using a Type B or C extinguisher; or (c) by shutting off the propane supply.
38.
Navigation
lights (red/green bow, white stern, (and white steaming light if motoring) must
be displayed in conditions of reduced visibility (fog, rain, snow, etc.) and
between ________________ and _______________ .
Your navigation
lights should be on between sunset and sunrise while under-way.
39.As fog envelops you, you should slow the boat to a speed that
will allow you to stop in one half the distance of your visibility. For example, if your visibility is 200 feet,
you should be able to stop in 100 feet.
40.When departing a dock, peer or float with your bow into the
wind and/or current…… you should push off the Bow or Stern first.
41. Lighthouses that flash alternating lights
of different colors have two ranges of visibility – one for white light and
another ______ shorter for red or green lights.
A. 25% B. 40%
C. 50%
42.The direction and force the winds seems to have when observed
from a vessel in motion is referred to as apparent wind.
43.
Typically,
what is the minimum angle a close-hauled boat can “point into the wind”? 45 degrees to the wind for close hauled
44.Cruising at night, you observe a vessel with a flashing amber
light (three second intervals) indicating the presence of a submarine.
45.The “anchor bend” or
fisherman’s bend, is used to secure a line to a buoy or to the ring of an
anchor.
46. A tight kink
in a line may reduce the line’s strength by:
A. 15% B. 30% C. 45%
47. A line “rove”
through a block forms a “Tackle” Hence block and tackle…
48. When towing at
sea or in rough waters, the towline should be as long as possible while keeping the two
boats “in-step”. In quiet or protected
waters, the towline should be as short as possible to allow for better control.
49. True or False:
It is legal to tie your boat to a navigation buoy or other type of lateral
navigation aid. False – it is not legal to tie to aids to navigation
50. POSH is an
acronym that evolved from what type of reservation request for a first class
state room location on a luxury liner? POSH stands for Port Out, Starboard
Home. If you steamed from England bound
for South Africa,
the Port side stateroom portholes would have a view of the coastline. Like wise, on the return trip it would be the
Starboard side staterooms with the land view.
51. Who was the
first and only American skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race (now
called the Volvo Ocean Race or VOR)? A. Dennis Connor B. Paul Cayard C. Dawn Riley
Now wasn't that fun???????
