SMALL-BOAT SAILING How to Use This Pamphlet The secret to successfully earning a merit badge is for you to use both the pamphlet and the suggestions of your counselor. Your counselor can be as important to you as a coach is to an athlete. Use all of the resources your counselor can make available to you. This may be the best chance you will have to learn about this particular subject. Make it count. If you or your counselor feels that any information in this pamphlet is incorrect, please let us know. Please state your source of information. Merit badge pamphlets are reprinted annually and requirements updated regularly. Your suggestions for improvement are welcome. Send comments along with a brief statement about yourself to Youth Development, S209 • Boy Scouts of America • 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane • P.O. Box 152079 • Irving, TX 75015-2079. Who Pays for This Pamphlet? This merit badge pamphlet is one in a series of more than 100 covering all kinds of hobby and career subjects. It is made available for you to buy as a service of the national and local councils, Boy Scouts of America. The costs of the development, writing, and editing of the merit badge pamphlets are paid for by the Boy Scouts of America in order to bring you the best book at a reasonable price. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MERIT BADGE SERIES SMALL-BOAT SAILING Requirements 1. Do the following: a. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while small-boat sailing, including hypothermia, dehydration, heat reactions, motion sickness, cuts, scratches, abrasions, contusions, puncture wounds, and blisters. b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor. 2. Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. 3. Describe the boat you will be using for the sailing requirement, naming all of the major parts and the function of those parts.* 4. Before going afloat, do the following: a. Discuss the nine points of the BSA Safety Afloat plan. b. Explain the rules of the road in general and any specific rules or laws that apply to your area or state. c. Explain how water conditions, the hazards of weather, and heavy winds can affect both safety and performance in sailing. *The skills may be demonstrated on any boat available to the Scout; sailboards are not acceptable. While no specific sail plan is recommended, it is suggested that the craft be smaller than 20 feet. The boat must be capsizable and have the capability of sailing to windward. 35950 ISBN 978-0-8395-3356-6 ©2004 Boy Scouts of America BANG/Brainerd, MN 2010 Printing 10-2010/060941 d. Discuss the warning signs of inclement weather and what to do should heavy winds develop or a storm approach. e. Prepare a typical float plan. f. Discuss the proper clothing, footwear, and personal gear required for small-boat sailing in warm weather and in cool weather. Explain how choosing the proper clothing, footwear, and personal gear will help keep you comfortable and safe while sailing. 5. Discuss with your counselor how to identify the wind direction and wind indicators. Explain the importance of this task before setting sail. 6. Following the BSA Safety Afloat plan, show that you and a buddy can sail a boat properly. Do the following: a. Prepare a boat for sailing, including a safety inspection. b. Get under way from a dock, mooring, or beach. c. Properly set sails for a round-trip course approved by your counselor that will include running, beating, and reaching—the basic points of sail. While sailing, demonstrate good helmsmanship skills. d. Change direction by tacking; change direction by jibing. e. Demonstrate getting out of irons. f. Demonstrate the safety position. g. Demonstrate capsize procedures and the rescue of a person overboard.† h. Demonstrate the procedure to take after running aground. i. Upon returning to the dock, mooring, or beach, properly secure all equipment, furl or stow sails, and prepare the craft for unattended docking or beaching overnight or longer. †Capsize procedures should be conducted under the close supervision of the counselor. A rescue boat should be standing by to assist, if necessary, and to tow the capsized craft to shore. Self-bailing boats are acceptable for this requirement. Extreme care should be taken to avoid personal injury and damage to the boat or equipment. SMALL-BOAT SAILING 3 7. Demonstrate a working knowledge of marlinespike seamanship. Do the following: a. Show how to tie a square (reef) knot, clove hitch, two half hitches, bowline, cleat hitch, and figure-eight knot. Demonstrate the use of each. b. Show how to heave a line, coil a line, and fake down a line. c. Discuss the kinds of lines used on sailboats and the types of fibers used in their manufacture. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each. 8. Describe how you would care for and maintain a sailboat and its gear throughout the year. 9. With your counselor, review sailing terminology and the points of sail. Discuss various types of sailboats in use today and explain their differences. 4 SMALL-BOAT SAILING Contents Sailing Safety and Preparation ........................7 Sailboat Basics ..................................23 Wind .........................................33 Getting Under Way ...............................39 Sailing Fundamentals .............................47 Marlinespike Seamanship ..........................63 Rules of the Road ................................70 Emergencies ....................................75 Maintenance ....................................83 History of Sailing in America ........................89 Small-Boat Sailing Resources ........................92 SMALL-boat SAILING 5 .Sailing Safety and Preparation Sailing Safety and Preparation Sailing is an enjoyable pastime. The serenity of the water can make you feel as though you have escaped from everyday life. However, smooth sailing requires paying careful attention to safety. BSA Safety Afloat When earning any of the aquatic merit badges, it is important to follow safety rules and use self-discipline and good judgment. Small-boat sailing will be among the most memorable of your Scouting experiences if you understand and follow the points of Safety Afloat. These guidelines were developed to promote boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat. They apply to all sailing activities. 1. Qualified Supervision. All activity afloat must be supervised The complete text by a mature and conscientious adult, age 21 or older. That person of Safety Afloat must understand and knowingly accept responsibility for the well-being and safety of those in his or her care and be trained can be found in and committed to the nine points of Safety Afloat. The super- in the BSA visor must be skilled in the safe operation of the craft for the specific activity, knowledgeable in accident prevention, and publication Guide prepared for emergency situations. If the adult with Safety to Safe Scouting. Afloat training lacks the necessary boat operating and safety skills, then he or she may serve as the supervisor only if assisted by other adults who have the appropriate skills. Additional leadership is provided in ratios of one trained adult per 10 participants. At least one leader must be trained in first aid, including CPR. Any swimming done in conjunction with the activity afloat must be supervised in accordance with Safe Swim Defense standards. It is strongly recommended that SMALL-boat SAILING 7 Sailing Safety and Preparation. all units have at least one adult or older youth member currently trained in BSA Paddle Craft Safety to assist in the planning and Use sunscreen conduct of all activities afloat. with a sun 2. Personal Health Review. All participants must provide evi- dence of a complete health history to show that they are fit for protection factor boating activities. A parent or guardian must sign health history (SPF) of at least forms for minors. Participants should relate any recent incidents of illness or injury just prior to the activity, and supervision and 15. Sunglasses, a protection should be adjusted to anticipate any potential risks wide-brimmed hat, associated with individual health conditions. For significant health conditions, the adult supervisor should require an exami- long-sleeved shirt, nation by a physician and consult with a parent, guardian, or and lip balm with caregiver for appropriate precautions. an SPF of at least 3. Swimming Ability. For activity afloat, those not classified as a swimmer may participate on multiperson craft only on 15 will give you calm water where there is little likelihood of capsizing or falling further protection overboard. They may operate a fixed-seat rowboat or pedal boat accompanied by a buddy who is a swimmer, and they may ride from the sun. as a buddy in a canoe or other paddle craft with an adult swim- mer skilled in that craft. They may ride as part of a group on a motorboat or sailboat operated by a skilled adult. BSA Swimmer Test Operation of any boat is limited to youth and adults who have completed the BSA swimmer classification test. Swimmers must complete the following test, which should be renewed annually: Jump feetfirst into water over the head in depth. Level off and swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed without any stops and must include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating. 4. Personal Flotation Equipment. Properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) must be worn by everyone participating in the boating activity, including rowing, canoeing, sailing, boardsailing, motorboating, water- skiing, rafting, tubing, and kayaking.