ASA 106 Exam Questions and Correct
Answers
Question 1
Why is a slight weather helm prefered?
Correct Answer
weather helm is thought by some sailors to be a desirable situation, both from the
standpoint of the "feel" of the helm, and the tendency of the boat to head slightly
to windward in stronger gusts, to some extent self-feathering the sails.
Question 2
Describe how to Lay-a-hull
Correct Answer
Douse sails and lock helm to leeward. Only use if waves are not taller than the
freeboard at the beam.
Question 3
When coming to a beat from a broad reach what happens to the apparent Wind and
to the boat.
Correct Answer
The app wind shifts from ahead to abeam or abaft. Boat heels less and comes
around to new course.
Question 4
What actions would you take if the boat is taking on water.
Correct Answer
Activate all bilge pumps. Use manual bilbe pump if necessary. Start engine to keep
batteries and pumps working. Find the leak. Check through hulls. Use balsa chocks if
necessary. Check hull for holes.
Page 1 of 43
,Question 5
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Altocumulus clouds
Correct Answer
Heap-like. clouds with convective elements. Possible precursor to storms. can align
in rows and often indicate elevated instability.
Question 6
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cumulus clouds
Correct Answer
Pully clouds that may appear by themselves, in lines or in clusters. Can develop into
cumulonimbus clouds.
Question 7
What actions would you take if the boat is driven aground on a lee shore:
Correct Answer
Check crew for injuries. Check for leaks. Try to spin boat around and take pressure
off sails. Push boom or back jib to get more heel to reduce draft.
Question 8
What actions would you take if the boat is dismasted.
Correct Answer
Check crew for injuries. Check boat for holes. Be prepared to cut away rig if it can't
be saved.
Question 9
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cumulonimbus clouds
Correct Answer
Thunderstorm with signature anvis top. Can produce heavy rain, wind, lightning and
hail. Seek safe harbor or reef sails!
Page 2 of 43
,Question 10
Easy way to determine the CLR on a boat
Correct Answer
CLR is generally the center of the keel
Question 11
Describe how to righ an anchor tripline.
Correct Answer
Add line to forward part of anchor and attach it to a bouy or fender.
Question 12
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Stratocumulus clouds
Correct Answer
A layer of cloud clumps. Frequently appear ahead or behind fronts.
Question 13
Describe meaning of these cloud forms Cirro, Cumulo, Strato, Nimbo
Correct Answer
Cirro - curl, ice crystals
Cumulo - heaped, implyes vertical lifting
Strato - layered stable air
Nimibo - precipitation ,dark base
Question 14
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cirrostratus clouds.
Correct Answer
Wide, veil-like layered clouds. They tend to thicken into cirrostratus as a warm front
approaches.
Page 3 of 43
, Question 15
What is Buys-Ballot's Law
Correct Answer
The law stating that if one stands with one's back to the wind, in the Northern
Hemisphere the atmospheric pressure will be lower on one's left and in the
Southern Hemisphere it will be lower on one's right: descriptive of the relationship
of horizontal winds to atmospheric pressure.
Question 16
What actions would you take if the engine fails in a crowded ancorage.
Correct Answer
Sound horn as a danger signal. Drop anchor immediately or raise jib to to maintain
steerage. Use fenders if collision is eminant. ???
Question 17
Under what wind conditions ___________ or point of sail _______ would you want to
increase the draft of the sails?
Correct Answer
Light wind conditions or bear away???
Question 18
Describe how to HEAVE TO.
Correct Answer
While close hauled tac so the jib is backwinded (aback), steer to lee (lash wheel and
ease reefed main.
Question 19
Describe how to set an anchor watch.
Correct Answer
1. set an alarm on app 2. If bad weather have crew rotate to verify anchor isn't
dragging 3. check depth sounder to see if depth stays consistent. 4. check sight
lines with fixed land positions to verify boat hasn't moved.
Page 4 of 43
Answers
Question 1
Why is a slight weather helm prefered?
Correct Answer
weather helm is thought by some sailors to be a desirable situation, both from the
standpoint of the "feel" of the helm, and the tendency of the boat to head slightly
to windward in stronger gusts, to some extent self-feathering the sails.
Question 2
Describe how to Lay-a-hull
Correct Answer
Douse sails and lock helm to leeward. Only use if waves are not taller than the
freeboard at the beam.
Question 3
When coming to a beat from a broad reach what happens to the apparent Wind and
to the boat.
Correct Answer
The app wind shifts from ahead to abeam or abaft. Boat heels less and comes
around to new course.
Question 4
What actions would you take if the boat is taking on water.
Correct Answer
Activate all bilge pumps. Use manual bilbe pump if necessary. Start engine to keep
batteries and pumps working. Find the leak. Check through hulls. Use balsa chocks if
necessary. Check hull for holes.
Page 1 of 43
,Question 5
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Altocumulus clouds
Correct Answer
Heap-like. clouds with convective elements. Possible precursor to storms. can align
in rows and often indicate elevated instability.
Question 6
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cumulus clouds
Correct Answer
Pully clouds that may appear by themselves, in lines or in clusters. Can develop into
cumulonimbus clouds.
Question 7
What actions would you take if the boat is driven aground on a lee shore:
Correct Answer
Check crew for injuries. Check for leaks. Try to spin boat around and take pressure
off sails. Push boom or back jib to get more heel to reduce draft.
Question 8
What actions would you take if the boat is dismasted.
Correct Answer
Check crew for injuries. Check boat for holes. Be prepared to cut away rig if it can't
be saved.
Question 9
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cumulonimbus clouds
Correct Answer
Thunderstorm with signature anvis top. Can produce heavy rain, wind, lightning and
hail. Seek safe harbor or reef sails!
Page 2 of 43
,Question 10
Easy way to determine the CLR on a boat
Correct Answer
CLR is generally the center of the keel
Question 11
Describe how to righ an anchor tripline.
Correct Answer
Add line to forward part of anchor and attach it to a bouy or fender.
Question 12
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Stratocumulus clouds
Correct Answer
A layer of cloud clumps. Frequently appear ahead or behind fronts.
Question 13
Describe meaning of these cloud forms Cirro, Cumulo, Strato, Nimbo
Correct Answer
Cirro - curl, ice crystals
Cumulo - heaped, implyes vertical lifting
Strato - layered stable air
Nimibo - precipitation ,dark base
Question 14
Describe the appearance and type of weather to expect for Cirrostratus clouds.
Correct Answer
Wide, veil-like layered clouds. They tend to thicken into cirrostratus as a warm front
approaches.
Page 3 of 43
, Question 15
What is Buys-Ballot's Law
Correct Answer
The law stating that if one stands with one's back to the wind, in the Northern
Hemisphere the atmospheric pressure will be lower on one's left and in the
Southern Hemisphere it will be lower on one's right: descriptive of the relationship
of horizontal winds to atmospheric pressure.
Question 16
What actions would you take if the engine fails in a crowded ancorage.
Correct Answer
Sound horn as a danger signal. Drop anchor immediately or raise jib to to maintain
steerage. Use fenders if collision is eminant. ???
Question 17
Under what wind conditions ___________ or point of sail _______ would you want to
increase the draft of the sails?
Correct Answer
Light wind conditions or bear away???
Question 18
Describe how to HEAVE TO.
Correct Answer
While close hauled tac so the jib is backwinded (aback), steer to lee (lash wheel and
ease reefed main.
Question 19
Describe how to set an anchor watch.
Correct Answer
1. set an alarm on app 2. If bad weather have crew rotate to verify anchor isn't
dragging 3. check depth sounder to see if depth stays consistent. 4. check sight
lines with fixed land positions to verify boat hasn't moved.
Page 4 of 43
