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ASA 106 -ADVANCED COASTAL CRUISING EXAM
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM| COMPLETE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!)
Name three sources of weather information available to yachtsmen in
the U.S. - ANSWER - U.S. National weather service, on shore facilities,
local news, internet
What are the 3 sources of power in a sail? - ANSWER - Angle of attack,
sail shape, sail twist
What does the Cunningham do? - ANSWER - stretches the mainsail luff
What does a barometer do? - ANSWER - measures air pressure
What does high air pressure indicate? - ANSWER - Good weather
What is the mast rake? - ANSWER - the forward or aft angle of the mast
What happens if the mast rake is too far forward? - ANSWER - It will
introduce lee helm
pg. 1
,2|Page
What does a cumulonimbus cloud indicate? - ANSWER -
Thunderstorms
What do cirrostratus clouds look like? - ANSWER - high wispy clouds
lying in sheets
What are cirrocumulus clouds often called? - ANSWER - Fish scale
clouds
What do cumulus clouds look like? - ANSWER - white puff balls
What can control your speed while running or on a broad reach and is
considered a good storm tactic? - ANSWER - towing a drogue
What can keep the bow windward and face onto the waves to help cut
through the waves in storms? - ANSWER - a sea anchor
What are some risks of sea anchors? - ANSWER - the boat being pushed
backwards quickly by oncoming waves, twisting the rudder suddenly
and having the rudder break off
what may hinder a bilge pumps operation? - ANSWER - debris
pg. 2
,3|Page
How do you create twist in the main? - ANSWER - The goal is to adjust
the vertical shape of the sail to create twist
To do so, ease the boom vang, traveler to leeward, and main sheet
How do you adjust the horizontal shape of the sail? - ANSWER - Adjust
outhaul, back stays, and halyard
Purpose of the traveler? - ANSWER - The Traveler positions the boom,
changing the AOA of the mainsail
What position should the traveler be in during regular conditions? -
ANSWER - Adjust the traveler to keep the boom almost centered on the
boat.
What position should the traveler be in during overpowering conditions?
- ANSWER - Ease the traveler to leeward to increase twist, thus
reducing power and wx helm.
How do you depower by steering alone? - ANSWER - Head up
Purpose and use of boom vang? - ANSWER - Controls vertical shape of
the main. Easing the vang increases twist.
pg. 3
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List 3 ways to reduce the weather helm by moving the CE. - ANSWER -
1. Reduce power in Main by easing traveler leeward 2. Easing the main
to induce twist 3. Add power to jib
List 2 ways to reduce weather helm by moving the CLR. - ANSWER -
1. Steering off wind decreases CLR because. 2. Shift cargo, moving
more weight aft
List 5 ways to flatten (reduce the draft) of your sails? - ANSWER - 1.
Flatten the jib by moving the jib lead (car) forward 2. Tension halyard 3.
Loosen headstay. 4. Tighten boom vang to reduce twist 5. Bear away to
widen the angle of attack
What are 3 precautions to take when rafting boats at anchor - ANSWER
- 1. As permission to raft 2. Place fenders inboard 3. Approach the boat
as would docking, tying bow, stern and spring lines 4. adjust spring lines
to offset masts to prevent fencing 5. walk gently across neighbor’s
foredeck, not through cockpit. 6. If inboard neighbor needs to leave then
break the raft and redock.
List 3 methods of setting an anchor to reduce swing - ANSWER - 1.
Forked moor 2. Tandem anchors 3. fore and aft anchors
Describe 4 methods of recovering a fouled anchor. - ANSWER - 1.
move gently forward over anchor to trip it 2. motor slowly around it
pulling from different angles 3. Swim for it and attach a trip line.
pg. 4
ASA 106 -ADVANCED COASTAL CRUISING EXAM
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM| COMPLETE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!)
Name three sources of weather information available to yachtsmen in
the U.S. - ANSWER - U.S. National weather service, on shore facilities,
local news, internet
What are the 3 sources of power in a sail? - ANSWER - Angle of attack,
sail shape, sail twist
What does the Cunningham do? - ANSWER - stretches the mainsail luff
What does a barometer do? - ANSWER - measures air pressure
What does high air pressure indicate? - ANSWER - Good weather
What is the mast rake? - ANSWER - the forward or aft angle of the mast
What happens if the mast rake is too far forward? - ANSWER - It will
introduce lee helm
pg. 1
,2|Page
What does a cumulonimbus cloud indicate? - ANSWER -
Thunderstorms
What do cirrostratus clouds look like? - ANSWER - high wispy clouds
lying in sheets
What are cirrocumulus clouds often called? - ANSWER - Fish scale
clouds
What do cumulus clouds look like? - ANSWER - white puff balls
What can control your speed while running or on a broad reach and is
considered a good storm tactic? - ANSWER - towing a drogue
What can keep the bow windward and face onto the waves to help cut
through the waves in storms? - ANSWER - a sea anchor
What are some risks of sea anchors? - ANSWER - the boat being pushed
backwards quickly by oncoming waves, twisting the rudder suddenly
and having the rudder break off
what may hinder a bilge pumps operation? - ANSWER - debris
pg. 2
,3|Page
How do you create twist in the main? - ANSWER - The goal is to adjust
the vertical shape of the sail to create twist
To do so, ease the boom vang, traveler to leeward, and main sheet
How do you adjust the horizontal shape of the sail? - ANSWER - Adjust
outhaul, back stays, and halyard
Purpose of the traveler? - ANSWER - The Traveler positions the boom,
changing the AOA of the mainsail
What position should the traveler be in during regular conditions? -
ANSWER - Adjust the traveler to keep the boom almost centered on the
boat.
What position should the traveler be in during overpowering conditions?
- ANSWER - Ease the traveler to leeward to increase twist, thus
reducing power and wx helm.
How do you depower by steering alone? - ANSWER - Head up
Purpose and use of boom vang? - ANSWER - Controls vertical shape of
the main. Easing the vang increases twist.
pg. 3
, 4|Page
List 3 ways to reduce the weather helm by moving the CE. - ANSWER -
1. Reduce power in Main by easing traveler leeward 2. Easing the main
to induce twist 3. Add power to jib
List 2 ways to reduce weather helm by moving the CLR. - ANSWER -
1. Steering off wind decreases CLR because. 2. Shift cargo, moving
more weight aft
List 5 ways to flatten (reduce the draft) of your sails? - ANSWER - 1.
Flatten the jib by moving the jib lead (car) forward 2. Tension halyard 3.
Loosen headstay. 4. Tighten boom vang to reduce twist 5. Bear away to
widen the angle of attack
What are 3 precautions to take when rafting boats at anchor - ANSWER
- 1. As permission to raft 2. Place fenders inboard 3. Approach the boat
as would docking, tying bow, stern and spring lines 4. adjust spring lines
to offset masts to prevent fencing 5. walk gently across neighbor’s
foredeck, not through cockpit. 6. If inboard neighbor needs to leave then
break the raft and redock.
List 3 methods of setting an anchor to reduce swing - ANSWER - 1.
Forked moor 2. Tandem anchors 3. fore and aft anchors
Describe 4 methods of recovering a fouled anchor. - ANSWER - 1.
move gently forward over anchor to trip it 2. motor slowly around it
pulling from different angles 3. Swim for it and attach a trip line.
pg. 4
