ASA 103 FINAL EXAM- 2024/2025 WITH
Q&A
Ways to reduce heeling - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Decrease the angle of attack. Steer
closer to the wind (feather); ease the mainsheet or drop the traveler to leeward; ease
the jib sheet.
2. Use twist. On windward or close-reaching courses, add twist. Ease the mainsheet or
vans, move the jib sheet lead aft. On a broad reach or run, remove twist: tighten the
boom vans.
3. Flatten the sails: tighten the halyards on both mainsail and jib; tighten the outhaul on
the mainsail.
Chord - CORRECT ANSWER Straight line from a leading edge of a sail (luff) to the
trailing edge (leech) in the direction parallel to the direction of airflow.
Depth of a sail - CORRECT ANSWER The perpendicular distance from the chord to the
sail at that point (also called draft.)
Chord-depth ratio - CORRECT ANSWER The maximum depth along the chord,
expressed as a percentage of the chord length. A full sail has a higher chord-depth ratio
than a flat sail, and it generates more power.
Draft position - CORRECT ANSWER The location along a chord of the maximum depth
of the sail.
Angle of attack - CORRECT ANSWER The angle at which the wind strikes the chord.
Twist - CORRECT ANSWER The difference between the angle of attack at the foot and
at the head of the sail.
Aback - CORRECT ANSWER of a sail, when the wind is on the wrong side.
Abaft - CORRECT ANSWER Toward the stern, as in abaft the beam.
Abeam - CORRECT ANSWER Off the boat at right angles to its centerline.
Amidships - CORRECT ANSWER at or toward the middle of the boat.
Astern - CORRECT ANSWER Behind the stern.
Athwart ships - CORRECT ANSWER Across the boat from side to side.
, Apparent wind - CORRECT ANSWER The combination of true wind and the wind effect
of motion as felt aboard a moving boat.
Back winding - CORRECT ANSWER The act of setting a sail aback.
Beacon – CORRECT ANSWER aid to navigation that's fixed in place.
Bear away - CORRECT ANSWER to turn the boat away from the wind, to fall off
Bearing - CORRECT ANSWER The direction in degrees toward one object from
another.
Beat (beating) - CORRECT ANSWER to sail to windward close-hauled.
Blanketed - CORRECT ANSWER Hidden by the wind, as when one sail is covered by
the other.
Block - CORRECT ANSWER A pulley.
Bridge deck - CORRECT ANSWER The deck connecting the hulls of a catamaran.
Bridge deck clearance - CORRECT ANSWER The distance from the underside of the
bridge deck to the surface of the water.
Bridle - CORRECT ANSWER A line fixed at both ends that spreads the force of another
line, attached at its midpoint.
Bulkhead - CORRECT ANSWER upright partition in the interior of a boat.
By the lee - CORRECT ANSWER Sailing on a run with the wind on the same side as
the mainsail.
Nautical mile - CORRECT ANSWER 6,076 feet. A knot is one nautical mile per hour.
Interestingly, and for comparison's sake, a mile is 5,280 feet, meaning wind speed
measured in knots is 15% greater than measured in miles per hour.
Heaving to - CORRECT ANSWER to set the sails in opposition so the jib is on one side
and the mainsail on the other. This is achieved most often by tacking and leaving the jib
sheet cleated on the new tack. Adjust mainsheet so boat is on a close reach. Adjust
helm as needed and lash wheel so it can't move.
Navigation Rules 16,17 and 2. - CORRECT ANSWER These are all related. Rule 16
states the give way vessel must take early and substantial action to keep well clear of
the stand on vessel. Rule 17 requires the stand on vessel to maintain course and
speed. Rule 2 overrides these if a collision is imminent, requiring vessels to take
whatever action necessary to avoid a collision.
Q&A
Ways to reduce heeling - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Decrease the angle of attack. Steer
closer to the wind (feather); ease the mainsheet or drop the traveler to leeward; ease
the jib sheet.
2. Use twist. On windward or close-reaching courses, add twist. Ease the mainsheet or
vans, move the jib sheet lead aft. On a broad reach or run, remove twist: tighten the
boom vans.
3. Flatten the sails: tighten the halyards on both mainsail and jib; tighten the outhaul on
the mainsail.
Chord - CORRECT ANSWER Straight line from a leading edge of a sail (luff) to the
trailing edge (leech) in the direction parallel to the direction of airflow.
Depth of a sail - CORRECT ANSWER The perpendicular distance from the chord to the
sail at that point (also called draft.)
Chord-depth ratio - CORRECT ANSWER The maximum depth along the chord,
expressed as a percentage of the chord length. A full sail has a higher chord-depth ratio
than a flat sail, and it generates more power.
Draft position - CORRECT ANSWER The location along a chord of the maximum depth
of the sail.
Angle of attack - CORRECT ANSWER The angle at which the wind strikes the chord.
Twist - CORRECT ANSWER The difference between the angle of attack at the foot and
at the head of the sail.
Aback - CORRECT ANSWER of a sail, when the wind is on the wrong side.
Abaft - CORRECT ANSWER Toward the stern, as in abaft the beam.
Abeam - CORRECT ANSWER Off the boat at right angles to its centerline.
Amidships - CORRECT ANSWER at or toward the middle of the boat.
Astern - CORRECT ANSWER Behind the stern.
Athwart ships - CORRECT ANSWER Across the boat from side to side.
, Apparent wind - CORRECT ANSWER The combination of true wind and the wind effect
of motion as felt aboard a moving boat.
Back winding - CORRECT ANSWER The act of setting a sail aback.
Beacon – CORRECT ANSWER aid to navigation that's fixed in place.
Bear away - CORRECT ANSWER to turn the boat away from the wind, to fall off
Bearing - CORRECT ANSWER The direction in degrees toward one object from
another.
Beat (beating) - CORRECT ANSWER to sail to windward close-hauled.
Blanketed - CORRECT ANSWER Hidden by the wind, as when one sail is covered by
the other.
Block - CORRECT ANSWER A pulley.
Bridge deck - CORRECT ANSWER The deck connecting the hulls of a catamaran.
Bridge deck clearance - CORRECT ANSWER The distance from the underside of the
bridge deck to the surface of the water.
Bridle - CORRECT ANSWER A line fixed at both ends that spreads the force of another
line, attached at its midpoint.
Bulkhead - CORRECT ANSWER upright partition in the interior of a boat.
By the lee - CORRECT ANSWER Sailing on a run with the wind on the same side as
the mainsail.
Nautical mile - CORRECT ANSWER 6,076 feet. A knot is one nautical mile per hour.
Interestingly, and for comparison's sake, a mile is 5,280 feet, meaning wind speed
measured in knots is 15% greater than measured in miles per hour.
Heaving to - CORRECT ANSWER to set the sails in opposition so the jib is on one side
and the mainsail on the other. This is achieved most often by tacking and leaving the jib
sheet cleated on the new tack. Adjust mainsheet so boat is on a close reach. Adjust
helm as needed and lash wheel so it can't move.
Navigation Rules 16,17 and 2. - CORRECT ANSWER These are all related. Rule 16
states the give way vessel must take early and substantial action to keep well clear of
the stand on vessel. Rule 17 requires the stand on vessel to maintain course and
speed. Rule 2 overrides these if a collision is imminent, requiring vessels to take
whatever action necessary to avoid a collision.
