US Sailing Basic Cruising FINAL EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<RECENT VERSION>
1. What should you check for when running your hand along the luff of the
mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Ensure that the sail is not twisted.
2. What should be inspected as the mainsail is being raised? - ANSWER ✓
Look for wear, tears, missing or broken stitching, missing battens, and
reefing lines.
3. What should you do after the luff of the mainsail is completely bent on? -
ANSWER ✓ Close the fitting or pin at the bottom of the mainsail groove or
track.
4. What is the correct procedure to lower the mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Ease the
halyard to lower the sail and cleat it off.
5. What is the secret to successful flaking of the mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Pull
aft on the leech while pleating the sail back and forth accordion-style along
the boom.
6. How should the mainsail be secured along the boom? - ANSWER ✓ With
sail ties using reef knots or with a furling line finished with a clove hitch.
7. What should you do with the halyard and sail cover when getting the boat
ready to leave the dock? - ANSWER ✓ The halyard remains attached to the
head of the sail and the sail cover remains off.
,8. How is the mainsail typically stored on a cruising boat? - ANSWER ✓ The
mainsail is usually secured to the boom, outhaul eased, halyard removed
from the head, and the mainsail cover on.
9. What is the first step in bending on the foresail? - ANSWER ✓ Secure the
sailbag so it can't blow away after removing the sail from its bag.
10.How should the hanks be attached to the forestay when rigging the foresail?
- ANSWER ✓ Attach the hanks from the bottom up to avoid twisting.
11.What type of knot should be used to tie the sheets to the clew of the foresail?
- ANSWER ✓ Bowlines.
12.What should you check for when raising the foresail? - ANSWER ✓ Inspect
for wear, tears, broken stitching, and missing or broken hanks.
13.What is important to ensure about the foresail halyard when attaching it? -
ANSWER ✓ Make sure the halyard is not twisted around the forestay.
14.What is the first step in lowering the sail? - ANSWER ✓ One crew kneels
on one knee on the foredeck, with their forward arm around the forestay for
personal safety.
15.What does the foredeck crew do as the halyard is uncleated and eased? -
ANSWER ✓ They pull down the luff of the sail.
16.What should the cockpit crew do when the sail is most of the way down? -
ANSWER ✓ They uncleat the sheet while the foredeck crew gathers in the
foot of the sail to keep it out of the water.
17.What should be done with the halyard after the sail is down? - ANSWER ✓
Remove the halyard from the sail and shackle it to the pulpit, then harden,
cleat, and make off the halyard.
18.How should the sail be folded after lowering it? - ANSWER ✓ Fold the sail
in flat folds forward from the clew to the forestay, leaving the sheets to one
side
,19.Coaming - ANSWER ✓ Raised rim around the cockpit
20.Toppinglift - ANSWER ✓ Line which holds the boom up when the sail is
lowered
21.Backstayblocks - ANSWER ✓ hold backstay tight
22.adjustable backstay - ANSWER ✓ a stay that runs from the stern to the top
of the mast and can be adjusted to change its length
23.Jibstay or forestay - ANSWER ✓ if the stay runs to the top of the mast its
also called a headstay
24.Saloon - ANSWER ✓ space doubles as sleeping and eating
25.quarter berth - ANSWER ✓ aft berth located under the cockpit area adjacent
to the navigation station
26.Sole - ANSWER ✓ floor of the cabin - removable floorboards provide
access to the bilge
27.Settee Berth - ANSWER ✓ seat which serves as a berth
28.Forward Cabin - ANSWER ✓ contains a vee berth, bed for two
29.Forepeak - ANSWER ✓ a storage area in the bow which may contain a
chain locker for the anchor
30.Fixed propeller - ANSWER ✓ can be 2 or 3 bladed, create drag when
sailing, and are inefficient in reverse
31.Folding propeller - ANSWER ✓ close when under sail to reduce water
resistance. When the engine is running and put in gear, the blades will open
32.Feather propeller - ANSWER ✓ have blades that swivel into the working
position when the engine is put into gear
, 33.List the Transport required items for a boat 6-9 metres - ANSWER ✓
Personal Safety (3)
-Lifejacket or PFD per person
-Buoyant heaving line ≥ 15 m OR lifebuoy attached to ≥ 15 m buoyant line
-Reboarding device (
Vessel Safety (2)
-Manual propelling device OR an anchor with ≥ 15 m rope/chain
-Bailer or manual bilge
Visual Safety (2)
-Watertight flashlight
-Six flares (max 2 smoke)
Navigation Safety (4)
-Sound signalling device
-Nav lights
-Magnetic compass
-Radar reflector
Fire Safety (2)
-5BC fire extinguisher - one for motor,
-5BC fire extinguisher if there is fuel cooking, heating or refrigeration
34.List the Transport Canada required items for a boat 9-12 metres - ANSWER
✓ Personal Safety (4)
-Lifejacket or PFD per person
-Buoyant heaving line ≥ 15 m
-Lifebuoy attached to buoyant line ≥ 15 m***
-Reboarding device
Vessel Safety (2)
-Anchor with ≥ 30 m*** rope/chain
-Manual bilge pump
Visual Safety
-Watertight flashlight
-12*** flares type A, B and C (max 6 D)
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<RECENT VERSION>
1. What should you check for when running your hand along the luff of the
mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Ensure that the sail is not twisted.
2. What should be inspected as the mainsail is being raised? - ANSWER ✓
Look for wear, tears, missing or broken stitching, missing battens, and
reefing lines.
3. What should you do after the luff of the mainsail is completely bent on? -
ANSWER ✓ Close the fitting or pin at the bottom of the mainsail groove or
track.
4. What is the correct procedure to lower the mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Ease the
halyard to lower the sail and cleat it off.
5. What is the secret to successful flaking of the mainsail? - ANSWER ✓ Pull
aft on the leech while pleating the sail back and forth accordion-style along
the boom.
6. How should the mainsail be secured along the boom? - ANSWER ✓ With
sail ties using reef knots or with a furling line finished with a clove hitch.
7. What should you do with the halyard and sail cover when getting the boat
ready to leave the dock? - ANSWER ✓ The halyard remains attached to the
head of the sail and the sail cover remains off.
,8. How is the mainsail typically stored on a cruising boat? - ANSWER ✓ The
mainsail is usually secured to the boom, outhaul eased, halyard removed
from the head, and the mainsail cover on.
9. What is the first step in bending on the foresail? - ANSWER ✓ Secure the
sailbag so it can't blow away after removing the sail from its bag.
10.How should the hanks be attached to the forestay when rigging the foresail?
- ANSWER ✓ Attach the hanks from the bottom up to avoid twisting.
11.What type of knot should be used to tie the sheets to the clew of the foresail?
- ANSWER ✓ Bowlines.
12.What should you check for when raising the foresail? - ANSWER ✓ Inspect
for wear, tears, broken stitching, and missing or broken hanks.
13.What is important to ensure about the foresail halyard when attaching it? -
ANSWER ✓ Make sure the halyard is not twisted around the forestay.
14.What is the first step in lowering the sail? - ANSWER ✓ One crew kneels
on one knee on the foredeck, with their forward arm around the forestay for
personal safety.
15.What does the foredeck crew do as the halyard is uncleated and eased? -
ANSWER ✓ They pull down the luff of the sail.
16.What should the cockpit crew do when the sail is most of the way down? -
ANSWER ✓ They uncleat the sheet while the foredeck crew gathers in the
foot of the sail to keep it out of the water.
17.What should be done with the halyard after the sail is down? - ANSWER ✓
Remove the halyard from the sail and shackle it to the pulpit, then harden,
cleat, and make off the halyard.
18.How should the sail be folded after lowering it? - ANSWER ✓ Fold the sail
in flat folds forward from the clew to the forestay, leaving the sheets to one
side
,19.Coaming - ANSWER ✓ Raised rim around the cockpit
20.Toppinglift - ANSWER ✓ Line which holds the boom up when the sail is
lowered
21.Backstayblocks - ANSWER ✓ hold backstay tight
22.adjustable backstay - ANSWER ✓ a stay that runs from the stern to the top
of the mast and can be adjusted to change its length
23.Jibstay or forestay - ANSWER ✓ if the stay runs to the top of the mast its
also called a headstay
24.Saloon - ANSWER ✓ space doubles as sleeping and eating
25.quarter berth - ANSWER ✓ aft berth located under the cockpit area adjacent
to the navigation station
26.Sole - ANSWER ✓ floor of the cabin - removable floorboards provide
access to the bilge
27.Settee Berth - ANSWER ✓ seat which serves as a berth
28.Forward Cabin - ANSWER ✓ contains a vee berth, bed for two
29.Forepeak - ANSWER ✓ a storage area in the bow which may contain a
chain locker for the anchor
30.Fixed propeller - ANSWER ✓ can be 2 or 3 bladed, create drag when
sailing, and are inefficient in reverse
31.Folding propeller - ANSWER ✓ close when under sail to reduce water
resistance. When the engine is running and put in gear, the blades will open
32.Feather propeller - ANSWER ✓ have blades that swivel into the working
position when the engine is put into gear
, 33.List the Transport required items for a boat 6-9 metres - ANSWER ✓
Personal Safety (3)
-Lifejacket or PFD per person
-Buoyant heaving line ≥ 15 m OR lifebuoy attached to ≥ 15 m buoyant line
-Reboarding device (
Vessel Safety (2)
-Manual propelling device OR an anchor with ≥ 15 m rope/chain
-Bailer or manual bilge
Visual Safety (2)
-Watertight flashlight
-Six flares (max 2 smoke)
Navigation Safety (4)
-Sound signalling device
-Nav lights
-Magnetic compass
-Radar reflector
Fire Safety (2)
-5BC fire extinguisher - one for motor,
-5BC fire extinguisher if there is fuel cooking, heating or refrigeration
34.List the Transport Canada required items for a boat 9-12 metres - ANSWER
✓ Personal Safety (4)
-Lifejacket or PFD per person
-Buoyant heaving line ≥ 15 m
-Lifebuoy attached to buoyant line ≥ 15 m***
-Reboarding device
Vessel Safety (2)
-Anchor with ≥ 30 m*** rope/chain
-Manual bilge pump
Visual Safety
-Watertight flashlight
-12*** flares type A, B and C (max 6 D)
