Intermediate Cruising Standard
( BAREBOAT SKIPPER – SAIL )
OBJECTIVE
To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 8 to 12 meters in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. The standard emphasizes on-the-water skills at a level acceptable for bare boat chartering for extended cruises in coastal waters.
PREREQUISITES
Basic Cruising Standard.
It is recommended that the student have a recognized first aid certificate, a VHF radio operator’s certificate and have completed the CYA Coastal Navigation Standard.
Note: To maximize the likelihood of successfully completing the Intermediate Cruising Standard, a student should:
a) Have experience as skipper of at least ten day sails (or equivalent),
b) Have applied the knowledge and practiced the skills in the Basic Cruising Standard,
c) Be able to consistently demonstrate the skills learned in the Basic Cruising Standard.
ASHORE KNOWLEDGE
Section I: Planning
The candidate must be able to:
1. State the fuel capacity and range of the candidate’s boat and list what factors could affect the range of the boat under power;
2. State the water capacity of the selected boat and the minimum daily water requirements of a person;
3. Describe water distribution systems with multiple tanks and various styles of pumps;
4. State the causes, prevention and cures for seasickness as well as the impact seasickness has on the effectiveness of the crew;
5. List the appropriate clothing for cruising and describe how its choice is related to safety and comfort;
6. Discuss menu planning and relate it to suitability for the day’s activities;
7. List the minimum contents of a first aid kit for a one week cruise in familiar waters as recommended by the CYA;
8. Know the spare engine parts one might deem prudent for a one week cruise in familiar waters;
9. Know the minimum set of tools required for a one week cruise in local waters;
10. Identify the documents required and the procedures to be followed when;
a) Proceeding to the USA,
b) Returning to Canada from the USA.
Section II: Living Afloat & Cruising Boat Systems
The candidate must be able to:
11. Discuss galley procedures in order to minimize the danger of fire, scalding or other galley accidents;
12. Describe the common cooking systems (stoves and fuels) with respect to safety, convenience, speed of cooking and costs;
13. Discuss the common types of cabin heaters with respect to safety, convenience and cost;
14. Describe the principle elements of the 120V and 12V vessel systems, their use, and considerations for proper battery management;
15. Describe refrigeration system types and state two ways to conserve power when a vessel is equipped with an electric refrigeration system;
16. Describe the safe operation of an anchor windlass including appropriate vessel handling while using this equipment;
17. Differentiate between various sail handling systems and discuss handling and operational considerations of a particular combination of systems including furling systems (foresail, mainsail in mast, mainsail in boom) and mainsail flaking systems.
Section III: Weather
The candidate must be able to:
18. Describe the effect of local heating and cooling of land and water as related to wind and cloud formation;
19. Identify conditions likely to lead to fog.
Section IV: Seamanship
The candidate must be able to:
20. Describe the proper installation of a radar reflector;
21. Describe the complete actions to be taken for the following:
a) Springing a leak, d) Fouling a propeller,
b) Steering fails, e) Collision with another vessel,
c) Grounding, f) Fire;
22. Describe how the vessel should be handled and what remedial action should be taken when the following emergencies occur while under power:
a) The engine fails in an anchorage too crowded to permit safe sailing,
b) The engine fails in a busy channel;
23. Describe in detail two methods of getting a crew overboard back aboard;
24. Describe the information required and the procedures to be followed when tying a boat to a fixed dock in local tidal conditions;
25. State two factors to be considered before allowing anyone to go swimming while the boat is at anchor;
26. Describe how to secure the boat the boat with an anchor on the bow or stern and the other end made fast to dock or shore;
27. Describe the procedures and dangers when using a breast anchor to hold a boat away from a dock or wharf;
28. Describe the methods of rafting at anchor and dangers involved;
29. Describe three methods of recovering fouled anchors;
30. Describe three methods to prevent the dinghy from bumping the boat’s hull when snugging down for the night;
31. Describe handling considerations and differences between an inflatable dinghy, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and a rigid dingy;
32. Describe precautions for safe handling of an outboard motor for the tender and actions to take in the event of accidental submersion;
33. Describe the proper operating procedures for the head and holding tank, list the precautions necessary to prevent malfunction and identify issues relating to holding tank capacity;
34. Describe a seamanlike method of preparing a boat in order that it may be left at the dock or on a mooring for a period of a week or more without crew;
35. Describe the skipper’s responsibilities and actions for the following common courtesies and customs of the yachting community:
a) Permission to board,
b) Permission and entitlement to come alongside,
c) Courtesy in crossing adjacent boats when rafted,
d) Rights of first boat at an anchorage,
e) Keeping clear of boats racing (even though cruising boats may be the stand on vessel),
f) Flag etiquette:
(i) National Flag,
(ii) Courtesy flag,
(iii) Burgee / house flag,
g) Offering assistance to other yachts in trouble;
36. Describe the characteristics, limitations and uses of the following rope:
a) Polypropylene, c) Nylon,
b) Dacron, d) High modulus fibres.
Section V: Navigation & Passage Planning
The candidate must be able to:
37. Convert direction from true to magnetic to compass;
38. Convert direction from compass to magnetic to true;
39. Determine speed, time and distance when two are known;
40. Determine estimated time of arrival (ETA) and revised ETA;
AFLOAT SKILLS
Boat should be 8 to 12 meters long, sloop rigged with an inboard engine.
The candidate must be able to:
1. Perform routine daily and weekly maintenance procedures on engine;
2. Check all CYA recommended equipment aboard regarding its stowage and condition;
3. Sail a vessel of the given size as both skipper and crew:
a) On all points of sail, tacking, gybing, and sailing to weather efficiently,
b) Execute a series of tacks from close hauled to close hauled (six in ten minutes) using appropriate commands, without oversteering or loosing boat speed unduly,
c) Execute a series of gybes while running (six in ten minutes) using appropriate commands, without losing control of the boom or steering,
d) Using the appropriate commands for all turns and changes of tack, assume any point of sail as directed and adjust sails and trim appropriately within a maximum of three minutes,
e) Sail a close hauled course (within 5 degrees) with sails set, keeping foresail telltales flying efficiently and boat moving well for a five minute period,
f) Sail a compass course with sails set properly, with no land references for a minimum of five minutes,
g) Demonstrate appropriate use of the mainsail traveler and foresail cars;
4. Manoeuvre the boat under power in a minimum space;
5. Reef the main sail while underway in an efficient manner;
6. Stop the bow of the boat within 4 feet of a fixed marker in various wind and sea conditions while under power in order to pick up a buoy;
7. Dock with stern or bow to dock or shore using a bow or stern anchor;
8. Apply Rules 1 through 19, 40 and 45 of the Collision Regulations;
9. Demonstrate the use of a spring line to spring a vessel off of and on to a dock;
10. Demonstrate basic use of the VHF marine radio, including Safety, Distress and Urgency calling procedures;
11. Check out that all systems on boat are in working order; engine, stove, electronics, sails, hull, deck hardware etc.;
12. Prepare a suitable hot meal aboard the vessel while in harbour, demonstrating suitable choice of food and drink and economy of resources;
13. Demonstrate suitable methods and precautions while towing a dinghy;
14. Demonstrate how to take soundings using electronic and manual methods;
15. Demonstrate the ‘triangle method’ and one alternative method (i.e. quick stop, fast return, life sling, etc.) of returning to a crew overboard in daytime in moderate winds safely and efficiently with in three minutes using appropriate communications, commands and a spotter;
16. Identify sources of navigation information and local knowledge;
17. Lay off a course and determine compass heading and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) (assuming no current or leeway);
18. Plot and determine your position using deduced reckoning (DR) methodology;
19. Read a chart and identify corresponding landmarks and aids to navigation;
20. Take a fix using visual bearings;
21. Determine the depth above or below chart datum and apply;
22. Pilot a vessel into unfamiliar harbour or anchorage by day using charts and publications and application of passage planning techniques;
23. Throw a heaving line to a target a distance of ten meters away, coming within two meters in three times out of five attempts;
24. Tie a rolling hitch;
25. Obtain and interpret the Marine forecast;
26. Act as skipper and as responsible crew on a live-aboard cruise of at least 48 hours;
27. With specific reference to the vessels engine;
a. Identify and describe the function of the following engine systems:
(i) Ignition and Electrical, (iii) Propulsion, (v) Lubrication,
(ii) Fuel, (iv) Cooling,
b. Describe the basic engine troubleshooting procedures to follow when:
(i) The engine cooling water fails to flow,
(ii) The engine fails to turn over sufficiently when starting,
(iii) The engine overheats;
c. Describe the dangers of excessive engine cranking.
ENDORSEMENTS
Flying Sails
1. Pack, set, hoist, fly, gybe and douse a cruising spinnaker;
2. Describe the advantages of, and demonstrate the use of a whisker pole for sailing downwind with genoa;
Marlinspike Seamanship
3. Make an eye splice in laid line;
4. Whip a line
