Sailing Skills Stage 4
From Scouts Canada Wiki
Sailing Skills - Stage 4 Competencies & Requirements
- I know how to find an appropriate PFD that is the right size and fit for me.
- Scouts should be able to describe what is required to find and put on a properly-sized PFD.
- I am aware that everyone must wear properly fitted PFD while in a boat.
- To ensure the safety of Scouts on the water, Scouts Canada watercraft regulations require that all persons in a boat must wear a properly fitted PFD.
- I am familiar with the signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia.
- Scouts need to be fully able to identify and treat severe hypothermia, and understand the importance of avoiding hypothermia.
- I can describe and demonstrate safety in and on the water.
- Scouts need to be aware of local hazards in and around boats, on the water, in known local conditions and in unknown conditions when near water.
- I know how to properly secure a towline to my sailboat.
- Scouts should be able to describe where to secure a towline and how to prepare a sailboat for towing.
- I know the hazards for sailing in different weather conditions.
- Scouts need to know and explain how different weather conditions (wind, rain, sun and cold) can impact a daysail and have an understanding of the hazards associated with different weather.
- I understand balance in the sailboat and know how to sail the boat flat.
- Scouts should be able to describe how to move body position to balance the sailboat and to keep the sailboat flat.
- I understand how to trim my sail to get the best performance from the sailboat.
- Scouts should be able to describe how to properly trim the sails: where the sails should be when close hauled, and the mechanics of luffing the sail to depower.
- I can tie eight knots that are useful when sailing, canoeing or camping.
- Scouts must be able to tie the eight knots listed below (time limit: 30 seconds each knot).
- Under the direction of the Skipper, I have sailed my sailboat forward for 200 metres.
- Under direction of the Skipper, Scouts should be able to sail their boat forward in a reasonably straight line for a short distance. As much as possible, Scouts should do this with another youth. Adults may be a passenger and/or crew.
- I can demonstrate how to steer a sailboat going upwind or downwind.
- Under direction of the Skipper, Scouts will be able to head up or bear off the wind depending on the wind conditions and direction.
- I can demonstrate how to balance my sailboat and can sail the boat flat.
- Under direction of the Skipper, Scouts should be able to move body position to balance the sailboat and to keep the sailboat flat.
- I have capsized the sailboat and recovered to an upright position.
- Scouts will have rocked a sailboat until it capsizes to gain a sense of the critical “heeling point of no return”.
- Scouts should never jump out of the boat, and they must stay with the boat and help the Skipper recover the boat to an upright position.
- I can get back into the sail boat solo, or with help from the Skipper, if my boat capsizes.
- A Scout should be able to right a capsized sailboat with the help of the crew/Skipper, or solo, and demonstrate re-entry over the transom or gunwale.
- I can help my Skipper to return the sailboat to the dock or to the beach safely.
- A Scout, acting as crew, should be able to assist the Skipper to dock or beach the boat safely, and then lift the boat from the water to dry land storage.
- I can de-rig a sailboat, dry the sails and store all the parts properly.
- Scouts, by themselves, should be are able to put all the parts of a boat into proper storage when they are finished with each sailing experience.
- I have taken part in at least four daysails of four hours each, or eight daysails of at least two hours each, on safe, familiar waters.
- In addition to the daysail completed for the previous three stages, Scouts must have completed at least four four-hour daysail adventures or eight two-hour sailing adventures for a total of 16 hours.
- Scouts must demonstrate all of the sailing skills expected of a crew with a more experienced Stage 7 Scout/Venturer/Rover Scout in the sailboat.
- I can toss a throw bag so that someone in the water can reach it.
- Scouts should be able to toss throw a throw bag to within 2 metres of a person in the water.
- I can swim and demonstrate the HELP and huddle positions while in the water wearing a PFD.
- While in the water, Scouts should demonstrate the solo HELP position and the huddle positions with other Scouts for 7 minutes.
- I have been introduced to self-help procedures and can explain how to perform the HELP position by myself and the huddle position with others.
- Scouts should be able to describe when to perform the HELP and huddle positions and what the self-help positions are intended to do in the water.