Study guides · Stuff Every Sailing Scout Should Know
Practice facts for the Small-Boat Sailing merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Sailing Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Short answer: It provides sideways resistance so the boat can sail upwind
Underwater foils resist the sideways push of the sails, letting the boat make progress toward the wind.
Groan of the day: That keel is really keeping things on the straight and narrow.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The side facing upwind
Windward means the upwind side, while leeward is the downwind side of the boat.
Groan of the day: Windward is where the wind is headed first.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The right-hand side
Starboard is the right-hand side of a vessel, and port is the left-hand side.
Groan of the day: Starboard is the right side, and that is the right answer.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The forward part of the hull
The bow is the front or forward part of the hull, while the stern is the rear.
Groan of the day: The bow takes a bow at the front of the boat.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The aft part of the hull
The stern is the rear or aft part of the hull, opposite the bow.
Groan of the day: The stern is stern about staying at the back.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Halyards
Halyards raise sails, while sheets adjust them and guys control spar ends.
Groan of the day: Halyards give the sails a lift.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Sheets
Sheets trim or adjust sails and are often named for the sail they control.
Groan of the day: Pull the sheet and the sail changes its angle.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The line that attaches the boat to its anchor
A rode connects an anchored boat to its anchor, unlike docklines used alongside.
Groan of the day: A rode is the road between boat and anchor.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: It is a light, large sail used for sailing off the wind
Spinnakers are light, large, curved sails made for downwind or off-the-wind sailing.
Groan of the day: A spinnaker is a big sail that loves to run with the wind.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Whether airflow over the sail is smooth or turbulent
Tell-tales are streamers that reveal whether flow over the sail is smooth or turbulent for proper trim.
Groan of the day: Tell-tales tell the tale of the airflow.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: It reduces sail area for stronger winds
Reefing reduces sail area so the boat stays upright and manageable when the wind builds.
Groan of the day: Reefing is a great way to take some wind out of your sails.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The arc too close to the wind where sails cannot make power
Sails cannot generate power in the arc roughly 45 degrees either side of the wind.
Groan of the day: The no-go zone is where sailing says no.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: About 90 degrees off the side of the boat
On a beam reach the wind comes from about 90 degrees off the boat, across its side.
Groan of the day: On a beam reach the wind hits you broadside.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: In the same direction as the wind
Running means sailing in the same direction the wind is blowing, about 180 degrees off it.
Groan of the day: Running downwind means the wind is at your back.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The bow turns through the wind so the wind crosses to the other side
Tacking turns the bow into and through the wind so the sails fill from the other side.
Groan of the day: Tacking is a turn that keeps you on your toes.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The stern turns past the wind so it crosses to the other side
Jibing turns the stern past the wind so the wind shifts to the other side of the boat.
Groan of the day: A jibe turns the stern through the wind, so watch your head.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Because the destination lies inside the no-go zone
If the goal is inside the no-go zone, the boat must tack back and forth, called beating to windward.
Groan of the day: Beating to windward is a zigzag that gets you there.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Leaning over to one side from wind force on the sails
Heeling is the boat leaning sideways in reaction to wind pushing on the sails.
Groan of the day: Heeling is the boat leaning into the wind's push.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: By shifting weight to balance the boat
Shifting crew weight across the boat helps counteract the heeling force of the wind.
Groan of the day: Crew weight is a balancing act you can move around.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Turn toward the wind
A weather helm makes the boat want to turn into the wind, needing correction to hold course.
Groan of the day: Weather helm means the boat wants to head into the weather.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Midships
Small sailboats are usually designed for crew to sit midships to minimize hull drag.
Groan of the day: Midships is the middle ground for crew placement.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The speed at which the bow wave length equals the waterline length
Hull speed occurs when the bow wave length matches the waterline length, limiting displacement boats.
Groan of the day: Hull speed is where the boat and its wave agree on length.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Smooth airflow leading from one sail to the other
The jib and mainsail are trimmed so smooth flow leads from one to the other, boosting power.
Groan of the day: The slot effect is teamwork between two sails.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Flatter
The higher the wind speed, the flatter the sail should be to avoid being overpowered.
Groan of the day: In strong wind, a flat sail is where it is at.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: To describe your trip so others know where you are going
A float plan tells someone your route and timing so help can respond if you are overdue.
Groan of the day: A float plan floats the idea of where you will be.
Sources: Scouting America: Small-Boat Sailing
Short answer: Use sunscreen and cover up
Sunburn prevention includes sunscreen and protective clothing, since sun reflects off the water.
Groan of the day: Sunscreen keeps your sail-time from becoming fry-time.
Sources: Scouting America: Small-Boat Sailing
Short answer: Drink water regularly before you feel thirsty
Dehydration is a listed sailing illness, so drink water regularly rather than waiting for thirst.
Groan of the day: Keep water handy so you do not run dry.
Sources: Scouting America: Small-Boat Sailing
Short answer: Safety practices for boating activities
Safety Afloat is the Scouting America policy for safe boating activities, including small-boat sailing.
Groan of the day: Safety Afloat keeps safety from going overboard.
Sources: Scouting America: Small-Boat Sailing
Short answer: Coiled neatly
Lines and halyards are typically coiled neatly so they stay ready for reuse and out of the way.
Groan of the day: A coiled line is a well-rounded sailor.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The left-hand side
Port is the left-hand side of a vessel, while starboard is the right-hand side.
Groan of the day: Port is the left, so port is not right.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The widest part
The beam is the widest part of the boat, measured across its middle.
Groan of the day: The beam is the broad-minded part of the boat.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Toward the rear
Aft or abaft means rearward, toward the back of the boat.
Groan of the day: Aft is where the boat keeps its behind.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Movable lines that control sails or equipment
Running rigging is the collective name for movable lines that control sails or other equipment.
Groan of the day: Running rigging really gets around.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Striking sails
Downhauls are lines that strike or lower sails, while halyards raise them.
Groan of the day: A downhaul brings the sail down, haul and all.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Controlling the ends of spars such as spinnaker poles
Guys control the ends of other spars, such as spinnaker poles.
Groan of the day: Guys keep the spinnaker pole in good company.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Tying a boat up alongside
Docklines, also called mooring warps, are the lines used to tie a boat up when alongside.
Groan of the day: Docklines are tied up at the office.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The downwind side
The leeward side is the downwind side, opposite the windward side.
Groan of the day: Leeward is the side that goes with the flow.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: About 135 degrees
At 135 degrees off the wind, a craft is on a broad reach.
Groan of the day: A broad reach is a wide-angle view of the wind.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: About 45 degrees
For many craft the arc about 45 degrees either side of the wind is a no-go zone where sails cannot make power.
Groan of the day: The no-go zone is a no-sail neighborhood.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: A series of tacks on a zigzag route upwind
Beating to windward means tacking back and forth on a zigzag route to reach a point upwind.
Groan of the day: Beating to windward is a zigzag win.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: A wind shift that helps you along your course
A lift is a favorable wind shift that improves the boat's ability to travel toward its waypoint.
Groan of the day: A lift gives your course a boost.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: An unfavorable wind shift
A header is an unfavorable wind shift that works against the boat's course.
Groan of the day: A header is a headwind for your plans.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Offshore at night and onshore during the day
Along coasts, winds often flow off the shore at night and onto the shore during the day.
Groan of the day: Coastal winds are real day-and-night opposites.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Plan for how currents affect the boat's track
Mariners use tide and current tables to plan for how water movement affects the vessel's track.
Groan of the day: Current tables keep you up to date on the water.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Proper trim
Smooth flow on both sides of the sail indicates the sail is properly trimmed.
Groan of the day: Smooth flow means the trim is on a roll.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: The outhaul, halyard, boom vang, and backstay
The outhaul, halyard, boom vang, and backstay control sail curvature appropriate to wind speed.
Groan of the day: These lines shape up the sail.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Lowering the sail about one-quarter to one-third and securing the lower part
Slab reefing lowers the sail about one-quarter to one-third of its length and secures the lower part.
Groan of the day: Slab reefing takes the sail down a notch.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Lowers the center of effort and reduces heeling
Reducing sail area lowers the center of effort, reducing the heeling moment and keeping the boat more upright.
Groan of the day: Reefing keeps the boat from tipping its hat too far.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: Turn away from the wind
A lee helm makes the boat want to turn away from the wind, opposite of a weather helm.
Groan of the day: Lee helm turns its back on the wind.
Sources: Sailing
Short answer: When the center of sail force and hull resistance are closely aligned
When the center of force and center of resistance are closely aligned, the helm is neutral and needs little input.
Groan of the day: A neutral helm is a well-balanced relationship.
Sources: Sailing
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It provides sideways resistance so the boat can sail upwind. Underwater foils resist the sideways push of the sails, letting the boat make progress toward the wind.
It reduces sail area for stronger winds. Reefing reduces sail area so the boat stays upright and manageable when the wind builds.
Midships. Small sailboats are usually designed for crew to sit midships to minimize hull drag.
The widest part. The beam is the widest part of the boat, measured across its middle.
A wind shift that helps you along your course. A lift is a favorable wind shift that improves the boat's ability to travel toward its waypoint.
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