2002 JSA of LIS Navigation Test

July 29, 2001 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Riverside Yacht Club – Indian Harbor Yacht Club – Port Washington Yacht Club

Your Name __________________________________ Club _____________________ Age _______

Are you: An instructor? Yes No Sharing a chart with someone else? Yes No

This test has been designed to simulate the job that you would have to perform as navigator on a race like the Beach Point Overnight race. During this test, you will navigate your way around a course on western Long Island Sound. Your race starts at 1600 one afternoon and finishes later that night. Along the way you must answer a number of questions to help get your boat (a J/35) to the finish line both quickly and safely.

Course Buoy Description Leave it to

Start Bell "42" "Scotch Caps" off Mamaroneck Harbor (NY)

Mark 1 Gong "23" Prospect Point (west approach to Hempstead Harbor) Port

Mark 2 Bell "32" "The Cows" off Stamford Harbor (CT) Starboard

Mark 3 Gong "15" One mile north of Lloyd Point (Long Island) Port

Mark 4 Bell "26" Off the Norwalk Islands (CT) Starboard

Mark 5 Gong "11B" 2.5 miles north of Eatons Neck (Long Island) Starboard

Finish Bell "42" "Scotch Caps" off Mamaroneck Harbor (NY)

* Right now, before you start the test, write these numbers next to each mark on your chart.

Unless otherwise stated in the test questions:

– Assume that the wind, current, boatspeed, etc. is the same as it was in the previous question(s).

– Assume all bearings are given in magnetic and all distances in nautical miles.

– Assume your boat makes no leeway, and there is no deviation in your compass.

– Assume all wind velocities and directions given represent your "sailing wind" (i.e. they include the

true wind plus the effects of any current or leeway).

– Assume the rise and fall of the tide on race day is 7.0 feet. Low tide is at 1730; high tide about 2400.

When selecting or writing your answers:

– There is no penalty for choosing incorrect answers to the multiple choice questions.

– For distances, give your answer to the nearest 0.1 nautical miles (e.g. 6.3 miles).

– For speeds, give your answer to the nearest 0.1 knots (nautical miles per hour; e.g. 4.3 knots).

– Express all bearings as magnetic to the nearest degree (e.g. 125°).

– For times, give your answer to the nearest minute (e.g. 35 minutes, or 1632).

– There will be a certain margin of error allowed for each fill-in-the-blank answer.

– Be sure to "label" your answers.

About this test:

– You will have a maximum of 90 minutes to work on the test.

– You must work entirely on your own, even though you may be sharing a chart. Be aware that the person next to you may have a different version of the test than you.

– Last year, everyone who took this test passed it and was able to sail in the Dorade and Beach Point!

GOOD LUCK!

Do not turn this page until you are instructed to do so.

1) Before you start the overnight race, your skipper gives you a copy of the sailing instructions and asks you to write out the magnetic bearings and distances for each of the six legs of the course you will be sailing. You create the following chart, which you post in the cockpit for all crewmembers to see:

Leg Bearing Distance (2 pts each)

(See page 1 for marks) (degrees magnetic) (nautical miles)

Start to Mark 1 _______________ _______________

Mark 1 to Mark 2 _______________ _______________

Mark 2 to Mark 3 _______________ _______________

Mark 3 to Mark 4 _______________ _______________

Mark 4 to Mark 5 _______________ _______________

Mark 5 to Finish _______________ _______________

2) You make sure to post the Magnetic bearings (not True), since these are what your compass reads (assuming you have no deviation). (1 pt each)

2.1 The difference between true and magnetic bearings is called variation. True False

2.2 In the middle of Long Island Sound, the variation is about 14° East. True False

2.3 In our area, the amount of variation increases slightly every year. True False

3) Before the start, you note that the wind is bowing from 215° at 15 knots. The current is negligible. The race committee anchors their boat to set a starting line with Bell "42" as the pin end. You ask your skipper to sail outside the committee boat end so you can sight down the line. When you look through the committee boat flag toward the pin end (Bell "42"), they line up exactly with Gong "21", which is way over near Matinecock Point on Long Island.

Using this information, which end of the starting line is more upwind? (3 pts)

A. RC boat end B. Pin end (Bell "42") C. They're even D. Can't tell from this info

4) The first leg is upwind to Mark 1 (Gong "23" off Prospect Point). If the wind doesn't shift during this leg, will you spend more time on port tack or on starboard tack? (2 pts)

A. Port tack B. Starboard tack C. They're equal D. Can't tell from this info

5) You start the race on starboard tack and steer an average course of 177° as you come off the line. If the wind direction is still 215°, what will be your rough heading when you tack onto port?

A. 243° B. 248° C. 253° D. 258° (2 pts)

6) You continue on port tack for a while until you approach the starboard-tack layline. In the waves and wind, you know you are making about 3 degrees of leeway when sailing upwind. What will be the bearing of the mark (Gong "23") when you can tack and fetch the mark perfectly on starboard tack?

A. 174° B. 177° C. 180° D. Other (2 pts)

7) As you sail up the first beat, your average boatspeed on a closehauled course is 6.0 knots. At this rate, about how long will it take you to sail from the start to the first mark? (2 pts)

A. 30 minutes B. 40 minutes C. 60 minutes D. Can't tell

8) Stars & Stripes, the biggest boat in your class, went around the windward mark first at 1655, and you estimate their speed on the next leg at 7.5 knots. You round the mark exactly two minutes after them. At this point, about how far ahead of you is Stars & Stripes?

8.1 In miles: A. 0.25 m B. 0.5 m C. 0.75 m D. 1.0 m E. Can't tell (2 pts)

8.2 In yards: A. 100 yds B. 250 yds C. 500 yds D. 1,000 yds E. Can't tell (1 pt)

8.3 In boatlengths (of your boat, a J/35):

A. 10 bls B. 30 bls C. 45 bls D. 80 bls E. Can't tell (1 pt)

9) Stars & Stripes has a PHRF rating of 30, while the PHRF rating for your J/35 is 72. This means Stars & Stripes must give you a time allowance of 42 seconds for every mile you sail. At the first mark, which of you two was ahead on corrected time? (1 pt)

A. Stars & Stripes B. Your J/35 C. Both are dead even D. Can't tell

MARK 1 (Gong "23" off Prospect Point at western approach to Hempstead Harbor)

You round Gong "23" and bear off on a course directly toward Mark 2 (Bell "32"). Your speed on Leg 2 is a steady 7.0 knots. The current is still slack.

10) Your true wind angle (TWA) is the angle between the true wind direction and the course you are steering. The apparent wind angle (AWA) is the angle between your apparent wind (the wind you feel) and the course you are steering. If the wind direction is 215° and you are steering straight down the rhumbline toward Mark 2:

10.1 What will be your approximate TWA? A. 120° B. 150° C. 180° (2 pts)

10.2 Would you expect your AWA to be greater or less than the TWA?

A. Greater B. Less C. The same (1 pt)

11) Over the radio you hear a report that a small gravel barge has been anchored temporarily in the middle of Long Island Sound off Greenwich. The location of this barge is Latitude 40° 56.6' North and Longitude 73° 36.5' West. If you sail straight down the rhumbline from Mark 1 to Mark 2, where will go relative to the barge ?

A. You'll pass it on your port side B. You'll pass it on your starboard side (3 pts)

C. You will run right into it D. You can't tell from this info

12) When you round Mark 1, you settle on a course of 065° at an average speed of 7.0 knots. After 30 minutes, you see the green flashing light of Gong "21" to starboard. Using dead reckoning, what should this buoy bear from you? __________ (3 pts)

13) At 1800 you see a flashing red light about a mile away off your starboard bow. This light bears 140°. At the same time, your depth sounder says the depth is 77 feet. From this point:

13.1 What is the distance to the next mark (Bell "32")? ___________ (2 pts)

13.2 At what time will you round Bell "32"? ___________ (2 pts)

(Assume your boatspeed is now 7.5 knots and there is no current)

MARK 2 (Bell "32" – "The Cows" off Stamford, CT)

When you get to Bell "32", you note the following: 1) The wind has lightened to 10 knots and shifted right to 230°; and 2) The current has begun to flood and is now flowing from east to west at 0.5 knots.

14) As the flood current continues to strengthen, would you expect the seas to get rougher or smoother (assuming the wind direction stays the same)?

A. Rougher B. Smoother C. Stay the same (2 pt)

15) Your boatspeed on Leg 3 (from Mark 2 to Mark 3) will average about 6.0 knots. In order to allow for the effects of current, what course should you steer so you sail directly toward Mark 3? (2 pts)

A. 151° B. 156° C. 161° D. 166° E. 171°

16) As you approach Mark 3 (Gong "15"), you look ahead to the next leg (from Mark 3 to Mark 4), which will be a long downwind leg with spinnaker. If the wind (230°) and current (0.5 knots from 090°) stay the same, which tack (jibe) will be longer on the next leg?

A. Port tack B. Starboard tack C. They're equal D. Can't tell from this info (2 pts)

17) You know from past experience in your J/35 that your jibing angle in 10 knots of wind is 50°. (This is the angle between your optimal heading on each jibe.) If you round Mark 3 and do a bearaway spinnaker set (remaining on starboard tack), what will be your approximate heading on starboard jibe? (The wind direction is still 230°.) (2 pts)

A. 025° B. 050° C. 075° D. 100°

MARK 3 (Gong "15", one mile north of Lloyd Point, Long Island)

As you round Gong "15" to port and head for Mark 4 (Bell "26") you note the following:

The time is 1855. The wind is still blowing from 230° at 10 knots. The current is now running at 0.75 knots from east to west.

18) After rounding Mark 3, you set your chute and sail downwind on starboard tack. Your speed is about 5.0 knots. What will be the approximate strength of your apparent wind? (1 pt)

A. 6 knots B. 10 knots C. 14 knots D. Other

19) About an hour after rounding Mark 3, it starts getting dark and you can see the bright light of Eatons Neck lighthouse on your starboard side.

19.1 What color is the light? A. Red B. Green C. White D. Other (2 pt)

19.2 What type of light is the Eatons Neck Lighthouse?

A. Flashing B. Fixed C. Alternating D. Other (1 pt)

19.3 The light at Eatons Neck lighthouse is located 144 feet above: (1 pt)

A. Mean low water B. Mean high water C. The base of the lighthouse D) Other

20) While you were sailing on starboard jibe, the other J/35 in the race jibed onto port and separated from you toward Connecticut. You can see their masthead light far to the northwest, and now they bear 315° from you. If the wind direction is still 230°, which boat is ahead in the race (assume both boats have the same PHRF rating)? (2 pts)

A. You're ahead B. The other J/35 is ahead C. Both boats are even D. You can't tell

21) You keep sailing on starboard jibe until you are very close to the port-tack layline to Mark 4 (Bell "26"). What will be the approximate bearing of Mark 4 when you can jibe and fetch the mark on port tack? (Remember the current!) (2 pts)

A. 015° B. 025° C. 035° D. 045°

MARK 4 (Bell "26" off the Norwalk Islands, CT)

You douse your spinnaker and jibe around Mark 4, leaving it to starboard. The time is 2105. You are now sailing upwind on starboard tack. The wind direction has shifted left to 210° and is still 10 knots. Your upwind speed is 6.0 knots and the current is still flooding at 0.75 knots.

22) To sail upwind from mark 4 to Mark 5 (Gong "11B"), will you spend more time on starboard tack or port tack?

A. Port tack B. Starboard tack C. They're equal D. Can't tell from this info (2 pts)

23) While you continue on starboard tack, the other J/35 has tacked onto port and is separating from you. What would the bearing of this boat have to be in order for the two of you to be even in the race?

A. 120° B. 210° C. 300° D. 310° (2 pts)

24) When you finally tack onto port, you find that you have overstood Mark 5. As you pass Mark 5 you are actually about 0.25 miles inside it (to the south). This course takes you right over the shallowest spot in this area, marked by a small blue circle on the chart. What will your depth sounder read when you cross this spot?

A. 11 feet B. 16 feet C. 21 feet D. 35 feet (2 pts)

MARK 5 (Gong "11B" – 2.5 miles north of Eatons Neck, Long Island)

When you pass this mark the wind is blowing 12 knots from 200°.The current has slowed to 0.5 knots from the east and your boatspeed on the last leg is 6.7 knots through the water.

25) As you sail toward the finish, what speed are you making good over the bottom? ________ (1 pt)

26) At the navigator's desk, there is a chart with the following information for your boat:

True Wind Angle Best headsail

< 60° Genoa A

60° to 100° Genoa and staysail B

100° to 150° Spinnaker and staysail C

>150° Spinnaker D

Circle the letter of the sail(s) you would use for sailing straight toward the finish line. (2 pts)

27) Soon after passing Gong "11B", you see a smaller buoy to windward (toward the south) with the marking "E".

27.1 This buoy has a light . True False (2 pt)

27.2 This buoy has a pointed top. True False (1 pt)

27.3 This buoy is solid green. True False (1 pt)

28) About half an hour after rounding Mark 5, you can see the port bow light of a tugboat to leeward and ahead. It looks like the tug is pulling a barge on a southerly course straight out of Stamford Harbor. To ensure your safety, you begin to take bearings on the tug. The first one is 315°. A couple minutes later you get a bearing of 317°, and several minutes after that the tug bears 321°. If your boat and the tug both maintain their course and speed:

A. You will cross in front of the tug B. You will cross behind the tug (3 pts)

C. You will collide with the tug D. You can't tell from the info given

29) After another half hour, you look toward the south (to windward). Way up in Oyster Bay you can see a fixed white light. On the chart you notice that this lighthouse has a "red sector" to its west. What is the purpose of this red sector? (2 pts)

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

30) A little later you can see the lighthouse at Great Captain's Island again to leeward. This light alternates flashing white and red. How long is the interval from one red flash to the next?

A. 6 seconds B. 12 seconds C. 24 seconds D. Other (1 pt)

31) At 2315, Great Captain's Light bears 329°. Twenty minutes later the same light bears 018°. During that time you averaged 7.5 knots over the bottom on a course of 270°. From your second position (at 2335), what is the distance and bearing to Bell "42" at the finish line?

Distance to Bell "42" ____________ (2 pts)

Bearing to Bell "42" _____________ (1 pt)

32) Before you reach the finish, you decide to test your brand new digital hand-bearing compass. You notice that the small print on this compass says it has a deviation of 3° West on all points. You take a bearing of 019° on R"40" at Porgy Shoal near Rye, NY. What is the magnetic bearing of this buoy?

A. 016° B. 019° C. 022° D. Other E. Can't tell (2 pts)

33) As you near the finish, the race committee announces over the radio that they have left the finish line exactly the same as the starting line (see Question 3 for details). At which end should you finish?

A. RC boat end B. Pin end (Bell "42") C. They're even D. Can't tell (2 pts)

34) You finish the race right around midnight! At that point, the tide is high and the current is slack. What will be the approximate water depth at Bell "42"?

A. 26 feet B. 30 feet C. 37 feet D. 48 feet E. Other (1 pt)

Congratulations! You have finished the race safely and quickly, and now you are finished with this test!

Extra Credit

1) When you were sailing toward the finish line on Leg 6, the gravel barge from Question 11 was still anchored in its same position (see # 11 for longitude and latitude).

1.1 This time where did you go relative to the barge ? (1 pt)

A. You passed it on your port side B. You passed it on your starboard side

C. You ran right into it D. You can't tell from this info

1.2 About how far did you pass from the barge? ______________ (1 pt)

(Give your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile – if you hit it, answer 0)

2) After you finished the race, you found out that Stars & Stripes crossed the finish line exactly 29 minutes and 30 seconds before you. Use the PHRF ratings given in Question 7 to figure out:

2.1 Which boat finished better on corrected time? (1 pt)

A. Stars & Stripes B. Your J/35 C. Both were dead even D. Can't tell

2.2 By how many minutes and/or seconds did the first boat win? _________ (1 pt)

(If it was a tie, your answer should be 0)