Requirements June 1972 until August 1982

1. Before doing other requirements, swim 100 yards as follows: 75 yards with any strokes. Then 25 yards on your back using an easy resting stroke. Then rest by floating as still as you can for 1 minute.

2. Describe the following:

(a) Sailing dinghy, catboat, yawl, sloop, ketch, schooner, cutter, and catamaran.

(b) Lateen, Marconi, leg-o-mutton, spritsail, standing lug, and sliding gunter.

(c) Jibs, spinnaker, mainsail, staysail, foresail, mizzen, and jigger.

3. Draw a Marconi-rigged and a gaff-rigged boat. Show in each drawing the following:

(a) The names of the sails and spars.
(b) The names of the sides and corners of all the sails.
(c) The names of the main parts of each. Explain their use.

4. Tell the general reason for the centerboard, keel and dagger board, bilgeboard, and leeboard. Tell their differences.

5. Describe how you would care for and maintain a sailboat and its gear throughout the year.

6. Do the following:

(a) Show how to tie the square or reef knot, clove hitch, bowline, figure-eight, sheet bend, slipknot, mooring hitch, and round turn with two half hitches. Tell the use of each.

(b) Show how to secure sheets so they don't jam. Properly coil and hang sheets or halyards.

(c) Make the following splices: long, short, and eye.

(d) Describe shipping, worming, parceling, and serving.

(e) Show how to throw a line. Show how to belay.

(f) Describe the kinds of fibers used in rope. Tell the advantages of each.

7. Know the sailing rules of the road. Include the following:

(a) Government rules of the road compared with the yacht racing rules in your locality.

(b) Rules about night lights on sailboats.

(c) How a sailboat legally becomes a motorboat.

(d) When a sailboat must keep clear of a motorboat.

8. List the safety gear and safety rules that are needed on a sailboat when under way.

9. Describe the safety procedures to use in the following: helping others, bad weather, running aground.

10. Explain the safety rules to use in the following: capsize, man overboard, picking up a tow.

11. Explain: center of effort, irons (in irons), luffing, apparent wind, loose-footed, wing and wing, and one design.

12. With the help of another person, show you can sail a boat properly by doing the following. Use proper safety.

(a) Get under way from a mooring or dock.
(b) Set the sails.
(c) Beat, reach, and run.
(d) Jibe.
(e) Reef.
(f) Anchor.
(g) Land at a mooring or dock.
(h) Furl or stow the sails.

13. Give a short history of the America's Cup.

Requirements August 1982 until September 1995

1. Before doing other requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side stroke, breast stroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible.

2. Describe the boat you will be using for the sailing requirement, naming all of the major parts and the function of those parts.* Tell the difference between keel, centerboard, dagger board, bilgeboard, and leeboard. Explain the purpose of each.

3. Before going afloat do the following:

(a) Discuss the nine points of the BSA Safety Afloat plan.
(b) Discuss the rules of the road in general and specific rules or laws that apply to your area or state.
(c) Discuss with your counselor how the hazards of weather and heavy water conditions can affect both safety and performance in sailing.
(d) Prepare a typical float plan.

4. With the help of a buddy, show you can sail a boat properly by doing the following:

(a) Prepare the boat for sailing, include a safety inspection.
(b) Get under way from a dock, mooring, or beach.
(c) Properly set sails for a course that will include running, beating, and reaching_-the basic points of sailing.
(d) Change tack by coming about; by jibing.
(e) Anchor properly.
(f) Demonstrate the rescue of a man overboard and capsize procedures.+
(g) Demonstrate the procedure to use in the following: helping others, bad weather, running aground.
(h) Upon returning to your dock, mooring, or beach, properly secure all equipment, furl or stow sails, and prepare the craft for unattended docking, mooring, or beaching for overnight or longer.

5. Have a working knowledge of marlinspike seamanship and do the following:

(a) Show how to tie the square or reef knot, clove hitch, two half hitches, bowline, figure-eight knot, and mooring hitch. Demonstrate the use of each.
(b) Show how to heave a line, coil a line, fake down a line.
(c) Whip the ends of a line; tell why whippings are used.
(d) Discuss the kinds of lines used on sailboats and the types of fibers used in their manufacture. Tell the advantages and disadvantages of each.

6. Describe how you would care for and maintain a sailboat and its gear throughout the year.

7. With the counselor, review sailing terminology; include points of sailing. Discuss various types of sailboats in use today; tell their differences.

8. Give a short history of sailing in the United States, including its importance in the growth of our nation. Discuss commercial and recreational sailing, including racing and the America's Cup. This requirement may be completed in written or oral form.

* The skills may be demonstrated on any boat available to the Scout. While no specific sail plan is recommended, it is suggested that craft be under 20 feet. The boat must have the capability of sailing to windward.

+ Capsize procedures should be conducted under the close supervision of the counselor. A rescue boat should be standing by to assist, if necessary, and to tow the capsized craft to shore. Self-bailing boats are acceptable for this requirement. Extreme care should be taken to avoid personal injury and damage to the boat or its equipment.