Winds/Currents/Tides

Question 1

If you are sailing “Off” the wind, you are on a ________, ________, or ________

Answer 1

Beam reach

Broad reach

Running

Question 2

Regarding weather reports, what does a “gale warning” mean

Answer 2

Winds speeds:

34-47 knots (39-54 mph)

Question 3

Waves are the product of ________

Answer 3

Wind (in many cases)

Question 4

What happens to apparent wind in a “puff”

Answer 4

Apparent wind increases in strength and shifts toward the stern

Question 5

What does “Running” mean

Answer 5

Sailing with wind directly behind you

Question 6

What does “Beam Reach” mean

Answer 6

The wind is at a right angle to the boat

Question 7

Up is short for ________

“Bring her up” means ________

Answer 7

Upwind

Turn toward the wind

Question 8

What is an anemmeter

Answer 8

An instrument for measuring wind speed

Question 9

Do we sail to true wind or apparent wind

Answer 9

Apparent wind

-The wind we feel on our face is the same wind the sails feel, thats what you would trim the sails for

Question 10

What is a “Neap Tide”

When do neap tides occur

Answer 10

Weak tides - small differences between the highs and lows

Twice a month, 7 days after a “spring tide”, and when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other

Question 11

What does “Broad Reach” mean

Answer 11

Wind blowing slightly in a leeward/downwind direction

or

Sailing between a “Beam Reach” and “Running”

or

Wind blowing between beam and stern

Question 12

What does “MHW” mean on charts

Answer 12

Mean High Water

The average high water level

Question 13

Regarding weather reports, what does a “small craft advisory” mean

Answer 13

Wind speeds:

20-33 knots (24-38 mph)

Question 14

How many tides occur in the Gulf of Mexico

Answer 14

Once a day (diurnal)

-Only one high and one low per day

Question 15

What does “leeward” mean

Answer 15

Anything downwind

or

The side of the boat furthest from the wind

Question 16

What is the speed of a current called

Answer 16

Drift

Question 17

Sailing “Off” the wind means ________

Answer 17

Your course is in a leeward direction (sailing downwind)

Question 18

What is a “Spring Tide”

When do spring tides occur

Answer 18

Strong tides - large difference between the highs and lows (about 20% more than average)

Twice a month when the moon, sun, and earth are in alignment

Question 19

What is a “masthead fly”

Answer 19

A wind indicator at the top of the mast

Question 20

Sailing “On” the wind means ________

Answer 20

Your course is in a windward direction (sailing upwind)

Question 21

When sailing, current can be determined by

Answer 21

Watching the water move around a fixed object

Question 22

Regarding weather reports, what does a “storm warning” mean

Answer 22

Winds speeds:

48-63 knots (55-72 mph)

Question 23

What are “incoming” and “outgoing“ tides called

Answer 23

Incoming - Flood

Outgoing - Ebb

Question 24

How many minutes are there between tides

Are there any outside factors affecting these times

Answer 24

6 hours and 12 minutes

Yes; local winds and weather

Question 25

Where do you place “telltales” to determine wind direction

Answer 25

On the shrouds

Question 26

Over most of the world, tides usually happen how many times a day

Answer 26

Semidiurnal (twice a day) | -two equal highs and lows

Question 27

What is the easiest and fastest point of sail

Answer 27

Beam Reach

Question 28

What is the foundation of wind patterns

Answer 28

Differences in temperature between the equator and the poles -Warm air rising is replaced by colder air There is also - Earths eastward rotation - Areas of high and low pressures - Land-masses - Land and sea breezes

Question 29

If you are sailing “On” the wind, you are either ________ or ________

Answer 29

Close hauled or Close reach

Question 30

What does “MLLW” mean on charts

Answer 30

Mean Lower Low Water The average height of the lowest low tides *This is the water depth displayed on charts

Question 31

How do the physics of sailing change while “Running”

Answer 31

Sails lose aerodynamic lift and act as wind catchers to push the boat

Question 32

Down is short for ________ “Bring her down” means ________

Answer 32

Downwind Turn away from the wind

Question 33

Waves can be manipulated by outside forces. Name some examples

Answer 33

- Currents from rivers - Narrow passages - Points of land - Tides running against the waves - Shallow underwater ledges

Question 34

What does “Close Hauled” mean

Answer 34

Sailing as close to the wind as possible

Question 35

What does “Close Reach” mean

Answer 35

Wind blowing slightly in a windward/upwind direction or Sailing between “Close Hauled” and “Beam Reach” or Wind blowing between beam and bow

Question 36

What is a “Land Breeze”

Answer 36

At night, land and the surrounding air cools more rapidly than air over the water -This causes a wind from land to water

Question 37

What does “windward” mean

Answer 37

Anything upwind or The side of the boat closest to the wind

Question 38

What is a “Sea Breeze”

Answer 38

At daytime, land and the surrounding air heats up, rises, and is replaced by cooler air from the water -This causes a wind from water to land

Question 39

Why is “Running” the slowest course

Answer 39

The faster you go the less apparent wind there is to push you

Question 40

What causes “tides”

Answer 40

The gravitational pull of the moon and to a lesser extent the sun

Question 41

What is “True Wind” vs “Apparent Wind”

Answer 41

True wind is wind you feel standing still Apparent wind is a combination of true wind and the wind created by our moving forward

Question 42

Can you determine the current if you know the wind direction

Answer 42

Yes; look at the waters surface Waves/chop = current running against the wind Smooth/calm = wind and current aligned Rough looking sea = strong wind blows against the current