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ASA 106 – Advanced Coastal Cruising Exam | Latest
Verified Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This comprehensive set of multiple-choice questions comprehensively covers the ASA 106
– Advanced Coastal Cruising curriculum, including heavy-weather sail handling, advanced
anchoring techniques, navigation with tides and currents, emergency procedures,
COLREGS, radar and electronic navigation, voyage planning, and sail trim. Each question is
designed to test practical decision-making and theoretical knowledge required for safely
conducting extended coastal passages beyond basic cruising, with expert rationales
reinforcing key concepts.
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a storm trysail on a coastal cruising sailboat?
A) To increase boat speed in light air
B) To replace the mainsail for racing in heavy wind
C) To provide a smaller, more durable sail area for control in high winds
D) To act as a spinnaker for downwind runs
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: A trysail is a small, heavy-weather sail that replaces the mainsail to
maintain control and reduce heeling in storm conditions.
QUESTION 2
When preparing for a gale offshore, which action is most important regarding deck
gear?
A) Remove all lifelines to reduce windage
B) Secure all loose gear and double-lash dinghies and deck boxes
C) Inflate all fenders for extra buoyancy
D) Raise the radar reflector to the masthead
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CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Unsecured deck gear becomes dangerous projectiles in heavy seas;
lashing everything down is critical for safety.
QUESTION 3
What does the term “lee shore” mean in advanced coastal cruising?
A) A shore that is downwind of your vessel
B) A shore protected from the wind by land
C) A shoreline with no navigational hazards
D) A shore where anchoring is prohibited
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A lee shore is land onto which the wind is blowing, creating a risk
of being driven aground.
QUESTION 4
How should you heave to under mainsail and jib in heavy weather?
A) Sheet the mainsail flat and back the jib to windward
B) Drop both sails and deploy a sea anchor
C) Sheet the jib flat and back the mainsail
D) Sail on a broad reach with jib only
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Backing the jib to windward while the mainsail is sheeted
amidships balances the boat and keeps it at a stable angle to the wind.
QUESTION 5
What is the recommended scope for an all-chain rode when anchoring in 30 knots of
wind with a good holding bottom?
A) 3:1
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B) 5:1
C) 7:1
D) 10:1
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: With all chain and strong winds, 5:1 is typical; more scope (7:1) is
used for storm conditions or poor holding.
QUESTION 6
When crossing a bar at a river entrance, when is the safest time?
A) At maximum ebb tide
B) At maximum flood tide
C) At slack water before the flood begins
D) Any time if wind is offshore
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Slack water before flood reduces breaking waves and provides
rising water levels, making bar crossing safest.
QUESTION 7
What is the primary function of a preventer on a sailboat?
A) To prevent the mainsail from accidentally gybing
B) To prevent the anchor from dragging
C) To prevent chafe on dock lines
D) To prevent the engine from overheating
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A preventer is a line from the boom end forward to a deck fitting,
stopping an uncontrolled gybe.
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QUESTION 8
In advanced coastal navigation, what is “danger bearing”?
A) A bearing that, if crossed, indicates immediate danger
B) A bearing used only at night
C) A bearing to a lighthouse that marks a harbor entrance
D) A bearing that compensates for variation
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A danger bearing is a plotted line on a chart beyond which the
vessel would be in unsafe waters.
QUESTION 9
What does a red cone pointing upward on a lateral buoy indicate (IALA B)?
A) Keep the buoy to starboard when returning from sea
B) Keep the buoy to port when entering from sea
C) The buoy marks an isolated danger
D) The buoy is a special mark for anchorages
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: In IALA B (US), red, even-numbered, cone-top buoys are kept to
starboard when returning from sea.
QUESTION 10
You are planning a 200-mile coastal passage. According to the 1/3 rule for fuel, how
much fuel should you reserve?
A) One third of the total fuel for contingency
B) One third for the outbound leg, one third for return, one third reserve
C) One third of the tank for engine flushing
D) One third for the first day only
CORRECT ANSWER: B
ASA 106 – Advanced Coastal Cruising Exam | Latest
Verified Questions and Detailed Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This comprehensive set of multiple-choice questions comprehensively covers the ASA 106
– Advanced Coastal Cruising curriculum, including heavy-weather sail handling, advanced
anchoring techniques, navigation with tides and currents, emergency procedures,
COLREGS, radar and electronic navigation, voyage planning, and sail trim. Each question is
designed to test practical decision-making and theoretical knowledge required for safely
conducting extended coastal passages beyond basic cruising, with expert rationales
reinforcing key concepts.
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a storm trysail on a coastal cruising sailboat?
A) To increase boat speed in light air
B) To replace the mainsail for racing in heavy wind
C) To provide a smaller, more durable sail area for control in high winds
D) To act as a spinnaker for downwind runs
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: A trysail is a small, heavy-weather sail that replaces the mainsail to
maintain control and reduce heeling in storm conditions.
QUESTION 2
When preparing for a gale offshore, which action is most important regarding deck
gear?
A) Remove all lifelines to reduce windage
B) Secure all loose gear and double-lash dinghies and deck boxes
C) Inflate all fenders for extra buoyancy
D) Raise the radar reflector to the masthead
,2|Page
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Unsecured deck gear becomes dangerous projectiles in heavy seas;
lashing everything down is critical for safety.
QUESTION 3
What does the term “lee shore” mean in advanced coastal cruising?
A) A shore that is downwind of your vessel
B) A shore protected from the wind by land
C) A shoreline with no navigational hazards
D) A shore where anchoring is prohibited
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A lee shore is land onto which the wind is blowing, creating a risk
of being driven aground.
QUESTION 4
How should you heave to under mainsail and jib in heavy weather?
A) Sheet the mainsail flat and back the jib to windward
B) Drop both sails and deploy a sea anchor
C) Sheet the jib flat and back the mainsail
D) Sail on a broad reach with jib only
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: Backing the jib to windward while the mainsail is sheeted
amidships balances the boat and keeps it at a stable angle to the wind.
QUESTION 5
What is the recommended scope for an all-chain rode when anchoring in 30 knots of
wind with a good holding bottom?
A) 3:1
,3|Page
B) 5:1
C) 7:1
D) 10:1
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: With all chain and strong winds, 5:1 is typical; more scope (7:1) is
used for storm conditions or poor holding.
QUESTION 6
When crossing a bar at a river entrance, when is the safest time?
A) At maximum ebb tide
B) At maximum flood tide
C) At slack water before the flood begins
D) Any time if wind is offshore
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Slack water before flood reduces breaking waves and provides
rising water levels, making bar crossing safest.
QUESTION 7
What is the primary function of a preventer on a sailboat?
A) To prevent the mainsail from accidentally gybing
B) To prevent the anchor from dragging
C) To prevent chafe on dock lines
D) To prevent the engine from overheating
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A preventer is a line from the boom end forward to a deck fitting,
stopping an uncontrolled gybe.
, 4|Page
QUESTION 8
In advanced coastal navigation, what is “danger bearing”?
A) A bearing that, if crossed, indicates immediate danger
B) A bearing used only at night
C) A bearing to a lighthouse that marks a harbor entrance
D) A bearing that compensates for variation
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: A danger bearing is a plotted line on a chart beyond which the
vessel would be in unsafe waters.
QUESTION 9
What does a red cone pointing upward on a lateral buoy indicate (IALA B)?
A) Keep the buoy to starboard when returning from sea
B) Keep the buoy to port when entering from sea
C) The buoy marks an isolated danger
D) The buoy is a special mark for anchorages
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: In IALA B (US), red, even-numbered, cone-top buoys are kept to
starboard when returning from sea.
QUESTION 10
You are planning a 200-mile coastal passage. According to the 1/3 rule for fuel, how
much fuel should you reserve?
A) One third of the total fuel for contingency
B) One third for the outbound leg, one third for return, one third reserve
C) One third of the tank for engine flushing
D) One third for the first day only
CORRECT ANSWER: B
