Question 15 AXS01 - Auxiliary Sail Endorsement

The Correct Answer is A **Why Option A is Correct:** The vessel is currently hove to (effectively stopped or maintaining minimal forward way and significant sideways drift) on the **starboard tack**. * **Wind Direction:** Northeast (approximately 045° true). * **Heading:** Averaging 000° true. * **Tack:** When sailing close-hauled or hove to, the wind comes over the side opposite the tack name. On the starboard tack, the wind is coming over the starboard side (045°). A vessel hove to generally lies with the bow pointing slightly into the wind or oscillating around a central heading. * **Drift Direction (Hove To):** When hove to on the starboard tack, a vessel typically drifts significantly *downwind and across the wind*, meaning the drift is primarily to the **west** or southwest. * **Danger:** The shoal is due **west** (270° true) at 5 miles. Since the current setup (starboard tack, hove to) is causing the vessel to drift rapidly toward the danger (the shoal to the west), the immediate goal must be to change the drift direction or move away quickly. 1. **Change Tack/Drift:** Switching to the **port tack** (by tacking or jibing) would change the direction of drift, which would then be primarily to the **east** or southeast, taking the vessel away from the western danger. 2. **Make Headway South:** If the storm trysail and fore-staysail are used to make actual headway (not just heave to), making way to the **south** (180° true) would immediately increase the range to the shoal (which is west of the vessel). 3. **Conclusion:** Tackling or jibing onto the port tack *and* making all possible headway to the south is the safest and most proactive maneuver to clear the immediate danger presented by the western shoal. **Why the Other Options are Incorrect:** * **B) You need only stay alert for changes, as your present drift will carry you away from the danger.** This is incorrect. As explained above, hove to on the starboard tack with a NE wind causes a significant drift to the west, directly toward the 270° shoal. Staying put is guaranteeing collision (or grounding). * **C) You should strike all sails and get underway under bare poles, making as much way as possible to the north.** This is incorrect. Striking all sails and running under bare poles would subject the schooner to uncontrolled and extremely rapid downwind drift (to the SW/W), accelerating the vessel toward the shoal. Making way to the north (000°) would slightly increase the distance from the danger but is a slow and ineffective way to clear a shoal directly to leeward in a storm. * **D) You should set a reefed foresail and strike the jib.** This is incorrect. Changing sail configuration without changing the fundamental fact that the vessel is drifting onto a lee shore/shoal does not solve the core problem. The schooner needs to change tack/drift direction and gain separation from the leeward danger, which requires a change in course and/or tack. Furthermore, the existing rig (storm trysail and fore-staysail) is often considered the most appropriate heavy weather sail configuration already; changing to a reefed foresail may be unnecessary or destabilizing.