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Quiz about Sail Ho
Quiz about Sail Ho

Sail Ho! Trivia Quiz


Last week I went out on San Francisco Bay with my friend Jim aboard his new sailboat. Sailing terms are confusing, and the whole day was one misunderstanding after another. Maybe this quiz will help you to avoid the mistakes I made.

A multiple-choice quiz by bettona. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
bettona
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
208,225
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
486
Last 3 plays: Guest 5 (8/10), Guest 209 (7/10), Andyboy2021 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. After we left the dock Jim asked me to hold the tiller. I looked around for a farmer, but we were the only people on board. What did Jim ask me to do? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Once we were underway, Jim sent me to the bow to keep a sharp lookout because he didn't want to hit a dolphin. Gee, I didn't know there were dolphins in San Francisco Bay! While I was peering down into the water to look for one, there was a crunch and we ran into a dolphin, but it wasn't the marine mammal. What was it? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Jim asked me to look at a chart to find out if the water was deep enough for us to enter Richardson Bay. The chart showed a depth of half a fathom so I told him it was plenty deep. We got stuck in the mud. How much is a fathom? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Jim asked me to tie a sail on deck. Unfortunately, the knot I tied came undone and the sail blew overboard. Jim said I must have tied what kind of knot? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Jim decided to show me how to make a very useful knot. He said I could learn how to tie it if I'd remember a story about a squirrel that comes up a hole, goes around a tree, and then goes back down the hole. What kind of knot did he teach me? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. We decided to anchor for lunch. Jim gave me the anchor and told me to lower it over the side and hold on to the bitter end. I did as he said and tasted the end of the rope. It was salty, not bitter, so I threw it overboard. We lost the anchor. What is the bitter end? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. When Jim went below to make coffee. He asked me to steer the boat to port. The port of San Francisco was to my right, so I headed in that direction. Jim was annoyed. Apparently I hadn't steered to port but to __________. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Jim wondered aloud if perhaps the shrouds needed tightening. That sounded pretty grim, and he'd mentioned the boat's wake, too. I felt better after he explained that the shrouds are what? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Jim pointed to the mainsail and said it was fully battened with a large roach. A large roach? Yeech! But Jim wasn't talking about vermin. What is the roach of a sail? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. When we finally got back to the marina. Jim said after a day like that he needed to splice the mainbrace. What was Jim planning to do? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 5: 8/10
Feb 01 2024 : Guest 209: 7/10
Jan 31 2024 : Andyboy2021: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. After we left the dock Jim asked me to hold the tiller. I looked around for a farmer, but we were the only people on board. What did Jim ask me to do?

Answer: Steer the boat

A tiller is a straight piece of wood or metal which fits into the head of the rudder and is used for steering a boat.
2. Once we were underway, Jim sent me to the bow to keep a sharp lookout because he didn't want to hit a dolphin. Gee, I didn't know there were dolphins in San Francisco Bay! While I was peering down into the water to look for one, there was a crunch and we ran into a dolphin, but it wasn't the marine mammal. What was it?

Answer: A group of piles

A dolphin is a group of piles (usually three) driven close together and bound with wire cables into a single structure. Often used as aid to navigation.
3. Jim asked me to look at a chart to find out if the water was deep enough for us to enter Richardson Bay. The chart showed a depth of half a fathom so I told him it was plenty deep. We got stuck in the mud. How much is a fathom?

Answer: Six feet

A fathom is a measure of water depth equal to six feet.
4. Jim asked me to tie a sail on deck. Unfortunately, the knot I tied came undone and the sail blew overboard. Jim said I must have tied what kind of knot?

Answer: A granny knot

A granny knot resembles a square knot but with the second tie crossed incorrectly, it slips easily and has no place aboard a boat.
5. Jim decided to show me how to make a very useful knot. He said I could learn how to tie it if I'd remember a story about a squirrel that comes up a hole, goes around a tree, and then goes back down the hole. What kind of knot did he teach me?

Answer: A bowline

Every sailor knows this story, though sometimes the animal is a rabbit or a mouse.
6. We decided to anchor for lunch. Jim gave me the anchor and told me to lower it over the side and hold on to the bitter end. I did as he said and tasted the end of the rope. It was salty, not bitter, so I threw it overboard. We lost the anchor. What is the bitter end?

Answer: The inboard end of a chain or line

In the case of an anchor line, it's the end which is attached to some part of the boat, usually a cleat.
7. When Jim went below to make coffee. He asked me to steer the boat to port. The port of San Francisco was to my right, so I headed in that direction. Jim was annoyed. Apparently I hadn't steered to port but to __________.

Answer: Starboard

Starboard is the right side of the boat when facing forward and port is the opposite.
8. Jim wondered aloud if perhaps the shrouds needed tightening. That sounded pretty grim, and he'd mentioned the boat's wake, too. I felt better after he explained that the shrouds are what?

Answer: Rigging which supports the mast from the sides

A sailboat mast is supported from the sides by shrouds and fore and aft by stays.
9. Jim pointed to the mainsail and said it was fully battened with a large roach. A large roach? Yeech! But Jim wasn't talking about vermin. What is the roach of a sail?

Answer: The outward curve in the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

This curved portion of a sail increases the sail area and is often supported by battens, or slats sewn into the sail to keep it from sagging.
10. When we finally got back to the marina. Jim said after a day like that he needed to splice the mainbrace. What was Jim planning to do?

Answer: Have a drink

This British nautical term dates from the 17th century.
Source: Author bettona

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