Advanced Dinghy (ED) Test

Eligibility

Any active YCC member who:

• holds a D licence, and
• has sailed at least 4 times on YCC 29er, and
• has used spinnaker and trapeze at least 2 times on the boat and
• has done 3 helper's sessions.

Procedure

To schedule a test, candidates must have completed all the above-mentioned requirements.

A test can be requested by completing the corresponding registration form.

The test coordinator appoints an examiner and arranges a date and time for the test.

• A buoyancy aid must be worn.
• A wetsuit must be worn if the examiner judges that such protection is required.
• A minimum wind speed of 2 Beaufort (4-6 knots) is required to perform the test.
• The examiner may be either on the boat or on a motor boat during the test.
• If on the boat, the examiner acts as normal crew.

Contents of the Test

Rules and Knots

The ED test does not comprise an oral test of the rules but Swiss and YCC regulations are to be respected while sailing. Knots are part of the D test and are not retested.

Rigging

Rig the boat in accordance with the rigging instructions, taking special care to apply sufficient rig tension after hoisting the mainsail.

Sailing

Try to ensure correct sail trim while sailing. Both the helm and the crew should compensate heeling with their weight. Capsizing is to be avoided during this part of the test.

The helm has to be able to use the stick while sailing in all directions. It is good practice, though not a requirement, to use the stick also while running.

Clear communication between helm and crew is required.

Each crew shall execute the following tour:

• Leave the harbour.
• Approach the yellow buoy outside the harbour and stop at the buoy, sails loose, bow into the wind. The crew touches the buoy with either a hand or the paddle. Try at most 3 times.
• From total halt, sail towards the coast opposite Versoix. Tack only if you find yourself going towards Versoix.
• Do a run at beam reach (vent de travers) for approximately a minute.
• Luff, tack and continue at close haul for approximately a minute. The crew uses the trapeze, if wind conditions permit, and demonstrates ability to anticipate gusts and waves. There should be no need for the helm to counterbalance the weight of the crew the moment he leans out in the trapeze.
• Tack again and continue at close haul for approximately a minute. The crew uses the trapeze if wind conditions permit.
• Sail as tight a 360° circle as you can manage adjusting the sails and the rudder position continuously.
• Continue on beam reach (vent de travers) for approximately a minute.
• Bear away to plain running (vent arrière).
• Hoist the spinnaker and continue on broad reach for approximately a minute. The crew adjusts the spinnaker from the trapeze if wind conditions permit.
• Gybe and re-gain broad reach. Involuntary gybing, involuntary luffing after the gybe, going into a broach and re-gybing must be avoided.
• Execute two more gybes.
• Luff to as close to the wind as acceptable under spinnaker and sail for approximately a minute. The crew needs to be in the trapeze and control the spinnaker from there.
• Bear away to running and lower the spinnaker. Parts of spinnaker may briefly touch the water while lowering, but the sail should not drag in the water.
• Return to the yellow buoy.
• Stop the boat close to the buoy with the jib on the windward side of the boat (heaved to - mise à la cape). The crew touches the buoy with either a hand or the paddle. Try at most 3 times.
• Change the helm. The new helm does the same manoeuvres and returns the boat into the harbour.

Wind from the North (sketches in PDF format):

Wind from the South (sketches in PDF format):

Capsizing

• Capsizing is part of the test only if not documented as done during a course or a training session. The exercise is to be done after the sailing part, before returning to the harbour.

Unrigging

• Take down the mainsail in the water.
• Make sure neither the rudder nor the centreboard touches the ground.
• Empty the boat of water.
• Correctly roll and store the sails.
• Fix the cover on the boat such that rain will not accumulate in the cover.
• Tie the boat to the ground.

Norms

While you do your course, the examiner watches for errors and ranks them in three categories: red, of which you're not allowed to make any; orange, of which you're allowed to make 2 provided you make no other errors, or 1 with at most 2 blue errors in addition; blue of which you can make 5, provided you make neither red nor orange errors.

Severe Errors

• Errors which put a person in danger, or which would have put a person in danger had the examiner not intervened. This includes not having a sufficient number of buoyance aids on board, or not wearing them if the conditions warrant this.
• Insufficient knowledge of, or non-respect of priority rules.
• A collision with another boat with you at fault, or an action which would have resulted in a collision had the examiner not intervened, no matter whether the other boat belongs to the YCC or not.
• Not being able to right your boat without external assistance after capsizing.
• Inability to stop your boat by whichever means other than capsizing.

Errors

• Running into the buoys in the channel.
• Failing all three attempts to do a buoy stop with the sails loose at the beginning of the course. This buoy stop is valid if the boat comes to a total halt, the buoy can be reached with a paddle from the boat, and the mast of the boat stays downwind of the buoy.
• Failing all three attempts to do a buoy stop with the jib windward at the end of the course. This buoy stop is valid if the boat comes to a total halt and the buoy can be reached with a paddle from the boat.
• Failing to perform a controlled gybe: e.g. luff or broach after a gybe, accidental re-gybe.
• Loss of control of the rudder or the main sheet while going-about.
• Boat returns to the original course after an attempt at going-about.
• Involuntary capsizing, except when caused by a violent gust.
• Leaving a circle with a radius of 3 boat lengths or losing control of the boat while doing the 360° loop.
• Poor communication between helm and crew.

Warnings

• Problems while rigging the boat, e.g. hoisting a sail entangled in itself or with the halyard entangled in the shrouds, trapeze or spreaders.
• Mistakes while hoisting the spinnaker: ropes entangled, pole not set correctly.
• Spinnaker collapses.
• Spinnaker drags in the water while being taken down; note that the spinnaker may briefly touch the water.
• Sailing towards Versoix after the first stop near the yellow buoy with the boat facing the wind.
• Helm has to move to the leeward side of the boat while the crew uses the trapeze.
• Incorrect angle to the wind.
• Incorrect sail trim.
• Needing additional tacks while approaching the buoy.
• Excessive margin while approaching and rounding the buoy.
• Touching the buoy.
• Need for corrective action by the examiner while unrigging.

Original drafted by Vincenzo Innocente and Udo Wagner, drawings by Udo Wagner, norms from Michel Cornevin.