Yngling (Y) Test

Objective

To ensure all Yngling key holders can safely skipper a YCC Yngling on Lake Geneva and contribute to the maintenance of the club's Yngling fleet.

Eligibility

Any active YCC member who has:

• Sailed at least 4 times on a YCC Yngling; these outings must be recorded on the logbook system.
• Done 3 helper's sessions since the beginning of the season; the sessions can be done after the test, but the key will not be granted until the sessions are done.
• Mastered all the items listed below under both the Sailing test and the Maintenance test; candidates are encouraged to maintain a learning log for these items.

Even experienced sailors who are new to the club will need to gain an understanding of:

• The Yngling, a boat which has many virtues but also some challenges especially when paddling to and then leaving the rigging buoy in strong winds.
• How the club works, namely as an association, not a boat rental company.
• The lake which is arguably more dangerous than the sea with very rapid changes in wind force and direction.

Procedure

Candidates need to fulfill both the Sailing and the Maintenance requirements to obtain the key

To this purpose, they will print out the YCC Yngling test card and they will ask their Yngling skippers to sign the card, following the instructions given on the card itself. Only yngling course teachers and experienced yngling skippers can sign. Once the card is fully completed, candidates can apply for the Sailing test outing, described at the end of this page.

Yngling Test Card

The card contains various sections, to be filled in by the candidates and their Yngling skippers, following these requirements:

• The wind force must be between 2 and 4 Beaufort (inclusive) for the main manoeuvres.
• Boat control must be shown as helm person in high wind – min. 3-4 Beaufort (can be in a separate outing).

During the test, the candidate is expected to:

• Explain priority rules in and around the harbour as well as on the lake.
• Explain pre-sail safety checks for the day (weather/wind, boat, and crew).
• Paddle and helm at same time, with only a single crew.
• Tie knots (bowline, square/reef, figure of eight, clove hitch with added half hitch, round turn and two half-hitches), without hesitation, and explain where these are used.
• Rig the boat correctly according to the expected wind.
• Distribute tasks and give clear directions, at all times.
• Proper sailing for all points of sail, especially close-hauled and broad reach.
• Safe and controlled tacks and jibes.
• Check for other boats and priorities; Predictable route when approaching other boats.
• Leave and return to the mooring place, respecting other vessels, without touching jetty or other boats.
• Leave the rigging buoy on the announced tack.
• Harbour manoeuvres under control: Sail inside the main harbour channel; Stop at the buoy.
• 360° around an outside buoy, within 3 boat lengths, announcing points of sail.
• Stop at the buoy.
• Man-overboard manoeuvre.
• Control boat when sailing backwards.

Norms

The following norms will be applied during the test:

The club webpages regarding Safety, Maintenance and club rules related to sailing must be known.

The candidate

• At no time, puts any person in danger of injury nor potentially damages other boats (mild or otherwise).
• Checks for other boats, knows and respects priority rules, shows predictable route when approaching other boats.
• Briefs crew before and when executing any manoeuvres.

Inside Harbour

• Shows awareness of and courtesy towards other harbour users.
• Explains a plan B for potential problems (eg., getting stuck in weeds, encountering other boats approaching, backwards sailing, etc.).
• Before leaving the boat, checks that all parts of boat are left properly and neatly.

Man-OverBoard (MOB)

• Appoints lookout to keep pointing to MOB.
• Returns to MOB as quickly as possible (even a good swimmer in cold water at night would need a very quick manoeuvre).
• Brings boat to a stand-still, with mainsail and MOB on leeward side, between shrouds and stern, for 5 seconds. Return method can be chosen by the candidate provided it is explained beforehand.
• MOB can be easily reached.
• MOB, at no time, is hit by, nor at any time, is underneath, the boat.
• Ensures manoeuvre is safe for all crew.

Stop at the Buoy (inside and outside harbour)

• Arrives with bow into the wind and brings boat to stop.
• Moving the boom by hand is permitted.
• Buoy is easily reached by handa.
• No drifting.

Maintenance Section of the Yngling Test Card

The Maintenance test examiner is Tim Foster who organises tests on request. The test takes place in the harbour but does not involve an outing.

• Candidates will be assessed on Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, and Motivation.
• Normally the test takes about 45 minutes with a group of up to four well prepared candidates.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Understand the responsibilities of club members in maintaining and repairing boats.
• Understand the role of the maintenance coordinators and know who they are.

Boat Logbooks

• Know who is responsible for filling in the logbook after each outing.
• Know how to access the logbook.
• Be able to list the minimum details which need to be logged.
• Be able to explain what to do if the boat is damaged in an accident involving a YCC boat.
• Be able to explain what to do if anyone is injured in an accident involving a YCC boat.
• Know how to report key system problems.

Moorings and Fenders

• Understand the importance of correct tension in the mooring lines.
• Understand how the rear mooring buoy is kept in position and how the mooring line is attached to the buoy.
• Understand how to avoid that the rear mooring line becomes tangled around the mooring buoy.
• Understand the correct positioning of fenders.

Sails

• Understand how to ensure sails have as long a life as possible.
• Know what should be in the sail repair kit.
• Know when and how to use the items in the sail repair kit.

Fixtures and Fittings on Boat

• Understand the importance of checking the boat before each outing and listing the most common faults to look out for.

Tools, Spare Parts and other Resources

• Know where the toolbox is, how to access it and what can be found in it.
• Know where and how to obtain spare parts which are not available in the toolbox.
• Know what resources are available on the web site.

Sailing Test

Scheduling the final sailing Test

To schedule the final Sailing test, once they have fulfil all the above-mentioned requirements and their YCC Yngling test card is complete, candidates must:

1. Fill in the YCC Yngling test form.
2. Send an email to the Yngling examiners: ycc-examiners-Y@cern.ch.
3. Attach a copy of their YCC Yngling test card.

The examiners will invite the first available candidate(s), according to their availability, for the final Sailing test. During this final outing a few of the above-mentioned test items will be retested, at the examiner's discretion. Priority will be given to items involving safety, like MOB recovering procedure; leaving and returning to the mooring place; harbour manoeuvers; etc.

Test duration, should wind permit, is around 2 hours. Verbal feedback is shared with the candidate during or after the test.

The yngling examiners are:

• Denise Lew
• Helen Morris
• Jean Vasic
• Lajos Cseppento
• Mathias Monier
• Michael van Eck
• Nathalie Birt
• Paolo Gradassi
• Silvia Costantini