DETAILED ADVENTURE SKILLS STAGES REQUIREMENTS
| Stage 1 | I can assist in the launch and recovery of a sailing dinghy |
| I know about the buddy system | |
| I know the importance of a personal floatation device | |
| I know the correct clothing to wear when sailing | |
| I can take the help and steer a reasonably straight course | |
| I know I cannot go afloat if the wind is greater than force 4 | |
| I can point out the bow, stern, port and starboard of a boat | |
| I know how to contact the emergency services | |
| I know why it is important to stay with a capsized boat | |
| I understand why I should follow directions from an instructor | |
| I can show the limits of where I may go each time I go afloat for sailing | |
| I know basic sailing theory | |
| I have taken part in two half-day sailing exercises consisting of a minimum of two hours afloat | |
| Stage 2 | I can assist with the rigging and de-rigging of a vessel |
| I can explain what impact I may have on local vegetation when launching and retrieving a sailing dinghy | |
| I have discussed ‘Weils Disease’ and the precautions necessary to take part in open water activities | |
| I can put on my own personal floatation device properly | |
| I know why I should wear suitable footwear | |
| I know basic sailing skills including what to do in the event of a capsize | |
| I know sailing theory | |
| I can make a recognised distress signal and raise the alarm if I see somebody in difficulty on the water | |
| I know what hypothermia is | |
| I know basic collision avoidance | |
| I can conduct myself in a careful and safe way in a boat and around water | |
| I can get a weather forecast | |
| I can tie the following knots: Round turn and two half hitches, Figure of Eight and Bowline | |
| I have taken part in at least four half day sailing activities consisting of a minimum of two hours afloat | |
| Stage 3 | I can assist with rigging and de-rigging, launch and recover |
| I can put on my personal floatation device and adjust it properly | |
| I know why wearing layers of clothing is a good idea | |
| I know basic sailing techniques | |
| I know the basics of sailing theory | |
| I have taken part in a capsize drill | |
| I can get into the dinghy from the water in a safe way | |
| I know how to do CPR and place a victim in the recovery position | |
| I know that I should following the instructions of the person in charge of the boat | |
| I understand the terms that are used in a maritime weather forecast | |
| I have taken part in at least 3 fill day sailing activities consisting of a minimum of four hours afloat | |
| Stage 4 | I can assist with the launching, rigging and recovering a small sailing dinghy |
| I know the main principles of leave no trace | |
| I know that there are different type of personal floatation device | |
| I can explain why wearing the correct outerwear is important | |
| I can paddle or row a boat in a straight line | |
| I can demonstrate all the points of sailing with assistance as both crew and helm | |
| I can help another person safely into a sailing dinghy from the water | |
| I can coil a line and heave it to a casualty to affect a simulated rescue | |
| I know the safety precautions required for water based activities | |
| I can describe the implications of offshore and onshore winds, high winds and no winds when sailing | |
| I can describe how often high and low tides take place and the implications these might have when going afloat | |
| I know that where I may go boating may change in different conditions | |
| I have taken part in 6 full day exercises afloat | |
| Stage 5 | I can rig and equip a sailing boat for safe use in a variety of weather conditions |
| I can demonstrate how to manoeuvre a sailing boat as a menber of the crew | |
| I know the five essentials and can apply them to all points of sailing | |
| I can take a leading role in mooring and unmooring a sailing boat including sailing on and off the mooring | |
| I can assist in the anchoring of a sailing boat | |
| I can identify and name the main parts of common anchor types | |
| I know why it is important to have some training in first aid and can show how to care for someone who is very cold | |
| I know the parts of the international regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea that apply to my boat and local boating waters | |
| I can obtain a weather forecast and know how the information might affect planned activities afloat | |
| I know how currents and the ebb and flow of the tide affect my local boating waters | |
| I know how to use channel 16 on marine VHF and have an understanding of the use of distress flares | |
| I have taken part in 6 full-day exercises afloat | |
| I have taken part in one expedition afloat | |
| Stage 6 | I can de-rig, secure and care for the hull of the sailing boat that I use including using the listed control lines to set the boat up to sail efficiently upwind, downwind and on a reach demonstrating optimum sheeting |
| I can carry out the routine inspection of a personal floation device | |
| I can take the helm of a sailing boat and demonstrate how to undertake various manoeuvres, demonstrating a constant awareness and application of the five essentials | |
| I know how to obtain maximum leverage when hiking or trapezing | |
| I know how sails and foils work and interact to drive a sailing boat | |
| I can take a leading part in anchoring a sailing boat including knowing how and when to use a tripping line | |
| I know what to do if someone is caught under an inverted boat and can right an inverted boat | |
| I know what causes tides and how spring an dneap tides might affect sailors | |
| I can recognise the main weather patterns illustrated by a synopic chart and can interpret the forecast | |
| I can identify common weather conditions and describe how they may affect boating conditions | |
| I am familiar with the main features of restricted waters as defined for my group | |
| I know how and when to make distress and urgency calls and safety announcements on marine VHF | |
| I have taken part in 8 full-day exercises afloat | |
| I have taken part in one expedition afloat | |
| I have instructed at four people in four of the areas up to stage 3 | |
| Stage 7 | I can take a leading part in the manual handling of a sailing boat ashore ensuring safe handling procedures including preparing a sailing boat for safe transportation by road |
| I can rig any sailing boat and identify all the parts | |
| I know under which circumstances different personal floatation devices are appropiate | |
| I can take charge of a sailing boat in moderate winds and carry out all the required manoeuvres including holding a course using instruments and transits | |
| I can take a leading part in selecting a good anchorage | |
| I can take charge of a boat and respond efficiently to a (simulated) emergency | |
| I know what lights should be shown by the most common vessels in my area and know what lights should be shown by a sailing boat | |
| I know the international regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea | |
| I can interpret the current forecast and make sound decisions on planned activities in view of expected weather and sea conditions and tidal effects | |
| I know the hazzards an dhow the weather may affect ‘restricted waters’ for my group | |
| I know how to get suitable information for ‘safe enclosed’ boating waters that are not my groups local waters (e.g. For camp) | |
| I can assist in developing a passage plan for a day trip | |
| I know how to read and set a chart, plot and estimate positions | |
| I have a working knowledge of GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress Safety Systems) as it applies to EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacons) and DSC (Digital Selective Calling) | |
| I have taken part in 10 full-day exercises afloat | |
| I have taken part in 1 overnight expedition afloat outside my normal boating waters | |
| I have instructed at least 4 people in at least six of the areas up to stage 5 | |
| Stage 8 | I can take a leading part in the safe handling of a sailing boat ashore |
| I can rig any sailing boat including optimizing the rig and boat for a given set of conditions | |
| I understand the different safety precautions that must be taken when a group of boats are operating together | |
| I can carry out all the sailing manoeuvres in strong winds including setting up and controling the boat while on the plane | |
| I can describe how sails interact and demonstrate techniques to maxmimise this effect | |
| I have a good understanding of the merits of different anchor types for different locations and conditions | |
| I can carry out man over board and capsize drills in test conditions | |
| I know what sound signals the most common types of vessel in my area should make | |
| I have researched at least five pieces of weather lore | |
| I am familiar with ‘Day Crusing water’ for my group | |
| I can use the information from a charts etc. to plan an expedition in restricted waters | |
| I have an understanding of the ‘capture effect’ as it applies to marine VHF | |
| I have taken part in 10 full-day exercises afloat | |
| I have taken part in an overnight expedition involving more than one boat | |
| I have instructed at least 4 people in at least seven of the areas up to stage 6 | |
| Stage 9 | I can rig any sailing boat and identify all the parts |
| I can carry out all the sailing manoeuvres for this to a very high standard | |
| I can use an outboard engine to manoeuvre a boat while in displacement mode | |
| I have the skills and knowledge required to spend a night on board or camping | |
| I can anchor a boat efficiently to 2 anchors | |
| I can jury-rig a sailing boat improvise and deploy a sea anchor and know what spares and tools should be carried aboard | |
| I have completed the requirement for the emergencies stage 7 | |
| I know how to interact with the emegrency services | |
| I know what sound signals the most commonn types of vessel in my area should make | |
| I can identify the type aspect and behaviour of vessels by day or night from lights, shapes and sounds | |
| I know the procedure for entry to and departure from a harbour and understand the requirement to file a passage plan under SOLAS regulation | |
| I can complete a rough synoptic chart from a maritime weather forecast or similar data and use this information to make sound decisions on planned activities in view of expected weather and sea conditions | |
| I am familiar with any local rules and bylaws that apply to day cruising waters for my group | |
| I can devise a pilot/passage plan and programme that plan into a GPS | |
| I have taken part in 10 full day exercises afloat | |
| I have taken part in an overnight expedition in coastal waters | |
| I have instructed at least 4 people in at least five areas up to stage 8 |