# Sailing Skills Underway Part of the Small-Boat Sailing Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/small-boat-sailing/guide/index.md) *6. Handling the Boat Underway* > **6.** Following the Scouting America Safety Afloat plan, show that you and a buddy can sail a boat properly. Do the following: This requirement is the practical center of the badge. It covers the full cycle of a small-boat outing: preparing the boat, launching, sailing the course, handling direction changes, stopping or recovering when things go wrong, helping with towing and rescue situations, and securing the boat when you are done. ## Requirement 6a > **6a.** Prepare a boat for sailing, including a safety inspection. Before a good sailing session, the boat is inspected on land. Check the hull for damage, confirm the rudder and centerboard are ready, inspect lines and fittings, make sure sails are usable, and verify that required safety gear is present. **Pre-Sail Boat Check** — What to inspect before launch - [ ] **Hull and fittings:** no major cracks, leaks, or loose hardware. - [ ] **Rigging and sails:** lines run correctly, no obvious tears or dangerous wear. - [ ] **Steering and foils:** rudder, tiller, and centerboard work freely. - [ ] **Safety gear:** life jackets, bailer, painter, and other required items are aboard. ## Requirement 6b > **6b.** Get underway from a dock, mooring, or beach. ### Getting underway from a dock Keep the boat controlled, the bow pointed where you intend to go, and the crew informed before you cast off. ### Getting underway from a mooring Plan the first sail angle before you release the boat. Wind and nearby traffic matter immediately. ### Getting underway from a beach Move efficiently through shallow water, protect the rudder and centerboard if needed, and get the boat organized before fully powering up. > **Tip** > > A messy launch usually leads to a messy first minute under sail. Talk through who does what before the boat moves. ## Requirement 6c > **6c.** Properly set sails for a round-trip course approved by your counselor that will include running, beating, and reaching-the basic points of sail. While sailing, demonstrate good helmsmanship skills. ### Sail setting for the points of sail The pamphlet identifies five basic points of sail: beating, close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and running. Your requirement specifically calls for running, beating, and reaching, so you should understand how sail trim changes as the wind angle changes. ### Running, beating, and reaching - **Beating:** sails are trimmed in relatively close as you work upwind by tacking. - **Reaching:** sails are eased more than when beating, with trim depending on whether you are on a close, beam, or broad reach. - **Running:** sails are eased farther because the wind comes from behind. ### Good helmsmanship Good helmsmanship means steering smoothly, watching wind and traffic, keeping the boat balanced, and avoiding oversteering. It also means thinking ahead before each tack, jibe, docking approach, or change in wind strength. > **Be Prepared! The boat starts feeling overpowered on the course** > > - **Ease sail power if appropriate** instead of fighting the boat. > - **Flatten the boat with crew position** when trained to do so. > - **Steer smoothly** and avoid sudden, panicked movements. > - **Choose control first** and shorten the drill if conditions exceed the crew's skill. ## Requirement 6d > **6d.** Change direction by tacking; change direction by jibing. ### Change direction by tacking A **tack** turns the bow through the wind. The sails move across as the boat changes from one tack to the other. Tacking is the normal way to make progress upwind. ### Change direction by jibing A **jibe** turns the stern through the wind. Because the boom can swing across more forcefully, jibing demands more control and communication than many beginners expect. > **Safety First!** > > Jibes deserve respect. The crew should know the maneuver is coming, stay low, and keep clear of the boom as it crosses. ## Requirement 6e > **6e.** Demonstrate getting out of irons. A boat is **in irons** when it points into the wind and loses forward motion so completely that the rudder no longer steers effectively. The pamphlet explains that a cat-rigged boat may be backed into reverse briefly with tiller and boom used to push the bow off, while a sloop-rigged boat often gets out of irons by backing the jib until the bow turns away from the wind. The big idea is the same on both rigs: you must get the bow turned enough that the sails can fill on one side again and the boat can regain steerage. > **Tip** > > If your first reaction in irons is to move faster and pull harder on everything, the boat usually stays stuck longer. Think angle and airflow, not panic. ## Requirement 6f > **6f.** Demonstrate the safety position. The pamphlet describes the **safety position** as a convenient way to stop temporarily without going into irons. You place the boat on a close reach and ease the sheets so the sails luff fully. The boat slows to a stop and drifts slowly while staying ready to sail again. This is useful when you need a pause to get bearings, wait for another boat, talk briefly, or handle a small onboard problem without fully losing control of the situation. ## Requirement 6g > **6g.** Demonstrate capsize procedures and the rescue of a person overboard. Note: Capsize procedures should be conducted under the close supervision of the counselor. A rescue boat should be standing by to assist, if necessary, and to tow the capsized craft to shore. Self-bailing boats are acceptable for this requirement. Extreme care should be taken to avoid personal injury and damage to the boat or equipment. This is one of the most serious requirements in the badge. The goal is not to show bravery. The goal is to show calm, correct procedure under close supervision. For a capsize, stay with the boat, account for the crew, follow the counselor's instructions, and use the recovery method appropriate for the training craft. For a person overboard, keep visual contact, communicate clearly, and approach in a controlled way so the rescue does not create a second accident. > **Safety First!** > > Do not practice capsize recovery casually. This requirement specifically calls for close counselor supervision and standby rescue support because cold water, tangled gear, and hull movement can injure people quickly. ## Requirement 6h > **6h.** Demonstrate the procedure to take after running aground. If the boat runs aground, stop making the problem worse. Reduce power in the sails, protect the rudder and centerboard, check whether anyone is hurt, and work through the recovery method your counselor teaches for the boat and bottom conditions. Groundings are as much about judgment as technique. ## Requirement 6i > **6i.** Accept a single line or side tow and maneuver the craft being towed safely for 20 boat lengths. ### Accepting the tow safely A towed boat must stay organized and communicate with the towing craft. Loose lines, poor balance, or surprise turns can make towing unsafe fast. ### Maneuvering while under tow The boat being towed still needs attention. Steer as instructed, avoid sudden movements, and keep the tow line or side-tow setup from becoming a hazard. ## Requirement 6j > **6j.** Upon returning to the dock, mooring, or beach, properly secure all equipment, furl or stow sails, and prepare the craft for unattended docking or beaching overnight or longer. ### Secure all equipment Lines, gear, and safety equipment should be put away so nothing can blow loose, collect water, or create a hazard for the next crew. ### Furl or stow sails Sails should be lowered, rolled, or folded correctly and protected from unnecessary sun, chafe, and weather. ### Prepare the craft for unattended storage Think about changing wind, wake, rain, and overnight conditions. A boat left carelessly can fill with water, damage gear, or break loose. **What This Requirement Really Tests** — More than boat handling alone - [ ] **Preparation before launch** - [ ] **Communication with your buddy** - [ ] **Control during normal maneuvers** - [ ] **Calm recovery during abnormal situations** - [ ] **Discipline after the sail is over** ![Multi-panel sequence showing pre-sail check, launch, tack, jibe, safety position, capsize recovery, and end-of-day securing steps](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/small-boat-sailing/guide/small-boat-sailing-underway-sequence?v=8241b2e4) Once you can handle the boat underway, the next skill set is the ropework and line knowledge sailors use constantly. --- - Previous: [Read the Wind](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/small-boat-sailing/guide/req5/index.md) - Next: [Knots, Lines & Seamanship](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/small-boat-sailing/guide/req7/index.md)