ASA Risk Management & Mitigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a passage, you notice a persistent lee shore ahead with building seas. What is the best risk management strategy?
- Anchor as close to the lee shore as possible to reduce wave fetch
- Alter course well in advance to increase sea room away from the danger (Correct answer)
- Deploy a sea anchor to stop the boat in open water
- Call for a tow immediately before conditions worsen
Correct answer: Alter course well in advance to increase sea room away from the danger
Gaining sea room early, before conditions force action, is the cardinal rule when a lee shore threatens.
Question 2: A crewmember suffers a suspected broken arm after a jibing accident. What is the initial treatment priority?
- Splint the arm with available materials and manage for shock (Correct answer)
- Immediately signal for helicopter evacuation regardless of distance to port
- Administer maximum available pain medication and continue passage
- Have the injured crewmember keep sailing to prevent them going into shock
Correct answer: Splint the arm with available materials and manage for shock
Immobilizing the fracture and monitoring for shock are first-aid priorities before deciding on evacuation.
Question 3: Which condition most increases the risk of hypothermia for a sailor in temperate waters?
- Sailing in light winds above 60°F air temperature
- Immersion in 65°F water while wearing cotton clothing (Correct answer)
- Working the foredeck in a light rain while wearing foul-weather gear
- Sitting in the cockpit on a sunny day without sunscreen
Correct answer: Immersion in 65°F water while wearing cotton clothing
Cotton loses all insulating value when wet, and 65°F water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air.
Question 4: What is the correct sequence for a Mayday call on VHF radio?
- State vessel name, then position, then nature of distress, then number of persons
- "Mayday" three times, vessel name three times, position, nature of distress, persons aboard, any other info (Correct answer)
- Channel 16 pan-pan call, then switch to working channel for details
- Give position first, then vessel name, then Mayday three times
Correct answer: "Mayday" three times, vessel name three times, position, nature of distress, persons aboard, any other info
The ITU-standardized Mayday format starts with the distress word repeated three times, then vessel name three times, followed by position and situation details.
Question 5: What is the primary risk of sailing in reduced visibility without radar or AIS?
- Increased fuel consumption due to slower speeds
- Inability to detect approaching vessels and collision risk (Correct answer)
- Compass deviation caused by foggy air masses
- Higher UV exposure from scattered light through fog
Correct answer: Inability to detect approaching vessels and collision risk
In fog or reduced visibility, collision with undetected vessels is the dominant risk for boats without electronic detection aids.
Question 6: Which best describes the purpose of the 'five D's' of risk management in sailing?
- Detect, Decide, Deviate, Dive, and Disembark
- Detect, Diagnose, Decide, Deploy resources, and Debrief
- Detect the hazard, Determine its severity, Devise a plan, Deploy the plan, and Debrief the outcome (Correct answer)
- Drift assessment, Depth check, Direction change, Distance calculation, and Distress signaling
Correct answer: Detect the hazard, Determine its severity, Devise a plan, Deploy the plan, and Debrief the outcome
The five D's provide a structured process: identify the hazard, assess it, plan a response, act, and learn from the outcome.
Question 7: Before entering a harbor with breaking waves on the bar, what is the most important risk mitigation step?
- Increase engine RPM to full throttle to punch through quickly
- Time entry for slack water and verify depths against current tide tables (Correct answer)
- Drop all sails and proceed under bare poles to reduce freeboard
- Anchor outside the bar until a Coast Guard escort is available
Correct answer: Time entry for slack water and verify depths against current tide tables
Bar conditions depend heavily on tidal state; entering at slack water and verifying depths minimizes surf and grounding risk.
ASA Risk Management & Mitigation 3
During a passage, you notice a persistent lee shore ahead with building seas.
What is the best risk management strategy?