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Sailin’ Through Trivia Quiz: Nautical Nonsense & 161 Knot-So-Common Questions

September 10, 2023 By Anastasia Voloshina Leave a Comment

Ahoy, trivia mates! Prepare to set sail on the sea of knowledge with our quiz that’s chock-full of maritime merriment! We promise it’s knot your average quiz. From bow to stern, we’ve navigated the seven seas of facts to bring you a boatload of questions that will surely float your boat! So hoist the anchor, man the helm, and let’s get this ship-quizzical adventure started!

1. Who was the first person to sail solo around the world?

2. What is the world’s largest sailing yacht?

3. What year did the America’s Cup start?

4. How long did the longest sailing voyage last?

5. What is the name of the sailor who holds the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation?

6. What’s the most expensive material commonly used for sails?

7. What is the primary purpose of the keel on a sailboat?

8. Which is the oldest active sailing ship?

9. In which country was the first sailing club established?

10. What weird phenomenon can create “dead zones” where sailing becomes difficult?

11. What is the term for the right side of a boat?

12. What is the most commonly used knot in sailing?

13. How many gold medals did Sir Ben Ainslie win in Olympic sailing?

14. What is the term for a fast downward movement of the bow of a boat?

15. Who was the first woman to complete a solo circumnavigation of the Earth?

16. What is the sail at the front of the boat called?

17. In which year was the laser class of sailing dinghies introduced?

18. What is the world record for the most number of sailboats in a single class start?

19. What’s the name of the point of land sticking out into water, towards which sailboats often race?

20. What ancient civilization was among the first to develop advanced sailing techniques?

21. What is the name of the largest sailing yacht in the world?

22. What term refers to the depth of water needed to float a boat?

23. Who was the first person to sail solo around the world non-stop?

24. What is the sailing speed record in knots?

25. What is the name of the narrow piece of water connecting two large bodies of water?

26. What’s the most expensive sailing race?

27. What material was most commonly used for sails before Dacron was invented?

28. Which island is known as the ‘Sailing Capital of the World’?

29. What term refers to the rear of the boat?

30. What is the largest saltwater lake in the world, known for sailing?

31. What type of boat is specifically designed for speed and agility?

32. What famous explorer’s voyage was the first to circumnavigate the Earth, though he didn’t live to complete it?

33. What is the term for the right side of a boat when facing forward?

34. What’s the most common distress signal in sailing?

35. What is the sailing equivalent of a parking lot for boats?

36. Which country has the most Olympic gold medals in sailing?

37. What’s the smallest ocean in the world, known for its sailing routes?

38. Who is considered the father of modern sailing?

39. What device shows the boat’s speed and direction in water?

40. What is the nautical term for the kitchen on a boat?

41. Which famous author was also an avid sailor and wrote extensively about it?

42. What type of sailing is done strictly for pleasure or competition and excludes any form of business, such as carrying cargo or passengers?

43. What is the term for the maximum angle at which a sailing vessel can sail relative to the wind?

44. What’s the nautical term for right?

45. What is the name of the pirate who is said to have never harmed those he captured?

46. What’s the primary material used in modern sails?

47. What is the term for a rope or line used for raising, lowering, or controlling the tension on a sail?

48. What is the nautical term for left?

49. What year did sailing become an Olympic sport?

50. Who wrote the famous book “Sailing Alone Around the World”?

51. What is the nautical term for stopping a sailing vessel by dropping anchor?

52. What was the first recorded instance of piracy?

53. How many essential knots should every sailor know, at a minimum?

54. Which part of the boat points toward the wind when you’re “luffing”?

55. What is the primary use of a Bosun’s chair in sailing?

56. Which novelist and sailor was a British spy in World War II?

57. What is the term for a sailing vessel with two hulls?

58. What is the name of the scale used to measure wind force?

59. What do you call the sails at the front of a boat?

60. What is the name of the pirate flag featuring a skull and crossbones?

61. What do you call the bottom corner of a triangular sail?

62. Who is considered the “Father of Modern Yachting”?

63. What is the meaning of the nautical term ‘Aweigh’?

64. What’s the name of the famous annual yacht race that starts in Sydney, Australia?

65. What was the earliest type of sailing vessel?

66. What is the purpose of a “tell-tale” on a sail?

67. What do you call the action of turning a boat’s stern through the wind?

68. What’s the name of the race that allows only solo circumnavigation?

69. How long is the longest sailing race in the world?

70. What’s the term for adjusting the sails for maximum efficiency?

71. What is a Spinnaker used for?

72. What is the nautical term for a speed of one nautical mile per hour?

73. What is the meaning of the nautical term “Alee”?

74. What is a “Yawl”?

75. How many sails does a “Sloop” typically have?

76. What’s the largest sail on a standard sloop-rigged boat?

77. What is the international radio distress signal used for life-threatening emergencies?

78. Which knot is commonly used to tie a line to a cleat?

79. What’s the term for sailing into the wind?

80. What is the nautical term for steering a sailing vessel closer towards the direction of the wind?

81. What do you call the horizontal pole that extends the foot of the sail?

82. What’s the term for when all sails are drawing wind from the same side of the boat?

83. What country has won the America’s Cup the most?

84. What is a “Sheet” in sailing terminology?

85. What does “Heave To” mean?

86. What are ‘Foulies’ in the context of sailing?

87. What is the purpose of a “Cunningham” on a sail?

88. What do you call a pirate flag typically featuring a skull and crossbones?

89. What is “Keelhauling”?

90. What is the tallest type of sailing ship?

91. Which famous explorer was killed in the Philippines after his involvement in local politics while on a sailing expedition?

92. What is the line used to hoist or lower a sail called?

93. What is a group of ships sailing together, typically led by one ship?

94. What do you call the front edge of a sail?

95. Which company manufactured the most expensive sailing yacht ever built?

96. What type of sailboat has only one mast?

97. What is the term for the angle between the direction to the true wind and the course?

98. What does ‘LOA’ stand for in boating?

99. What do you call the maneuver to change direction in which the bow of the boat turns through the wind?

100. What is the fastest sailboat in the world?

101. What is the sailor’s term for loose equipment or cargo that is thrown about?

102. How many America’s Cup wins does Team New Zealand have?

103. What is the purpose of an anchor ball?

104. What type of wood is traditionally used for making masts?

105. What do you call the pair of ropes used to trim a square sail?

106. What does the term “tender” mean in sailing?

107. What’s the maximum number of hulls a ship can have in a regatta?

108. How many times has the United States won the America’s Cup?

109. What material is often used for modern sails due to its lightweight and strong characteristics?

110. What was the name of the first all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Race?

111. What is the nautical term for ‘stop’?

112. What year was the first documented use of a compass in sailing?

113. What is the term for a two-masted sailboat?

114. What do you call the ropes used to support the mast?

115. What is the purpose of a jib sail?

116. What does the term “ahoy” traditionally mean?

117. What is the world’s largest sailing yacht by length?

118. What is the name of the flag used to represent the letter ‘A’ in maritime flag signaling?

119. What is the principle of ‘right of way’ in sailing called?

120. What’s the maximum number of degrees a sailing boat can typically point into the wind?

121. What term is used to describe a sudden, violent wind that is of longer duration than a squall?

122. What term refers to a ship that is anchored or tied to a dock?

123. What’s the world’s most expensive sailing yacht?

124. What’s the meaning of “Close-hauled”?

125. Which sea is the saltiest natural lake and is also at the lowest elevation on the surface of the Earth?

126. What does “Port Tack” mean?

127. How long did the first solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Earth by boat take?

128. Which sea monster from Norse mythology was rumored to terrorize sailors?

129. What type of sailing race is known as the “Everest of the seas”?

130. What does the term “leeward” mean?

131. What’s the oldest active trophy in international sport?

132. What is the art of designing, building, and maintaining ships called?

133. What does “Spinnaker” refer to?

134. What’s the heaviest boat to have ever sailed?

135. What does “Cleat” mean in sailing?

136. What do you call a boat that is floating freely, not anchored or moored?

137. What is the “Marie Celeste” famous for?

138. What is the meaning of “Jibe”?

139. How many sails does a Sloop usually have?

140. What does “EPIRB” stand for?

141. What is the tallest type of sailing ship?

142. Who wrote the famous sailing-related novel ‘Moby-Dick’?

143. What does “MOB” stand for in sailing?

144. What’s the name of the front sail on a ketch?

145. What does “Abeam” mean in sailing terminology?

146. What do you call the ropes on a ship?

147. Who was the youngest person to sail around the world solo?

148. What do you call a sailor’s bed on a ship?

149. What’s the primary use of a “Dinghy”?

150. What are Tell-Tales in the context of sailing?

151. What is the sport of trying to tip over small sailboats by leaning out as far as possible on the windward side?

152. What’s the name of the rope used to control the angle of the mainsail to the wind?

153. What is the primary purpose of a keel on a sailboat?

154. How do you call the room or space in a boat where the engine is located?

155. What is the term for the depth of a ship’s keel below the waterline?

156. What do you call the intersection of the bottom and the sides of a boat?

157. What is the world’s longest sailing race?

158. Which is the oldest commissioned warship afloat, although not currently in active service?

159. What do you call a boat designed for racing?

160. Which wind is named after the Latin word for ‘north’?

161. What’s the term for tying a knot in the end of a rope to prevent it from slipping through a hole or a pulley?

Land ho! You’ve sailed through our sea of questions like a true Captain! As your trivia voyage ends, we invite you to drop anchor at Trivia Bliss for even more quiz-tastic adventures ! Trust us, it’ll be off the hook!

About Anastasia Voloshina

Anastasia Voloshina is a professional writer, editor, and trivia enthusiast. With an extensive background in trivia writing, Anastasia has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to run a successful game night. Anastasia got her Marketing degree in a university in Prague, where she also took writing classes.

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91 Boating & Marine Trivia Questions (Ranked from Easiest to Hardest)

Boating and marine activities are a popular pastime for many people, offering a chance to explore the open waters, enjoy the great outdoors, and experience a sense of adventure and freedom. Whether you're a seasoned boater or a newcomer to the sport, boating and marine trivia questions are a great way to test your knowledge of this exciting world and to learn more about the boats, ships, and waterways that make up the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers.

This list of boating and marine trivia questions covers a wide range of topics and is designed to challenge your understanding of the boating and marine world. Some of the questions are straightforward and can be answered by simple recall, while others require a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Regardless of your level of expertise, this list of boating and marine trivia questions is sure to be both educational and entertaining.

Whether you're a boater, a marine enthusiast, or simply someone who loves the water, this list of boating and marine trivia questions is sure to provide you with hours of enjoyment and learning. So why not put your knowledge to the test and see how you fare? Let's explore the exciting world of boating and marine activities and see how much you really know!

91 Boating & Marine Trivia Questions Ranked From Easiest to Hardest (Updated for 2024)

• Don't get it twisted: What K-word measurement of boat speed is a measure of one nautical mile per hour? Answer: Knot
• Which term that describes the turbulent water behind a boat and can also be part of an expression that means you’re in the tumultuous fallout of something? Answer: Wake
• What term that might remind you of soccer shoes is also what you call the boat fitting that is used to securely keep a vessel docked? (Hint: They’re also called mooring clears) Answer: Cleats
• What word is used to describe a floating container anchored to the sea bottom so that it remains in position? It is often used to mark channels that help keep boats safe. Answer: Buoy
• The Japanese yachtsman Kenichi Horie was the first person to use solar power to cross what body of water in 1996? Answer: Pacific Ocean
• What “D” word refers to the minimum depth of water a boat needs to float? The word can also be used to refer to the event when a pro sports league selects amateur players. Answer: Draft
• Which speedy merchant ship shares its name with both a fruit and a brand of sunscreen (which would come in handy if you’re on one of the inflatable recreational boats of the same name)? Answer: Banana Boat
• A ship that sailed perfect due west after leaving San Fransisco harbor would make landfall just south of the city of Sendai in which country? Answer: Japan
• The Cleveland Guardians have a Triple-A minor league affiliate in Columbus with what nickname? A term for a speedy merchant sailing vessel, it’s also the nickname of a pro NBA franchise in Los Angeles, CA. Answer: Clippers
• What “L” term describes a rope threaded through a pair of deadeyes, used to adjust the tension in the rigging of a sailing vessel? It can also be used to describe a cord worn around the neck with the ability to hold something in place, like a badge at a convention. Answer: Lanyard
• Alee means away from the direction of which weather phenomenon that’s important for sailing? Answer: Wind
• The term kayak comes from the word ‘qayaq’ meaning ‘small boat of skins’ from the language of the Eskimos of which extremely large island? Answer: Greenland
• If you get on the Maid of the Mist boat tour at Observation Tower, you are in which U.S. State Park to look at its namesake natural spectacle? Answer: Niagara Falls State Park
• Don't worry, it can't suck your blood! A line that runs under the back edge of a modern mainsail shares what name with a parasitic animal? Answer: Leech
• These boats become more stable the further apart the twin hulls are. Derived from Tamil, what is the name of these vessels that are first known to have appeared in 1662? Answer: Catamaran
• What’s the term for the person who sells (and often delivers) supplies, groceries, and parts to a ship at sea? (Hint: It's also the first name of a sarcastic “Friends” character, but he worked in advertising, not maritime merchantry). Answer: Chandler
• The adage "A rising tide lifts all boats" is frequently attributed to what U.S. President, who did not coin the phrase, but did use it famously in a 1963 speech? Answer: John F. Kennedy
• Pollywogs appear before King Neptune and his court to become shellbacks in a weird, unofficial U.S. Navy ceremony commemorating a sailor's first official crossing of what imaginary line? Answer: Equator
• What “B” boating company, based out of Mettawa, Illinois, makes the Mercury boat engines? The name is the same as, but unrelated to, a Canadian province and a bowling company. Answer: Brunswick
• Which type of wooden boat, a cultural symbol of the Indian region of Kashmir, has a name which is an anagram of the name of a Colombian singer born in 1977? (Hint: The location of the consonants is the same in both names.) Answer: Shikara
• What “P” side of a boat refers to the left-hand area of that boat? It is a word that can also be to describe a city with a harbor. Answer: port side
• Which term describes a “pleasure boat” with a flat bottom equipped with tubes that keep it afloat? (Hint: A catamaran is one example) Answer: Pontoon
• What term is used for the pointed part of an anchor that is designed to catch in the seabed? Answer: Fluke
• Which L-word is the legal term for stuff at the bottom of the ocean? Usually, it’s goods you tossed overboard with a buoy attached since you have the intent of retrieving them from the sea floor later. Answer: Lagan
• If you don’t offload your cargo within the specified time limit you agreed to, what’s the D-word for the fee you’ll be charged by the shipping line? Answer: Demurrage
• Which term refers to a small sailboat (usually 14ft to 25ft) that’s can be hard to tell from a keelboat, except that it’s mostly used for trips that last 48 hours or less? Answer: Daysailer
• It sounds like rubbish, but it's not. The name of what Chinese sailing ship with fully battened sails comes from the Javanese word for "boat"? Answer: Junk
• Which term that starts with "A" sounds like it would mean you’re over the deck, but actually means you’re on it? Answer: Above
• What’s the B-word for a piece of standing rigging on a sailboat that sort of functions like the gas pedal? Answer: Backstay
• A bombara is a potentially precarious patch of water over which type of calcium-carbonate-containing undersea ecosystem? Answer: Reef
• With four gold medals and one silver, Ben Ainslie is the most successful Olympic sailor in history. Which northern hemisphere country is he from? Answer: The United Kingdom
• When navigating upstream/towards shore, what two types of buoys—one conical/semi-conical and always red, and the other cylindrical and always green—mark the starboard and port sides of a channel, respectively? Answer: Nun, Can
• Breaking a winning streak of 132 years by the New York Yacht Club, a boat from which country (which also the country’s name in the boat name) beat the boat ‘Liberty’ in the 1983 America’s Cup? Answer: Australia
• Although triumphant in the battle, on which ship was English war hero Horatio Nelson mortally wounded in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805? Answer: HMS Victory
• The ratline hitch, or builder's knot, is a knot made using two successive single hitches that is classically used for tying fenders onto boats. By what spicy name is the ratline hitch more commonly called? Answer: The clove hitch
• What was the name of the U.S. presidential yacht which was commissioned by Herbert Hoover until it was sold by Jimmy Carter? Answer: Sequoia
• The oldest international competition in any sport is a series of races between sailboats. The competition is named for its trophy, which in turn is named for the first winner. What is the name of the competition? Answer: America's Cup
• What is a navigator who guides a ship over dangerous sandbars at the mouths of rivers and bays called? We're talking boats here, not planes. Answer: Bar pilot
• Riders occasionally hang onto the swim platform at the back of a boat while the boat is moving forward. Often, swimmers will let go of the platform and body surf on the boat's wake. What is this called? (By the way, though not illegal in some states, the U.S. Coast Guard views it as extremely dangerous due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and possible loss of consciousness leading to death.) Answer: Teak surfing
• You can see it in movies and on television. Every time a ship is looking for submarines or buried treasure, they use sonar. What does "sonar" actually stand for, though? Answer: Sound navigation and ranging
• What term describes the basement-like part of a boat’s hull that would be on the ground if it was out of the water? Answer: Blige
• What do you call the place on the sea floor where a ship's anchor lies? Various types of anchors were designed for different types of sea floor. Answer: Holding ground
• With regard to German U-boats in multiple global conflicts, what does the ‘U’ stand for? Either German or English words accepted. Answer: Untersee or Undersea
• The Canadian Navy has the letters HMCS at the beginning of each of their ships. What does this currently stand for? Answer: His Majesty’s Canadian Ship
• A Scandinavian word for "beard" gives us the name of what rudder-like lowest point on an outboard motor? Answer: Skeg
• When Australia II won the America’s Cup in 1983 (breaking the New York Yacht Club 132-year winning streak) the winning yacht club was based in which Australian city? Answer: Perth or Fremantle
• Ready to enter service in early 2024 for Royal Caribbean Cruises, what is the name of the worlds largest cruise ship that will take the mantle over from the Wonder of the Seas, also by Royal Caribbean? Answer: Icon of the Seas
• Often used before the names of British Royal Navy ships according to Collins Dictionary, HMS is short for what three-word phrase that vaguely references a prominent female royal figure? Answer: Her Majesty's Ship
• Mongolia, Rangoon, General Grant, and Henrietta were some of the steamers used in what 1873 Jules Verne novel depicting Phileas Fogg circumnavigating the Earth? Answer: Around The World in Eighty Days
• Under the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, how far out from the shore do a nation's territorial waters stretch, where the country has full jurisdiction over vessels? Answer: 12 Nautical Miles
• What is the term for a two-masted sailing vessel with a mizzen mast slightly smaller than the main and stepped forward of the rudder stock or post? Answer: Ketch
• NASBLA is a national nonprofit that works on public policies around recreational boating. "NAS" stands for "National Association of State" ... but what does "BLA" stand for? Answer: Boating Law Administrators
• What four-letter “C” verb means to lay down a line in a circular manner, and is also a noun describing a spiral sequence of rings? Answer: Coil
• Starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn and based on C. S. Forester’s 1935 novel, what continentally named 1951 film shares its name with the steamboat that gets siblings Rose and Samuel Sayer and mechanic Charlie Allnut into a perilous adventure? Answer: “The African Queen”
• Although New Zealand are the holders, the 2024 Americas Cup match will be held in which European city? Answer: Barcelona
• Killing what type of bird, some species of which have wingspans over 10 feet wide, is very bad luck in maritime tradition, as they are said to carry the souls of dead sailors? Answer: Albatross
• If you’re moving aft, which part of the boat are you headed for? (Hint: It’s the boating term that means “back”) Answer: Stern
• Who was the captain of Patrol Boat PT-109 who famously swam miles for help when their boat was sank by Japanese boats on August 2, 1943? This man went on to become an iconic figure in U.S. history two decades later. Answer: John F. Kennedy
• Commonly used in older ships before being superseded by modern technology, what is usually kept in a ship’s binnacle? Answer: Compass
• What “F” term refers to any navigable channel for a boat to travel in? It is a term also used in golf to refer to a more navigable part of a course between the rough. Answer: Fairway
• What four-word idiom for preparing to deal with a crisis comes from the nautical meaning of using long, thin strips of wood or metal to secure a ship's tarpaulins? Answer: Batten down the hatches
• What was the name of the captain of "The Love Boat" in the TV series of the same name? Answer: Merrill Stubing
• What “C” term refers to international rules designed to prevent boats from hitting each other while out to sea? It is a one-word combination a word for an impact and a word for those rules. Answer: Colregs
• To demonstrate that ancient people of the area could have made long sea voyages using the materials and technologies they had before European contact, Thor Heyerdahl led The Kon-Tiki Expedition on an 8,000km journey across which ocean? Answer: The Pacific Ocean
• The fictional character James Bond holds what rank in the Royal Navy that is immediately junior to captain? Answer: Commander
• Not just a term for train cars, which word can also refer to a ship’s galley/kitchen? Answer: Caboose
• Now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland, what was the name of Queen Elizabeth II’s royal yacht that was decommissioned in 1997? Answer: Britannia
• In 1972, which cruise line’s first ship (Mardi Gras) wasn’t clowning around when it tried to set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage—and immediately ran aground? Answer: Carnival
• Off the coast of which country would you find the wreck of the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the Second World War? Answer: United States
• What “Ab” term refers to a position out the side of a boat on either side? If split into two words, it could mean a particular long sturdy piece of lumber used to support the roof. Answer: Abeam
• Designed for coastal warfare, Lockheed's LCS is a Combat Ship whose "L" stands for what word that roughly means "a shoreline area"? Answer: Littoral
• Who was famously seen for the first time ever as a sailor on a steamboat on November 18, 1928? Answer: Mickey Mouse
• Formerly a British Minesweeper, what was the name of the boat which became Jacques Cousteau’s long-term research vessel? Answer: Calypso
• In 1899, the first ship-to-shore radio transmission was sent from a lightship to a coastal receiving station located at the Cliff House in what city on the West Coast of the U.S.? The message was "Sherman is sighted," about the return of a troopship from the Spanish-American War. Answer: San Francisco
• As opposed to the “true wind” that is the actual wind speed, which “obvious” term applies to the wind you can feel when you’re on a boat? Answer: Apparent
• In 1983, for the first time in its history, the America's Cup was won by a boat that was not representing the U.S. From what country did the winning boat hail? Answer: Australia
• The 1975 sinking of what freighter in Lake Superior inspired a #2 single by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot the following year? Answer: Edmund Fitzgerald
• Dockyard analogy: Working on the dock is to longshoreman, as schlepping stuff around the ships is to what nine-letter S-word profession? Answer: Stevedore
• One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour. Rounded to the nearest tenth of a kilometer, one knot equals how many kilometers per hour? Answer: 1.9
• In 2021, Team New Zealand won the Americas Cup for the fourth time, defeating a boat from which European country? Answer: Italy
• Which French city on the country’s south coast will host the sailing events at the 2024 Olympics? Answer: Marseille
• The International maritime signal flags are a way of communicating between ships. The flag representing "my vessel is healthy" (as well as representing the letter "Q") is simply a square of what color? Answer: Yellow
• Australia II won the 1983 America’s Cup, thanks in no large part to specially designed “wings” that were added to which part of the boat? Answer: Keel
• The largest warship ever constructed is named after which former U.S. president, the last one to not serve a full term? Answer: Gerald Ford
• Which nautical term is used when a boat has to slow down, speed up, or go in a different direction to avoid colliding with another boat? Answer: Give-way
• What was the name of 74 foot ketch bought by Hollywood actor Errol Flynn in 1937? It is synonymous with his adventures and shares a name with a desert wind. Answer: Sirocco
• What two-word phrase refers to the last part of a boat’s rope or chain, also used to metaphorically refer to doing something unpleasant until it is completely finished? Answer: Bitter End
• We heard a rumor that a bunch of catty sailors chatting around a water cask spawned what 11-letter nautical term for "gossip"? Answer: Scuttlebutt
• Which boat featured on the Canadian 10-cent coin is characterized by having at least two masts, with the front mast lower than the mainmast? The 1910 Westward yacht was one of these. Answer: Schooner
• You might think that someone got drunk and misspelled the oldest brewery in the U.S., but which keelboat design, a recognized class in World Sailing and a former Olympic class, is in fact named for the Norwegian word for "youngster"? Answer: Yngling
• What five-letter "B" word can mean either an open bay on a coast into which a boat might travel, or a loop of rope used in that boat's nautical riggings? Answer: Bight

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The Light is Flashing 6 + 1

Sailing quiz: learn & explore sailing.

We use our Sailing Quiz, popular on all out social media channels, to discuss great sailing images. By popular request, we wanted to bring a more in-depth version to the blog.

Images of sailing can only tell us so much, we can’t know who was on board, what they were thinking or their rationale.  But they do make for great discussions.

Whether you the Training Officer for the RYA or a first time novice, we really welcome your comments and contributions – comedy answers are especially welcome.

The Reality

If you look at the image above you will see a yacht heading towards a rock with a light on – it is flashing 6 short and one log (6 +1).  The light, at a distance, would identify it and help you make navigational discussions. You GPS, dead reckoning, and other navigational techniques will add to the mix and create a vivid picture of the navigational dangers.

Our Scenario

You’re at the helm, what indications are there to you about what you should do any why.

What are the clues available to you?  Do you think you should bear away and ‘leave the rock to starboard’?  Or should you consider a ‘tack’ and leave the rock to Port?

You decide!

Please let us know what you think below and we will continue to build the article based on your comments.

Founder Member IFCYA

Yacht Charter & Sailing.

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Sailing Test

Quizzes on sailing to test your knowledge

Welcome to SailingTest.com

This site is setup to help you learn and test your knowledge on basic sailing. We have created interactive quizzes covering all aspects of sailing.

Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the water, on ice or on land over a chosen course, which is often part of a larger plan of navigation. A course defined with respect to the true wind direction is called a point of sail.  Wikipedia

View the TASCA sailing photo gallery: TASCA Photo Gallery

New Quiz! Try the Boat Safety Quiz .

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Superyacht Crew  Quiz

where do you fit in onboard? There a re so many positions onboard a  Superyacht!  This is intimidating  for  aspiring   c rew , so we've made it simple! Take our  short  quiz to discover what  position suits you best!

Superyacht Crew Quiz

Where do you fit in onboard? There a re so many positions onboard a  Superyacht! This is intimidating for  aspiring   c rew , so we've made it simple! Take our  short  quiz to discover what  position suits you best!

want to find  out more  about yachting? Share your thoughts with me in my questionnaire! I will be taking your responses and using them to create something awesome! Stay tuned to see how we use this info in our new upcoming Yachting Intro Course .

Superyacht  Crew Quiz

Where do you fit in onboard there are so many positions onboard  a superyacht this is intimidating for  aspiring crew, so we've made it  simple take our short quiz to  discover what positions suits  you  best, where do you fit in onboard there a re so many positions onboard a  superyacht  this is intimidating for  aspiring   c rew , so we've made it simple take our  short  quiz to discover  what  position suits you best.

want to  find  out more  about yachting? Share your thoughts with me in my questionnaire! I will be taking your responses and using them to create something awesome! Stay tuned to see how we use this info in our new upcoming Yachting Intro Course!

want to find out more about yachting? Share your thoughts with me in my questionnaire! I will be taking your responses and using them to create something awesome! Stay tuned to see how we use this info in our new upcoming Yachting Intro Course .

who are we?

We help aspiring adventurers with little or no experience in boating or hospitality, begin Y achting without  wasting their time  and  money .

With our step-by-step formula and over 15 years of experience we can answer all of your questions, explain the industry and provide you the support needed to transform yourself into a "Yachtie".

We know taking the first step is hard so let's chat today to begin your journey into Yachting!

There is no

Other industry.

It is as far removed from working in an office as you can find. We're here to teach

you how to work on a Yacht

with no experience!

Visit the most

Exclusive & exotic, locations  .

Discover luxury Yacht hospitality

along with untouched beaches and picturesque port towns from

islands in the Caribbean to

the French Riviera!

Work hard, 

While some days at sea can be

long and strenuous, when the

workday ends you're able to

create once-in-a-lifetime

memories with incredible people!

With our step-by-step formula and over 15 years of experience we can answer all of your questions, explain the industry & provide you the support needed to transform yourself into a "Yachtie".

Discover luxury Yacht hospitality along with untouched beaches and picturesque port towns from islands in the Caribbean to the French Riviera!

there is no

Like it .

It is as far removed from working in an office as you can find. We're here to teach you how to work on a Yacht with no experience!

Work hard 

While some days at sea can be long and strenuous, when the workday ends you're able to create once-in-a-lifetime memories with incredible people!

from land life

To yacht life.

Kickstart your Yachting success with us and receive step-by-step guidance on how to get past your fears and start a new life at sea!

Our Students

armand pretorius

South Africa

"Hugo’s insight and  advice

h elped me  understand  the

quickest  path to my license!

He  always  showed time

and  patience for all my

questions!"

rickus hennop

"With Hugo's help, I was  able to create the fastest  plan to reach my  goals.  As  a Chief Mate, I found an  instant promotion on my  next  vessel! He is a mentor  I  will always consult."

sebastian robinson

United States

"Hugo's academic approach  to

career progression helped map

out what I needed to do in order

to progress quickly. His guidance

and advice served to help boost

my career and improve my skills."

Armand Pretorius

"Hugo’s insight and  advice  h elped me  understand  the  quickest  path to my license!  He  always  showed time  and  patience for all my  questions!"

Rickus Hennop

"With Hugo's help, I was  able to  create the fastest  plan to reach my  goals.  As  a Chief Mate, I  found  an  instant promotion on my  next  vessel! He is a mentor  I  will  always consult."

"Hugo's academic approach  to  career progression helped map  out what I needed to do in order  to progress quickly. His guidance  and advice served to help boost  my career and improve my skills."

"Hugo’s insight and  advice h elped me  understand  the  quickest  path to my license!  He  always  showed time  and  patience for all my  questions!"

"With Hugo's help, I was  able to create the fastest plan to reach my  goals.  As  a Chief Mate, I  found  an instant promotion on my  next  vessel! He is a mentor  I  will  always consult."

"Hugo's academic approach  to  career progression helped map  out what I needed to do in order  to

progress quickly. His guidance  and advice served

to help boost  my career and improve my skills."

Other Quizzes

Does size matter.

What size Yacht should you work on?

other quizzes

Check out our other Superyacht quizzes!

Do I need prior boating experience?

No! Countless yachties enter the business without any experience, including us! There is no formal education necessary, either. You will undergo all basic safety training before stepping onboard and will learn all necessary skills on the job.

Am I too young for yachting?

International guidelines list 16 as the absolute minimum to work on a vessel. Most yachts avoid hiring under 18 because of the extra laws regulating work hours for minors.

Am I too old for yachting?

No! Yachting has no upper limit on age. Captains and Chief Engineers work well past retirement age if they wish. We've coached aspiring crew in their 50's that were looking for their next "thing" after their children went off to school or they just wanted to spend their last few years of working traveling around! Older crew memebrs can also transition into estate and property management ashore to extend their careers as well.

What if I'm scared to travel abroad?

Yachting is the perfect way to travel abroad safely! Not only do you visit countries and ports that are extremely safe (who would take such an expensive luxury item somewhere dangerous!?) you benefit from traveling in groups and larger numbers! You also don't need to worry about carrying luggage, arranging transportation, finding accommodation, or even choosing where to eat!

What can i expect?

Yachting is a journey unlike any other job. In all honesty, once you start you'll probably get hooked! We will teach you everything you need to know and prepare you to succeed.

Do I need to constantly travel?

No! There are countless types of programs and each one is unique. Some yachts have a home port or frequent the same itinerary so you can plan accordingly. Others travel the world for those that are more adventurous.

Do I need to work full-time?

No! Yachting can be as flexible as you'd like it to be. You can work full-time, seasonal, freelance, temporary, or rotationally onboard. 

Will I still be able to go home? Will I ever see my family?

Yes! Yachting provides much more vacation time than many other careers. Basic packages start seafarers out at ~45 days of leave per year. Many boats are offering upwards of 60 and it is becoming increasingly common to find rotational jobs (work 1/2 or 3/4 of the year and get paid to stay at home or travel for the rest)!

Will I be able to find a job?

Yes! Yachting is a multi-billion dollar industry employing over 40,000 crew and growing every year! Crew are always in short supply. If you truly want to work, apply our advice and teachings and most importantly, give your 110% when you step onboard then you will have a bright career ahead of you.

WHat if i get seasick? are seas rough?

Don't worry! There are many successful yachties that are prone to sea sickness! Luckily yachts travel in calmer seas than other types of boats. Owners and guests don't want to be uncomfortable and they definitely don't want to risk damaging the yacht!

Am i too young for yachting?

Am i too old for yachting.

No! Yachting has no upper limit on age. Captains and Chief Engineers work well past retirement age if they wish. We've coached aspiring crew in their 50's that were looking for their next "thing" after their children went off to school or they just wanted to spend their last few years of working traveling around! Older crew members can also transition into estate and property management ashore to extend their careers as well.

do i need prior boating experience?

No! Countless Yachties enter the business without any experience, including us! There is no formal education necessary, either. You will undergo all basic safety training before stepping onboard and will learn all necessary skills on the job.

do i need to constantly travel?

What if i get seasick are seas rough.

Don't worry! There are many successful Yachties that are prone to sea sickness! Luckily yachts travel in calmer seas than other types of boats. Owners and guests don't want to be uncomfortable and they definitely don't want to risk damaging the yacht!

what if i'm scared to travel abroad?

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Yachtmaster Theory Quiz

Test your knowledge with these 10 theory questions. The quiz is aimed at those planning to join us for a Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore preparation week. This is NOT an admission test, but it is meant for you to check your theory knowledge and identify any gaps, so they can be filled before you join us for the practical week. Remember, whilst we will also review your theory notions, there will be no time to actually study them if you don’t know them already. And these are only a small sample of what the Yachtmaster examiner may be asking! If your score is not good, please consider signing up for the Yachtmaster Shorebased theory course. Fill in your name and email and click on Start. Select your answer and move onto the next question. At the end of the quiz you will see how you scored and you will be able to review the correct answers.

Yachtmaster - pre test

Test your knowledge with these 10 theory questions. The quiz is aimed at aspiring RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore. Select your answer and move onto the next question. At the end of the quiz you will see how you scored and you will be able to review the correct answers.

Hi, welcome to our Yachtmaster quiz page, where you can informally test your knowledge before attending one of our courses. Please fill out the information below:

What is the meaning of this mark?

What is the name of the fog that typically forms at sea?

What is the name of this buoy?

What additional lights does a pilot vessel show whilst on duty?

What vessel would show these lights?

What happens to the wind after a cold front has passed (Northern hemisphere)

You hear three horn blasts from a big vessel. What is she communicating?

What is the compass course to be followed to hold a True course of 145 degrees?

What is the name of the Angle of Heel at which a vessel will capsize?

What is the name of the line that points from you to a target on a Radar screen?

Your score is

Restart quiz

Please rate this quiz

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Sailing Terms Quiz

By: American Sailing Quiz

Okay, here’s a quick little quiz of sailing terms born from our Sailing Made Easy book. Test your sailing knowledge with these 5 questions – if you get them all right, the quiz will give you compliments. If you make a mistake, the quiz may act like a wise guy. Either way, it’s fun. Ready?

• The upper attachment point of a sail nope, that’s the “head”
• The long stretch of sail that parallels the boom no, that’s the “foot”
• The aft lower corner of a sail you got it!
• The area where reef lines are attached that would be incorrect!
• The entrance from the cockpit or deck to the cabin correct-a-mundo!
• Synonymous with aft cabin – the rear cabin under cockpit nope -we made that up
• The walkway along the deck I’m afraid not
• In bigger boats it is the space located just before entering the engine room fooled ya!
• A very small screw inside most standing rigging hardware you thought that? No.
• A washer that provides spacing in a standard winch incorrect, a washer in a winch is a washer in a winch
• A tell tale that gets stuck to a sail and is of no use perhaps you don’t know what a grommet is
• A metal ring set into a sail you got the smarts!
• Slang for boathook it is not that
• A pole used to support a sail your brain is working!
• A pole used to fold sails I don’t think that exists!
• A term describing a young sailor you can call them that but that’s wrong
• Stealing another sailor’s wind that would be incorrect
• A wooden shim understandable choice but no
• A pulley we have a winner!
• A fastener that secures running rigging to standing rigging uh, no.

Did you enjoy this quiz? Challenge your friends on Facebook or Twitter !

Quiz 1 Results

Here are the results of the first quiz – only 50% of you got all the answers right. Let’s hope you can do better in the next quiz .

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Sailing Trivia

Sailing trivia quizzes.

• Sports Trivia
• Sports Other

4 .   Nautical Knowledge     Multiple Choice   20 Qns This quiz should be a breeze for an old salt like you. Average , 20 Qns, AccdntlJibe, Sep 17 13 Average AccdntlJibe 1303 plays

5 .   Sailboat Parts     Multiple Choice   10 Qns This is the basics to learning to sail. First you must learn the parts of a boat. Easier , 10 Qns, imalimabeing, Mar 22 14 Easier imalimabeing 1318 plays

6 .   Basic Sailing Terminology     Multiple Choice   10 Qns Have you ever listened to you friends talk about the most recent sailing trip and wondered what they were talking about? If so, take this quiz and you will be able to understand at least part of what they are talking about in sailing. Average , 10 Qns, bsss, May 04 09 Average bsss 961 plays

7 .   Quest for the America's Cup     Multiple Choice   10 Qns The oldest traveling sports trophy in the world is the America's Cup. What do you know about the history, the yachts, and the people, associated with the Cup? Average , 10 Qns, clemmydog, Oct 27 17 Average clemmydog Oct 27 17 137 plays

8 .   More Sailing     Multiple Choice   10 Qns Learn a little more about sailing. Knowing the lingo helps you get started and makes you appear smarter. Average , 10 Qns, westcliffe_146, Sep 20 10 Average westcliffe_146 928 plays

9 .   Sailing Fundamentals     Multiple Choice   10 Qns This quiz is about sailing terms and techniques. If you are a sailor you will have no problem, if not, then get ready to learn something. Average , 10 Qns, chipfo, Oct 13 19 Average chipfo Oct 13 19 961 plays

10 .   Sailing, Sailing     Multiple Choice   10 Qns What do you know about sailing? This will be easy for "old salts"...a bit more challenging for "landlubbers." Average , 10 Qns, Alcin22, Feb 13 12 Average Alcin22 370 plays

12 .   Hello Sailor! Got a Yacht?     Multiple Choice   10 Qns Ahoy! Trivia Captain Daedelus and Galley Wench Lilah invite you aboard for 10 quick questions. We'll be messing about in boats and providing a duffer's guide to succeeding at the yacht club and chatting up a salty buoy or gull. Tough , 10 Qns, LilahDeDah, Sep 05 04 Tough LilahDeDah 601 plays

13 .   Sail Ho!     Multiple Choice   10 Qns Last week I went out on San Francisco Bay with my friend Jim aboard his new sailboat. Sailing terms are confusing, and the whole day was one misunderstanding after another. Maybe this quiz will help you to avoid the mistakes I made. Average , 10 Qns, bettona, May 19 05 Average bettona 488 plays

15 .   Red Sky at Night Sailors Delight     Multiple Choice   10 Qns Sailing, sailing on the clear blue sea. Sailing is a fun sport. As a sport it is included in the Olympic Games. Here is my attempt to learn a little more about a fun waterborne sport. Average , 10 Qns, sweetypieinsc, Oct 02 17 Average sweetypieinsc 195 plays

16 .   So You Think You're a Yachtsman?     Multiple Choice   10 Qns This a quiz for true sailormen and hardcore "ragbaggers", plastic day sailors and landlubbers need not apply. Enjoy, and splice the main brace. Tough , 10 Qns, clemmydog, Oct 02 17 Tough clemmydog 132 plays

17 .   Schooner Construction     Multiple Choice   10 Qns This quiz is for all you colonial schooner construction enthusiasts (all 40 of you). Difficult , 10 Qns, Panzerfaust, Jul 29 04 Difficult Panzerfaust 451 plays

18 .   Dinghy Sailing: Sail or Swim?     Multiple Choice   10 Qns This takes you through racing a triangle course from the moment you leave shore, to the moment you return. Can you win or will you capsize? Good luck. Tough , 10 Qns, HP, Jul 31 12 Tough HP 602 plays

America’s Cup tour skips Gisborne, local yacht club disappointed

Barcelona is hosting the 37th America's Cup but before the trophy heads to Spain, it will be doing a tour of New Zealand. Unfortunately, Gisborne is not on the itinerary. Photo / Maria Muina

The America’s Cup – “New Zealand’s Cup” in the words of yachting commentator Peter Montgomery – will not be coming to Gisborne during a national tour of nearly 40 locations in September, a decision that has disappointed Gisborne Yacht Club.

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron media liaison Hamish Williams said the squadron was “gutted” one of the oldest sporting trophies would not be making an appearance in Tairāwhiti.

“We would like to do more.”

The tour was a grassroots type operated by volunteers and it could not visit every possible destination, he said.

The squadron had received many inquiries from districts that, unfortunately, had not been included on the tour.

Williams reiterated the squadron and Team New Zealand appreciated the support of all New Zealanders

“Their support is vital.”

Gisborne Yacht Club spokesman Peter Millar said the club was not initially aware of the tour.

“We did make an application, albeit late, for this as soon as we found out about it.

“We only just got a response on Tuesday that the tour was set in stone.

“Gisborne missed the 2017 tour as well, so this naturally was a bit of a disappointment.”

The cup was in Gisborne in 2019 when the Gisborne Terrier Race Against Time team combined with Team New Zealand to host the Terrier 300 Nautical 300 Club America’s Cup Wine and Dinner Evening with Montgomery as the guest speaker.

Gisborne Terrier Race Against Time raises funds to support those with breast cancer.

“That event was such a resounding success and those from Team NZ who came with the Cup made comment they would love to come back,” Millar said.

“Had Gisborne been included this time, it would have been timely as some schools are included in the 2024 tour.

“Our high school-based sailors could have promoted this at Gisborne Girls’ High School and Gisborne Boys’ High School, and showcased sailing here in Tairāwhiti before they head off to university next year.

“Fingers crossed Team NZ wins again and that the cup again travels New Zealand, with Gisborne Yacht Club – the first yacht club in the world to see the sun – getting that opportunity as a matter of course, having now missed out twice, and the favourable response from those who came for the Terrier Event.”

This year’s tour has been branded as the Toyota Kiwi Cup Tour and is being promoted as the “most publicly accessible tour of the America’s Cup is coming to a town or city near you”.

The tour features 12 yacht clubs, 10 schools and 17 car dealerships between September 2 and September 20.

The closest the cup comes to Gisborne is Napier on September 4.

Napier and Tauranga are the only North Island tour locations between Wellington and Auckland.

The 37th America’s Cup starts in Barcelona on August 23 (NZ time), with Team New Zealand’s defence comprising of a first-to-seven wins series beginning on October 12.

“We wish Team NZ all the best,” Millar said.

“We hope that a successful defence will see the America’s Cup back here in Tairāwhiti.”

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