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Independent study · no certification. Details

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Compass USA study companion

Basic Keelboat Study Companion

Direct answer

Independent U.S. knowledge preparation for beginning keelboat sailors, using American terminology, USATONS/IALA Region B, and federal safety context. Independent study companion mapped to the published ASA 101 knowledge standard. Not affiliated with, approved by, or endorsed by American Sailing. Completion does not award certification or replace on-water instruction and assessment.

Price
$29 once
Course size
9 modules
Access
Lifetime access
Format
Independent online study companion
Preview the free module

Product tour

Try the revision loop here

This working, course-specific sample uses the same three primary steps and feedback timing as the revision app: learn the idea, use Practise for immediate help, then Test at the end.

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Learn · teaching first

Orient Yourself Before Naming the Boat

From Boat Language and Keelboat Parts

What you will learn

Use the boat itself as the reference frame for bow, stern, port, starboard, forward and aft, regardless of where a crew member is facing.

Explanation

Boat language removes the ambiguity created by a person’s changing viewpoint. Start with the bow, then name the vessel’s sides and directions from that fixed reference.

Bow and stern name the forward and after ends of the vessel. Forward or fore means toward the bow; aft means toward the stern. Port is the vessel’s left side and starboard its right side when looking forward. Those sides remain attached to the boat: a crew member who turns to face aft does not make port become starboard.

Ahead and astern describe positions or movement beyond the bow and stern. Abeam means roughly at right angles to the vessel’s fore-and-aft line. Windward and leeward use the wind as their reference, so they can change when the wind or the boat changes; port and starboard do not.

Translate a call without using the crew member’s viewpoint

The helm is facing forward. A crew member beside the mast is facing aft. The helm calls, ‘Take the port jib sheet forward and keep it clear of the hatch.’

Sense check: The crew member’s chest is facing the stern, but the port side of the boat has not moved.

Common mistake

Left and right follow the observer; port and starboard remain fixed to the vessel.

Recap

  • Bow and stern are the ends; fore or forward and aft describe direction along the boat.
  • Port and starboard stay fixed to the boat.
  • Windward and leeward can change with the wind or the vessel’s heading.
More ways to revise

Flashcards, audio and interactive tools remain optional support inside the module; they do not replace the Learn → Practise → Test route.

Course route

Learn the knowledge, then take it afloat with an instructor

1Free

Boat Language and Keelboat Parts

Hull, rig, sails, controls, directions, and clear American sailing vocabulary.

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2Full access

Wind, Points of Sail, and Trim

Apparent wind, points of sail, sail shape, telltales, and balanced trim.

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3Full access

Maneuvers and Crew Communication

Tacking, jibing, heading up, bearing away, heaving-to awareness, and crew calls.

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4Full access

Knots, Lines, and Loads

Core knots, line handling, cleats, winches, chafe, and loaded-line hazards.

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5Full access

Navigation Rules Foundations

Lookout, safe speed, risk of collision, sailing-vessel encounters, and responsibilities.

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6Full access

USATONS and IALA Region B

Lateral, preferred-channel and non-lateral aids, red right returning, daymarks, regulatory marks, and chart symbols.

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7Full access

Federal Safety Baseline

PFDs, visual distress signals, sound devices, lights, fire protection, float plans, accident reporting, BUI, and state-law checks.

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8Full access

Weather and Sailing Decisions

NWS marine forecasts, wind shifts, local effects, sea state, visibility, and conservative limits.

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9Full access

Emergencies and Practical Readiness

Crew overboard priorities, capsize and grounding awareness, emergency communication, and practical-skill boundaries.

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What the companion includes

Clear knowledge and practical boundaries

  • Original lessons and explanations
  • At least 18 explained questions and 12 flashcards per module
  • Three 40-question mixed knowledge assessments
  • United States terminology, jurisdiction, and primary-source context
  • Practical-awareness prompts clearly separated from assessed knowledge

Not included

  • American Sailing certification or an official exam
  • Instructor-observed practical assessment
  • Copied textbook or examination questions
  • State-by-state legal advice
  • A guarantee that a charter operator will accept a qualification or resume

Editorial record

Primary-source review

Original content is reviewed against published standards and current U.S. government sources. State, local, vessel-specific, and operator requirements must be checked separately.