Small-Boat Sailing — Merit Badge

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Scout Progress

Scout	AWARD	Req 1			Req 2	Req 3	Req 4					Req 5	Req 6										Req 7			Req 8	Req 9
Scout		1a	1b	1c	2	3	4a	4b	4c	4d	4e	5	6a	6b	6c	6d	6e	6f	6g	6h	6i	6j	7a	7b	7c	8	9
Anjali S.First Class	★	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□
Oliver K.First Class	★	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□
Winnie B.Tenderfoot	★	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□	□

Requirements

From the official BSA merit badge pamphlet — wording is paraphrased here. Confirm against the current pamphlet for sign-off.

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For the whole badge

Explain likely small-boat sailing hazards and how to anticipate, prevent, mitigate, and respond

Review prevention, symptoms, and first aid for blisters, cold-water shock/hypothermia, dehydration, heat illness, sunburn, sprains, strains

Discuss the Safety Afloat policy and how it applies to small-boat sailing

Successfully complete the Scouting America swimmer test

Describe your sailing boat (capsizable, windward-capable; no sailboards), naming major parts and functions

Discuss the nine points of the Safety Afloat plan

Explain the rules of the road and local/state rules that apply

Explain how water conditions, weather hazards, and heavy winds affect safety and performance

Discuss warning signs of inclement weather and what to do if heavy winds or a storm develop

Prepare typical clothing, footwear, and personal gear for warm- and cool-weather sailing; explain choices

Discuss identifying wind direction and wind indicators; explain why it matters before setting sail

Prepare a boat for sailing, including a safety inspection

Get underway from a dock, mooring, or beach

Sail an approved round-trip course showing running, beating, and reaching with good helmsmanship

Change direction by tacking and by jibing

Demonstrate getting out of irons

Demonstrate the safety position

Demonstrate capsize procedures and rescue of a person overboard

Demonstrate the procedure after running aground

Accept a single line or side tow and maneuver safely for 20 boat lengths

On return, secure equipment, furl/stow sails, and prepare the craft for unattended docking overnight

Tie and use square knot, clove hitch, two half hitches, bowline, cleat hitch, figure-eight

Show how to heave, coil, and fake down a line

Discuss sailboat line types and fibers, with advantages and disadvantages of each

Describe year-round care and maintenance of a sailboat and its gear

Review sailing terminology and points of sail; discuss types of sailboats and their differences