Bay Safety & Certification Quiz

For members wishing to become ‘certified’ to use a craft. This quiz has several sections on Bay safety and equipment usage and will take about 20minutes to complete. Feel free to refer to other sections in this guide to help with the answers.

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Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone

Boat Type for Certification Checkout(Required)

US Rowing Membership #

Have you completed six outings (solo practices, with certified rowers out of cove, in team boats, or as part of a group?)(Required)

Yes, I’m ready to get certified!

Club Rules

When should you make an entry in the logbook?(Required)

Before launching

After returning

When you observe damage or maintenance issues

When you sight a dolphin or whale in the cove

(Select all that apply)

What are the generally permitted hours for using club boats?

8am – 8pm

Dawn to Dusk

Whenever the club is open

What are the club’s rules for bringing a non-member friend with you?

Guests are not allowed to be in club vessels.

Guests may use SUPs and kayaks

Guests may ride as a passenger in a rowboat if they’ve paid a day-use fee and signed the waiver.

Guests may join you in a double seat rowboat (or in double seat kayak), if you get permission in advance from the Boat Captain.

(Select all that apply)

Tides & Currents (General)

What are some of the hazards of a low tide (Select all that apply)

The water is rougher

Normally covered rocks are exposed

The apron on the dock can be steep

It can sweep you under piers

What are some of the hazards of a strong current? (Check all that apply)

It can sweep you under piers

It can make it hard to reach your destination

It can make the water rougher

It can sweep you out of the Bay

What is the difference between low tide and an ebb?

They occur at the same time

The ebb starts at low tide

The ebb is a result of a lowering tide

They are never at the same time

As the tide lowers, water flows out of the bay.

During an ebb, you expect the water outside the cove to be moving in what direction?

Westward towards the Golden Gate

Eastward toward the Bay Bridge

How fast can you row or paddle (in knots)?

Please enter a number from 1 to 10.

There is no right answer here. A knot is one nautical mile per hour. Somewhere between 2-6 kts is likely correct, depending on your age, fitness and the type of boat. Our fastest rowers can do about 7-8kts consistently. A strong swimmer can do about 2kts.

What affects how fast you can row (or paddle)?

Wind

Current

Tide

What you ate for breakfast

Tide Book

You will need a tidebook to complete this section. If you don’t have a tidebook, you can download a copy of tides and currents here. You’re planning a row (or paddle) for the morning of April 2, 2024 launching @ 7:00 am

The tide in the cove is:

Close to low

Close to high

In the middle

Is it ebbing or flooding?

Ebbing

Flooding

You'd like to go out for two hours. The tide when you return will be….

Higher

Lower

Is the current velocity increasing or decreasing?

Increasing

Decreasing

To make life easiest for your return leg back to the club, which would be the best destination to go?

Towards the Golden Gate Bridge

Towards the Bay Bridge

Out towards Angel Island

It doesn’t matter

On another morning, you couldn't find the tidebook, but you notice it’s a very high tide, and the water in the cove doesn’t seem to be moving much. What would be the best direction to row or paddle, so that it’s easier on the way home.

Stay in cove until the water falls

Go towards Crissy Field

Go towards the Bay Bridge

Go towards Alcatraz

On yet another morning, you went for a row/paddle to Crissy Field and didn't check the tidebook. On your return, you realize there is a strong ebb and you are struggling to make progress back to the club. What are some options you could try?

Row close to the shoreline

Row well away from the shoreline

Call the Coastguard on your radio

Duck into the Yacht Harbor Marina and take a break for a couple hours

Land your boat on the beach and walk back to the club.

Weather

You’re going out just after lunch on a sunny day in May. There’s a moderate breeze and it looks like the fog bank is forming over the bridge and the hills to the west. What should you be expecting…

It’s likely to get windier

It’s likely to get calmer.

The fog might descend and leave you lost.

It’s going to get warmer as the afternoon goes by.

It’s a beautiful June morning. You think you’d like to try and row/paddle around Angel Island. It’s just past slack and you note it will be ebbing soon. What are some things you should keep in mind?

Your route will cross shipping lanes

The wind might be stronger on your return leg.

The water in the middle of the Bay will be rougher with the building ebb

It’s a long row, and you might get blisters.

Navigation

You’re rowing (or paddling) towards Alcatraz from Aquatic Park and you spot a ferry half a mile away coming towards you from the Golden Gate. What are appropriate actions (Check all that apply)

Stop and wait

Maintain your course and speed because you have right of way.

Paddle faster to get in front of it.

Adjust your course to make it clear you’ll cross behind it.

The ferry is getting closer and it doesn’t appear to be stopping. What would help?

Wear bright colored clothing when rowing

Hail the ferry on channel 16.

Wave your arms.

Paddle hard to get out of its way

Give in to fate

The ferry passed by. Phew. What hazards should you avoid as you round Alcatraz

Stay 300’ offshore to avoid scaring seabirds in the summer months.

Avoid sealions and seals basking on rocks

Give way to ferries landing on the island

Partially submerged rocks

Escaping prisoners

You’re just starting to paddle back to the club from Alcatraz and you spot a large container ship that has passed under the Golden Gate Bridge and is now heading towards you. Should you

Row quickly towards SF to get out of its way

Call Vessel Traffic to gather it’s intentions

Stop and wait near Alcatraz

Keep rowing, but keep an eye on it

You waited, and now you’ve just started paddling from Alcatraz back to Aquatic Park and you spot another container ship passing under the Bay Bridge and roughly in your direction. Should you…

Row quickly towards SF to get out of its way

Call Vessel Traffic to gather it’s intentions

Stop and wait near Alcatraz

Keep going, but keep an eye on it

You’re planning to row (or paddle) from Aquatic Park towards Crissy Field. What are some things you should be careful of?

Swimmers outside the Cove

Swimmers at Crissy Field

Buoys and markers away from shore

Boat traffic departing marinas

Aggressive sea lions

Other rowers not looking over their shoulder

You’re planning to row (or paddle)towards the Bay Bridge. What are some things you should keep a close lookout for?

Swimmers outside the cove

Piers that extend out into the Bay

Ferry and boat traffic departing piers

Other rowers not looking where they’re going

Marine Radios

When should you take a marine radio out on the water? (Check all that apply)

Every time you go out

When you’re rowing away from shore

When you might need to hail another vessel

When the water’s cold

What VHF channel should you use call for help in an emergency?

911

What channel do Dolphin Club rowers and pilots typically monitor?

How can you check a radio is working?

Call the coastguard on 16

Call VTS on 14

If the display lights up, it’s good

Check with another radio in the cabinet on 71

Where are acceptable places to put your radio on your row/paddle.

In a drybag at the back of the boat.

Anywhere practical where it can be securely attached to the boat

Clipped and tied to your lifevest

On a lanyard around your neck

Anywhere within easy reach of your hands

If your radio gets wet while you're out on the water, what should you do?

Switch it off right away, and put it aside with a note for the Boat Captain

Let it dry before returning it to the charger

Rinse it with fresh water, dry it, and return it to the charger

Pretend like nothing happened

If you don’t have a radio, what are other ways you could call for help?

Use a smartwatch to call 911

Use a cellphone to call the Coastguard

Wave your arms wildly at a passing ferry

Blow a whistle and shout to attract attention from people on shore

Personal Safety

It's a beautiful calm January afternoon. The forecast looks good, and it's slack current. You go for a row or paddle to Alcatraz. Along the way a ferry passes by and you are capsized in the wake. What is your biggest risk for the first couple minutes?

Drowning from panic and shock

Hypothermia

Incapacitation from the cold

What would mitigate this risk?

Wear a lifevest with inherent floatation

Bring a VHF Radio or other device to call for help

Know how to climb back into your boat

Become a confident cold-water swimmer

You’ve been in the water for 20-30minutes, what is your biggest risk?

Panic and shock from the cold

Hypothermia

Incapacitation from the cold

What would mitigate this risk?

Wear a lifevest with inherent floatation

Have a VHF Radio (or other device) to call for help

Dress for immersion

Become a confident cold-water swimmer

You’ve practiced falling out and climbing back onto your boat

Paddle with a buddy

Imagine you can't get back in your boat. No-one has responded on the radio. The sun has set and you’re succumbing to oblivion as the current takes you out the bridge. You can hear a helicopter out looking for you. What decisions could you have made earlier in the day to prevent this situation?

Bring additional ways to communicate (Phone, epirb)

Check your radio works before you head out.

Dress prepared to fall in (wetsuit)

Invite other rower/paddlers to join you.

Carry lights on afternoon outings.

Tell someone your plan.

Equipment

Which of the following are true for our wooden whitehalls

You should lube the oarlock pins with bag balm.

You should lube the oarlocks and oar sleeves with bag balm

You should lube the bronze seat wheels and tracks with a drop of oil

It’s ok to row without lubrication

Which of the following are true for the plastic rowboats?

You should grease the oarlocks

You should spray WD-40 on the seat wheels

You should wipe down the seat rails with a kitchen towel before use

You should rinse moving parts with fresh water after use

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