Boardsailing BSA
- Review the BSA guidelines
for boardsailing and
explain
steps you have taken to
follow each of the eleven guidelines.
- Explain precautions to be taken for boardsailing on
each of the following.
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Ocean or bay areas
- What is hypothermia? Describe to your counselor the
symptoms of hypothermia.
What special considerations are necessary for
boardsailing?
- Properly rig and prepare the sailboard you are
using.
Point out and explain the
function of each of the following: uphaul, outhaul,
downhaul, cleat, leach, tack,
clew, foot, skeg, centerboard, wishbone boom,
universal, luff, and center of
effort. Explain how to steer the sailboard.
- Demonstrate your ability to uphaul the sail, find
the
neutral position to the wind
(sail luffing), and control the board's position with
foot movement.
- With supervision from your instructor, sail a course
that involves beating,
reaching, and running. Change tack by coming about.
Note to Counselors
Purpose.
This award has been developed to introduce Scout-age
children to basic
boardsailing skills, equipment, and safety
precautions; to encourage the
development of skills that promote fitness and safe
aquatic recreation; and to lay
a skill and knowledge foundation for those who will
later participate in more
advanced and demanding activities on the water.
Boardsailing BSA is well suited
as a program feature for older Scouts at summer camp.
Counselors.
Any person recognized and certified as an instructor
by Windsurfer International
or the United States Boardsailing Association may
serve as a counselor for this
award with the approval of the local council. A person
trained and experienced
in boardsailing skills and safety may serve as a
counselor for this award in a
Scout summer camp program under the direction and
supervision of a currently
certified Aquatics Instructor, BSA. All requirements
must be completed as
stated on this Boardsailing BSA application. The
counselor should not omit, vary,
or add requirements. The requirements should be taught
and completed in the
order in which they are presented on the application.
Recognition.
Scouts completing the requirements will receive a
swimsuit patch, No. 00249. A
completed award application should be submiited to the
local council by the
counselor or unit leader.
Teaching Areas.
Instruction must be conducted on a body of water
meeting the criteria defined in
the BSA guidelines for boardsailing. (See the
"Aquatics" section of Camp
Program and Property Management, No. 20-920.) A
steady
five- to
seven-knot breeze is ideal for beginner practice.
Initial water entry and practice
should be on a gradual beach that meets Safe Swim
Defense standards. The
body of water should be free of other traffic, and be
protected from shore and
open water so that students are within fifty feet of
assistance at all times during
beginner instruction and practice.
References.
A number of useful publications are available from
equipment suppliers. The
following are recommended:
- The Complete Guide to Windsurfing, by
Jeremy
Evans
- The Sailboard Book, by Jake Grubb
- Windsurfing, by Roger Jones
- Boardsailing Made Easy, by Chip
Winans
and Mimi
Greenwood.
Board Sailing Guidelines
Whenever Scouts or Explorers participate in boardsailing
activities, the following
guidelines and practices should be followed:
- A responsible adult must supervise all board-sailing
activities. The supervising
adult must be experienced and qualified in water
safety (BSA Lifeguard, Red
Cross Advanced Lifesaving, or YMCA Senior Lifesaver)
and must be an
experienced board sailor or use assistants with such
qualifications.
- Only persons who have successfully completed the
official BSA swimmers test
in the current year may participate in a board-sailing
activity.
- All participants must present evidence of fitness
assured by a complete health
history from a physician, parent, or legal guardian.
The adult supervisor should
adjust all supervision, discipline, and protection to
anticipate any potential risks
associated with individual health conditions. In the
event of any significant health
condition, an examination by a physician should be
required by the adult
supervisor.
- All participants should receive instruction in
boardsailing skills and safety from
an experienced board sailor.
- All persons must wear an approved U.S. Coast Guard
personal flotation device
(type II or III recommended) at all times while
participating in a board-sailing
activity.
- No one sails alone; always have a buddy on the water
(in a boat or on another
board). Board sailors must stay within view and easy
rescue range of lookout in
an appropriately equipped rescue boat.
- No board-sailing at night, at dusk, or in rough
water.
Weather and water
conditions must be known and understood in advance of
any board-sailing
activity, and weather forecasts should be studied.
Exposure suits are
recommended for cool water or cool weather.
- Avoid swimming areas, fishermen, and underwater
diving
activity. Use
designated board-sailing beaches when available. Stay
out of traffic or channels
that have heavy traffic.
- All equipment should be safety checked and repaired
as
needed before each use.
- When in difficulty, a person should stay with the
board and not attempt to swim
ashore.
- All participants should know, understand, and follow
the rules and procedures for
safe board-sailing. The supervisor should encourage
the individual exercise of
good judgment and self-discipline, and assure that
safety rules are fairly and
constantly enforced.