Resources - University of California, Santa Cruz

Resources & Training

Weather & Water Conditions

Check conditions before heading out to sail.

Santa Cruz Harbor Entrance Sounding

Best for live readings on wind speed and direction right on top of the Crow's Nest.

Great for detailed weather forecasts for the upcoming week. Includes weather, wind speed and direction, and swell height and direction.

Provides a sounding on the depths of the harbor mouth. Especially important to review during winter months due to storms and shoaling.

Santa Cruz Harbor Webcam

Great overall readings for current conditions - swell height, period, and direction(s). Also includes wind speed and direction, and the tides for the day

Used for predictions on tide height and times for the day, week, or month.

Live access to the harbor webcam to view harbor entrance, channel, and neighboring beaches.

Santa Cruz Yacht Club

Good for forecasts on wind speed and direction for the next couple of days.

Check-Out Information

Required evaluations to operate UCSC boats.

Level II Dinghy Checkout

The Level II dinghy check-out test consists of a written test and an on-the-water skills test.

On the water, be prepared to be tested on:

Rigging the Quests - Looking for proper rigging of sails and running rigging.
Towing - While under tow make sure all sheets are un-cleated and steering to maintain control of the vessel.
Upwind sailing - Once out in the bay, we will start to make our way upwind and each boat will complete at least three good tacks (close hauled to close hauled), good communication between skipper and crew is a must.
Points of Sail - Each skipper is expected to find all the different points of sail, with proper sail trim, and maintain that course until asked to find the next point of sail.
Downwind sailing - On the downwind leg, each boat will complete at least three good, controlled jibes. Looking for proper communication between skipper and crew, maintaining control while switching sides, controlling when the main sail comes across, and not over-turning.
Boat control - Each boat will do three to four laps around the safety boat to demonstrate boat control and proper commands when heading up, falling off, tacking, and jibing.
Reefing - You may be asked to reef your sail underway.
Re-entering the harbor - When sailing back through the harbor mouth, make sure you have a good boat position in relation to the western and eastern jetties, while also paying attention to the wind direction, swell, and other boat traffic. Also, make sure to observe proper maritime right-of-way rules.
Capsize recovery - Once back at the dock, if you have not done a capsize drill with us before or have not done one in the past six months, we will ask you to capsize and right the boat using the scoop-recovery method. If this applies to you, make sure to bring a bathing suit and a towel and/or a change of clothes.

Dinghy Check Out Study Guide (to help you prepare for the written test)

Rigging
Points of Sail
Right of way rules
Mechanics of rudder and centerboard
Proper tacking and jibing
Scoop-recovery capsize procedure
Ways to depower your boat
Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor rules and regulations
UCSC Boating Rules & Expectations
Sailing knots - eight knot, double overhand stopper knot, reef/square knot, clove hitch, round turn with two half hitches, and bowline

Outboard Checkout

The UCSC outboard check-out test consists of a written test and a dockside practical skills test related to both the gas and electric outboards.

For the electric outboards, be prepared to:

Prepare the engine for sailing:
1. Tilt the engine using the stainless handle.
2. Lower using the mounting bracket.
3. Erect the tiller.
4. Ask the dockmaster to attach the lithium battery. Only the dockmasters should be handling the batteries.
5. Attach the safety line securely to your battery.
6. The engine should be powered on before disembarking. The magnetic kill switch must be placed on the tiller for the engine to go into gear.
Shift smoothly in and out of both gears, pausing in neutral.
Raise the outboards in the appropriate way.
1. Make sure the tiller is off to the side before raising your outboard.
2. On the bay:
  1. You must stop your vessel completely before raising or lowering your outboard.
  2. You are expected to raise your outboard for sailing.
  3. End of your sail:

1.Before you leave the boat, the outboards should be tilted and raised all the way up on their mounting brackets with the tiller stowed. The engines must be rinsed with fresh water and covered with the correct engine cover.

Troubleshoot a malfunctioning engine:
1. Is the kill switch in place?
2. Is there something caught in your propellor?
3. Is the battery connection secure?
4. Is it displaying an error code? If you have a phone, look it up! It might be easy to fix on the water. Otherwise, reach out to the UCSC office for assistance.

For the gas outboard test, be prepared to:

Explain how to use choke.
Explain the critical difference between a water-cooled engine and Maybe's aircooled engine.
Lower and raise the gas outboard:
1. The correct side up is printed on the outboard. If you turn the outboard upside-down, oil will leak out of the crankcase.
2. Make sure not to bump the engine against the transom as you raise or lower.
Prepare the outboard to start:
1. Lower the engine
2. Open up the choke
3. Open the air vent on the top
4. Switch fuel shut-off on starboard side to open
5. Bring throttle to 'start' position
6. Check fuel, fuel line connection
7. Check that the kill switch is in place
You will be asked to start the engine using the pull start. YouTube Video: How to Use a Gas Outboard

Courses & Syllabi

Course content may vary by conditions and student skill level.

Intermediate Keelboat

Advanced Keelboat

Our Fleet

Sailing

RS Quests (5)

ILCA Lasers (4)

Keelboats

Santana 22

Santa Cruz 27

Olson 30 (2)

O'Day 34

Colgate 26 (4) - Coming Soon!

Powerboats

Zodiacs (2)

Whaler

Rowing

Edon training shells (8)

MAAS AEROS 20s (2)

MAAS 24s (2)

Bay 21

Pegasus

WinTech 30' double

Custom built wooden double

Resources & Training

Weather & Water Conditions

Check conditions before heading out to sail.

O'Neill Sea Odyssey Weather

NOAA Weather Service