Failed US sailing written exam but passed practical test what to do?

[cruisernewbie]

I just finished the Colgate Offshore Fast Track to Cruising 7 day learn to sail course and will post more on that later. Passed the Basic Keelboat US sailing exam but failed the other 2 exams. What can I do to get my certifications? Do I need to repeat the entire course or just retake the written exams? All of the charter boat companies require both experience and the bloody certifications. I love sailing but it's a lot more physically demanding than I expected and being quick on the sheets and knots are things that I need more experience.

[Stu Jackson]

What did you do when you failed a test in high school?

[GordMay]

That question might best be answered by the (Colgate’s) Offshore Sailing School:
Toll Free: 1-888-454-7015

[OldFrog75]

I admire your ambition. No way I could have learned how to sail and pass the written exams in 7 days. I took one class per week and studied my butt off in between to pass the basic keel boat and coastal cruising certifications. I went on a lot of club sponsored daysails while studying but it still took me 8 weeks to get the knowledge and skills necessary for the first two certifications. Maybe I could have done it quicker but better safe than sorry. That's how you live to be an Old Frog....

Don't know about Colgate USS but our ASA school allows you to retake the written exams anytime you want until you pass them but you have to repeat classes for skills/proficiency inadequacies.

[sailorboy1]

One of the reasons why you should do the reading ahead of time.

And it doesn't reflect well of a school to have students failing tests.

[SkiprJohn]

Yes, contact the school. Study and read and then schedule a retake of the tests. Keep studying and retaking until you pass.

Good luck and well done for your persistence.

kind regards,

[nautical62]

If you do not live near Colgate's school, you could also try contacting U.S. sailing, and ask them. They may have a closer option where you can retake the written test.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by cruisernewbie

I just finished the Colgate Offshore Fast Track to Cruising 7 day learn to sail course and will post more on that later. Passed the Basic Keelboat US sailing exam but failed the other 2 exams. What can I do to get my certifications? Do I need to repeat the entire course or just retake the written exams? All of the charter boat companies require both experience and the bloody certifications. I love sailing but it's a lot more physically demanding than I expected and being quick on the sheets and knots are things that I need more experience.

Have you asked Colgate this question? They should be the ones to work with you on this issue. A public forum cannot definitively answer this question.

On those rare occassions when I've had a student not pass an exam, we've defined a remediation plan (which areas need more study for example) specific to that student and arranged for them to retake the exam either at the original school or at a location more comvenient to them.

[thinwater]

I've certainly found cruising far more complicated to learn that driving a car, and I didn't learn to drive in a week.

Personally, I believe a sailor without 100 hours in a dingy and 30 days in a cruising boat as crew has no business asking to borrow someones boat. But that's just me. Would you load a tractor trailer to a 1-week wonder that had not driven a car either? Didn't think so.

[cruisernewbie]

Thanks folks,

I sent Colgate an email and wait for their update as well as US Sailing. Yes, learning 7 days of no prior sailing experience to crew a larger sailing yacht is very difficult. I felt since everyone else in the course passed all the exams except for me. I did pass the practical tests and sailed the boat out and back with the other guy in my class successfully.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by cruisernewbie

Thanks folks,

I sent Colgate an email and wait for their update as well as US Sailing. Yes, learning 7 days of no prior sailing experience to crew a larger sailing yacht is very difficult. I felt since everyone else in the course passed all the exams except for me. I did pass the practical tests and sailed the boat out and back with the other guy in my class successfully.

Yes, its a lot to learn in one contiguous series of classes. I encourage students to take a class or two, build some experience, and them sign up for the next class. Much more effective way to learn.

Be interested to know their response so please update.

Along those same lines, did the instructor have a conversation with about follow up?

[goboatingnow]

You can teach someone the basics of sailing in a day.

Why had you to be " fast on the sheets ". Should be no need if the helmsman knows what's he's doing in a tack.


Dave

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

You can teach someone the basics of sailing in a day.

Why had you to be " fast on the sheets ". Should be no need if the helmsman knows what's he's doing in a tack.


Dave

But to teach someone to sail well and safely takes much longer.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

But to teach someone to sail well and safely takes much longer.

Yes and is not taught on a 7 day course. I've done those US sailing exams. They are not difficult with any sort of prep work.

I'd say to the Op. get more sailing in first chasing certs without some experience offend products bad results
Dave

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by thinwater

I've certainly found cruising far more complicated to learn that driving a car, and I didn't learn to drive in a week.

Personally, I believe a sailor without 100 hours in a dingy and 30 days in a cruising boat as crew has no business asking to borrow someones boat. But that's just me. Would you load a tractor trailer to a 1-week wonder that had not driven a car either? Didn't think so.

Maybe more.
When I started sailing I jokingly said I'd give myself ten years to learn. Thirty years later I'm still learning.