Question 102 Deck General

The correct answer is C) The vessel's speed decreases. When a vessel heads up from a beam reach to close-hauled, the angle between the vessel's heading and the direction of the wind increases. This causes the vessel's speed to decrease because the sails are now generating less forward thrust. As the vessel heads closer to the wind, the sails become less efficient, and the vessel's speed drops. The other options are incorrect: A) The vessel's side slip decreases - This is not necessarily true, as the side slip can increase or decrease depending on the specific conditions. B) The heeling moment decreases - The heeling moment, which is the force that causes the vessel to lean to one side, may actually increase as the vessel heads up closer to the wind. D) The apparent wind remains steady - The apparent wind, which is the combination of the true wind and the vessel's movement, will change as the vessel heads up, causing the apparent wind speed and direction to change.