Question 11

The Correct Answer is C ### Why Option C is Correct The command "**head up**" means to alter the course of the vessel to steer closer toward the direction the wind is coming from (i.e., closer to the 'eye of the wind'). When a sailing vessel heads up, the bow turns into the wind. On a typical vessel, turning the wheel to the **right** (starboard) steers the bow to the **right** (starboard). Since the vessel is already on the starboard tack (meaning the wind is coming over the starboard side), turning the bow further to starboard will point the boat more directly into the wind, executing the "head up" command. ### Why Other Options Are Incorrect **A) Turn the wheel to port if you are steering with a wheel:** Turning the wheel to port would steer the bow to port. Since the boat is on the starboard tack, turning the bow to port would steer the vessel *away* from the wind, which is known as "bearing away" or "falling off," the opposite of heading up. **B) Push the tiller to starboard if you are steering with a tiller:** A tiller operates in reverse of a wheel. To steer the bow to starboard (to head up), you must move the tiller to port (away from the desired direction of the bow). Pushing the tiller to starboard would steer the bow to port, causing the boat to bear away. **D) Hold a steady helm and allow the jib to luff:** Holding a steady helm means maintaining the current course. Allowing the jib to luff (flap) means the boat is already heading too close to the wind (or has headed up slightly too far) and the sails are no longer drawing properly. This is an indication of a trim issue or an effect of heading up, but it is **not** the action taken to execute the "head up" instruction itself. The instruction requires an active steering change.