Tag Archives: education

Preparing for the Japan Marine Recreation Association (JMRA) Class 2 Boat License exam through on-water practice sessions

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The JMRA summer class for 2024 has just concluded. Meet the happy team!

As participants await the results, let’s deep-dive into the details of TSPS – Water Practice for the JMRA Class 2 Exam.

Preparing for the Japan Marine Recreation Association (JMRA) Class 2 Boat License exam through on-water practice sessions provides numerous benefits. Here are some of these advantages:

Hands-On Experience:

  • Essential Preparation: On-water practice offers exposure to real-world boating scenarios under various conditions.
  • Confidence Boost: Gaining proficiency in boat controls, maneuvers, and safety procedures enhances confidence for the practical exam.

Exam Relevance:

  • Practical Assessment: The JMRA Class 2 exam includes an underway component, and practicing in advance ensures readiness for this part.
  • Navigational Proficiency: On-water sessions improve skills in navigation, buoy identification, and coastal geography.

Instructor Guidance:

  • Professional Advice: Instructors provide hands-on guidance during practice, offering feedback and rectifying mistakes.
  • Exercise Repetition: Instructors ensure exercises are repeated as necessary for complete comprehension.

Emergency Preparedness:

  • Challenge Management: Practicing on the water equips you to handle unexpected events such as engine failure, abrupt weather shifts, or navigational mistakes.
  • Safety Training: You’ll learn vital emergency procedures, including man-overboard recovery and distress signaling.

Boat Familiarization:

  • Vessel Understanding: Get to know the specific characteristics, responsiveness, and limits of boats.
  • Docking Skills: Practice essential techniques for docking, anchoring, and mooring.

Interactions:

  • Practicing on the water offers an excellent opportunity to engage with other international boating enthusiasts and also mastering the knot-tying skills essential for the Class 2 JMRA exam.

NEW!!! TSPS also provides Refresh Water Practice Classes for those who have already obtained their license but wish to improve their on-water skills. For any inquiries, please reach out to Education TSPS at education@tspsjapan.org.

Moreover, the TSPS offers advanced boating skills classes suitable for both sail and power boats, including the boat handling class from the United States Power Squadrons. This class covers practical skills like real-world docking, collision avoidance, and navigation. A new session will be available this Fall.

Remember, the more time you invest in on-water practice, the more prepared you will be for boating activities!

Wishing you safe and successful boating and sailing!

References:

Class 1 & 2 Japan Boat License | Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron
Guide to Examination for Boat’s Operator (JMRA)
Credit for pictures: Jochen Damerau & Maria M. Tenold

Gripping Hitch Knots

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Get A Grip: BoatUS Article

In the June issue of BoatUS magazine, Evan Starzinger wrote a basic yet interesting article about three gripping hitches used to join two lines together while one line is under load. These are particularly useful when for one reason or another the load on a line is too great to manage by hand and requires transferring it to a winch or block to safely or more easily deal with.

I’ve used the icicle hitch to transfer a fully loaded jib sheet to a cleat because overwraps on the winch had tightened to the point I could no longer ease out the jib. Another use was at anchor. Voyager has an eight-foot bowsprit and leading the anchor rode to the end of the bowsprit eliminates chafing problems as the boat swings on the tides. By running a line through a block at the end of the spar then back to the bow and hitching it to the anchor rode, the rode can then be moved well forward and  away from the shrouds that support the bowsprit.

Gripping hitches are useful and important and should be in every sailor’s inventory of quickly deployable knots.

You can read the article here.