These are the parts of the ASC, Hover the mouse over the labels to see the names or see the list below the picture

Length = 16'6'' (5m)Beam = 6'6'' (2m)Weight = 666lbs (303kgs)
Hull = GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic)

THE ASC

The ASC (admiralty sea cadet) dinghy is a boat especially designed for naval cadet forces.
It is 16’ 6” in length, built of fibreglass (GRP) and can be pulled (rowed) or sailed.
It is normally pulled as a single banked boat, the stroke oar can be placed to starboard or port.

POSITIONS IN BOAT

To be named and numbered from forward to aft.

1. bow oar,
2. #2,
3. #3,
4. stroke oar

NUMBER AND POSITION OF OARS AND EQUIPMENT

Five oars & crutches and one boat hook are to be carried.

2 oars starboard side, blades aft,

1 oar port side blade aft,

1 oar port side, bow oar blade forward

1 oar amidships, spare oar blade aft 

1 boat hook amidships, hook forward

PULLING ORDERS

“MAN YOUR BOAT”
Crews get into boat (no jumping) standing on gunwales or thwarts may be necessary but is not advised, take position, adjust stretchers, then sit upright with arms folded.

“SHIP YOUR CRUTCHES” 
Secure crutches in the crutch plates ready for pulling.

“SHIP YOUR OARS” 
Place the oars in the crutches ready for pulling.

“STAND BY” 
The whole crew get ready for pulling by reaching well aft with the loom, the blade just above and at right angles to the water. The order is followed by

“GIVE WAY TOGETHER” 
This is the order to start pulling and is obeyed by the whole crew.
“give way starboard” or “give way port” is given if only one bank of oars is required to give way.

“OARS” 
This order has several uses it maybe given to:

• Cease pulling
• Prior to pulling when the oars are in the “ship oars” position
• Prior to pulling when the oars are in the “rest oars” position
• After “hold water” when sufficient way is off the boat

All uses result in the crew sitting squarely and upright with the oars horizontal and at right angles to the fore and aft line with the blades feathered.

“HOLD WATER” 
This is an emergency order and is obeyed immediately. This is the order to reduce or stop the way of the boat by holding the oars at right angles to the fore and aft line with the blades in the water.
“hold water port” or “hold water starboard” is given if only one bank of oars are required to hold water.

“BACK WATER TOGETHER” 
This is the order to go astern by pushing on the loom of the oars instead of pulling.
“back water port” or “back water starboard” is given if only one bank of oars are required to back water.

“STROKE TOGETHER” 
This is the order for all to give one stroke together.
“stroke port” or “stroke starboard” is given if only one bank are required.

“EASY ALL”  
This is the order to pull less hard to reduce the way on the boat.
“easy port” or “easy starboard” is given if only one bank of oars is required.
To resume normal pulling “give way together” is given.

“LAY ON YOUR OARS” 
This is the order to pull harder (put your backs into it).

“REST ON OARS” 
To allow the crew to relax by sliding there oars across the boat.

“MIND YOUR OARS” 
This is a warning to the crew to keep the blades of the oars clear off an obstruction in the water. “mind your port oars”  “mind your starboard oars” is given if only one bank of oars is concerned.

“EYES IN THE BOAT” 
This is an order to the crew to keep their gaze from wandering and/or pay attention to their duties.

“WAY ENOUGH” 
This order requires the crew to give one more stroke, pass the loom of the oar over the head
(boat the oar) and unship the crutch.

“BOAT YOUR OARS” 
This is the order to unship the oars and lay them in the boat.

“UNSHIP YOUR CRUTCHES” 
Order to remove the crutch from the plate and bring inside the boat lanyard still attached.

“FEND OFF PORT”  “FEND OFF STARBOARD” 
Order to the crew on the port or starboard side to fend-off in order to prevent damage to the side of the boat when coming alongside a boat or jetty. Can be used if coming alongside for a short stay.

“IN FENDERS”  “OUT FENDERS” 
Used as separate orders when leaving or coming alongside. 
(Bad seamanship to leave fenders out when under way).

“LET GO FORWARD” 
Bowman lets go  (replies “all gone forward”).

“LET GO AFT” 
Stroke lets go  (replies “all gone aft”).

“BEAR OFF” 
Several applications depending upon coxswain requirements

• ”Bear off forward”  bowman to push off with loom or boat hook
• ”Bear off number 2 (or number3)” no2 or no3  push off with loom
• If aground coxswain orders crew to push off as required 

“BOW” 
Given while pulling the bowman boats his oar by lifting out of the crutch sliding the loom towards the stern of the boat (blade forward) unships the crutch and stands in the bow facing forward waiting for instruction.

NOTE all orders are given when the blade of the oar is in the water the crew take one more stroke before obeying the order (EXCEPT for hold water which is obeyed immediately). 

SALUTING IN A BOAT

Coxswain will order oars.
Crew takes one more stroke and come to oars position crew sit to attention holding the oar blade feathered, coxswain will salute.

STEMMING A BUOY

Approach head to wind or head to tide whichever is considered stronger.
Give the orders

Stand by to stem buoy.
Bows.
Oars or hold water as required.

NOTE  rest on oars should not be given until the boat is at rest and the bowman has secured the boat to the buoy. # 2 can assist to secure the painter back in side the boat with a round turn and two half hitches.
Bowman may indicate range and direction of the buoy.

MAN OVERBOARD DRILL

Who ever spots the incident shouts “man over board …… side”

 
Coxswain orders  “BOWS”   the bowman will give range and direction
“Oars” or “hold water as required”
“Rest on oars” may be given to pass the man down the boat

NOTE always try to turn the boat to port. The boat should be stopped before the recovery. Special attention should be given to the use of trim to assist in the recovery. Coxswain and stroke should combine to lift inboard; a bight of rope may be used to assist in lifting the dead weight of the man overboard.

The decision on how to pick up the man overboard has to be made by the coxswain considering the prevailing conditions.

With the wind and tide in the same direction the best approach generally will be head to wind. With an opposing wind and tide the coxswain will have to determine which has the greater effect on the handling of the boat and decide the best approach accordingly in certain circumstances it may prove beneficial to place the boat broadside between the wind and/or tide and the man overboard.

COMING ALONGSIDE   

When the boat is approximately 8 boat lengths from the jetty the caution “stand by to come alongside ……side to” is given.  At approximately 6 boat lengths the order “bows” is given.  At approximately 4 boat lengths the order “way enough” is given.

PULLING SAFETY

The number one priority at all times is SAFETY.

The award of a cox's ticket is not a licence to sky lark ANY infringement of safety rules will result in the ticket and points being removed from the offender.
A safety supervisor will be appointed for unit activities he/she will have primary responsibility for those on the water in his/her charge.

Wearing of personal buoyancy aids

All personnel when afloat must wear personal buoyancy.
Personal buoyancy is defined as follows.

1. BS3595/81 foam-filled life jacket with secondary oral inflation as issued to cadets.
2. RN general service inflatable life jacket or RN hazardous duty life jacket (neither may be used for canoeing).
3. SBNF/BMIF approved personal buoyancy aid, minimum buoyancy 50 newtons.
4. BCU/BCMA standard specification buoyancy aid.
5. An appropriate life jacket or buoyancy aid meeting the new standards and carrying the CE mark with a minimum buoyancy of 50 newtons.

Personal buoyancy depending solely on oral inflation MUST be ONE THIRD inflated when worn.

PREPARING TO DEPART

1. Check boat
2. Check equipment 
3. Check crew/life jackets
4. Detail crew to positions
5. Stroke in boat
6. Pass equipment across
7. Crew and Cox in boat (one at a time)