Difference between revisions of "Bluewater Crew Rating"

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(Draft of new "Bluewater Crew" class curriculum)
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This is a list of the bluewater ratings and the skills required to obtain them.  This document is a work in progress.  Once it stabilizes, the official ratings and checklists will be posted at the sailing.mit.edu site proper.
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'''DRAFT''' We are working to develop a system of bluewater ratings.
  
 
These are the bluewater ratings:
 
These are the bluewater ratings:
  
'''Crew.'''  The crew rating indicates that you are familiar with the ship's systems and have at least basic skills in operating them.
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'''Bluewater Crew.'''  The crew rating indicates that a sailor is familiar with the boat and can assist the skipper in its safe operation.
  
'''Basic Skipper.''' With a basic rating you are authorized to skipper within Boston Harbor during daylight hours.
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'''Bluewater Skipper.''' (Details to come.)
  
'''Night Skipper.'''  With a night rating you are authorized to skipper within Boston Harbor during daylight and night hours.
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= Procedure =
  
'''Intercoastal Skipper.'''  With an intercoastal rating you are authorized to skipper anywhere along the New England coast.
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To become Bluewater Crew, you must:
  
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* obtain the Provisional rating
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* successfully complete a one-day Bluewater Crew Class
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* in addition to the class, sail on the boat at least twice
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* be endorsed by two skippers (including the class instructor)
  
= Procedure =
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= Bluewater Crew Class =
  
To become bluewater crew, you must:
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The Bluewater Crew Class will be taught on X Dimension, MIT's 43-foot yacht, over the course of a day. There will be a maximum of four students on board.
  
* obtain the Provisional rating
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The optional textbooks for the class will be:
* illustrate your comprehension of the [[Systems_Descriptions | ship systems]]
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* participate as crew in at least two [[Bluewater Training Cruises | training cruises]]
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* demonstrate your mastery of [[Bluewater Skills | ocean sailing skills]]
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To become a bluewater skipper, you must:
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Annapolis-Book-Seamanship-Edition-Revised/dp/0684854201/ref=pd_rhf_dp_shvl2 Annapolis Book of Seamanship]
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Cruising-National-Instruction-Certification/dp/1882502973/ref=pd_cp_b_3 U.S. Sailing's "Basic Cruising"]
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Fundamentals-Harry-Munns/dp/0877423342 American Sailing Association "Cruising Fundamentals"]
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* [http://www.amazon.com/Coastal-Cruising-American-Sailing-Associations/dp/0982102518 ASA "Coastal Cruising Made Easy"]
  
* obtain the Helmsman rating
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Sailors will be expected to learn and demonstrate understanding of:
* obtain the Bluewater Crew rating
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* teach at least one sailing class session at the pavilion each season
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* demonstrate your ability to direct a crew
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* participate as captain in at least two [[Bluewater Training Cruises | training cruises]]
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* actively participate in the maintenance, upkeep, and improvement of the boat
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* obtain approval from two other bluewater skippers after acting as captain on trips with them
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* complete a licensed sailing course such as:
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** ASA basic coastal cruising certification (http://www.american-sailing.com/asa_standards/standard_basic_coastal_cruising.html)
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** ASA advanced coastal cruising certification (http://www.american-sailing.com/asa_standards/standard_advanced_coastal_cruising.html)
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** US Coast Guard Captain - OUPV (6-pack) or Master (http://www.uscg.mil/NMC/cb_capt.asp)
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* be approved by the MIT Sailing Master
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* Basic operation of our 43-foot cruising vessel
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** Mooring approach and departure
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** Raising and lowering the mainsail, and unfurling and furling the foresail
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** Reefing the mainsail
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** Tacking/jibing a large vessel
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** Heaving to
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** Assisting with docking
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** Proper use of the head
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** Dinghy driving
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** Basic mainsail and foresail trim
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** Tying at least the following knots:
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*** bowline
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*** cleat hitch
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*** round turn and two half hitches
  
= Bluewater Skills =
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* Safety information
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** Working with new sailors / passengers
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** Radio procedure
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** Safe use of winches
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** Location and use of fire extinguishers on board
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** Location and use of life jackets and inflatable PFDs
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** Retrieving crew overboard
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** Distress signals and location/use of signal flares
  
* knots including bowline, clove hitch, rolling hitch, taut line hitch
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* Navigational skills
* cleating and coiling lines for various situations
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** Familiarity with layout of Boston Harbor
* motoring onto and off of a mooring
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** Rules of the road
* sailing onto and off of a mooring
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** Coastal piloting using Boston Harbor chart
* docking against a floating dock
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** Understanding of lateral aids to navigation
* docking against a fixed dock or piling
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** Use of GPS receiver
* proper use of lines when docking
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* anchoring skills
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* proper use of dinghy and outboard engine
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* proper use of winches and general line handling
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* understanding of mainsail and headsail trim, including proper use of sheets, traveler, vang
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* sail reefing techniques
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* reading nautical charts
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* navigation techniques, such as dead reckoning and determining a fix
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* identification of bouys, lights, daybeacons, and other aids to navigation
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* understanding of tides
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* understanding of weather patterns, monitoring, and forecasting
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* proper use of the ship's compass
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* proper use of GPS
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* proper use of Radar
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* VHF radio protocols
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* knowledge of distress signals and other emergency procedures
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* comprehensive knowledge of U.S. and international Navigation Rules
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* understanding of state and federal boating laws
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* understanding and proper use of ship systems
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** electrical systems (12v and 110v)
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** diesel engine
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** head, pumping out
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** freshwater system
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** refrigerator
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Revision as of 03:30, 15 July 2012

DRAFT We are working to develop a system of bluewater ratings.

These are the bluewater ratings:

Bluewater Crew. The crew rating indicates that a sailor is familiar with the boat and can assist the skipper in its safe operation.

Bluewater Skipper. (Details to come.)

Procedure

To become Bluewater Crew, you must:

  • obtain the Provisional rating
  • successfully complete a one-day Bluewater Crew Class
  • in addition to the class, sail on the boat at least twice
  • be endorsed by two skippers (including the class instructor)

Bluewater Crew Class

The Bluewater Crew Class will be taught on X Dimension, MIT's 43-foot yacht, over the course of a day. There will be a maximum of four students on board.

The optional textbooks for the class will be:

Sailors will be expected to learn and demonstrate understanding of:

  • Basic operation of our 43-foot cruising vessel
    • Mooring approach and departure
    • Raising and lowering the mainsail, and unfurling and furling the foresail
    • Reefing the mainsail
    • Tacking/jibing a large vessel
    • Heaving to
    • Assisting with docking
    • Proper use of the head
    • Dinghy driving
    • Basic mainsail and foresail trim
    • Tying at least the following knots:
      • bowline
      • cleat hitch
      • round turn and two half hitches
  • Safety information
    • Working with new sailors / passengers
    • Radio procedure
    • Safe use of winches
    • Location and use of fire extinguishers on board
    • Location and use of life jackets and inflatable PFDs
    • Retrieving crew overboard
    • Distress signals and location/use of signal flares
  • Navigational skills
    • Familiarity with layout of Boston Harbor
    • Rules of the road
    • Coastal piloting using Boston Harbor chart
    • Understanding of lateral aids to navigation
    • Use of GPS receiver