Bluewater Crew Rating

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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.

Before taking the class, students must complete the following:

For more background, any of these books may be used:

In the class, 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
    • Unfurling and furling the foresail
    • Reefing the mainsail
    • Tacking/jibing a large vessel
    • Heaving to
    • Assisting with docking
      • Tying fenders
      • Preparing bow, stern, and spring lines
      • Safely stepping off boat at shrouds
      • Handling bow, stern and spring lines on dock
      • Leaving the dock
    • Proper use of the head
    • Dinghy driving
      • Tying dinghy to stern or to mooring
    • Basic mainsail and foresail trim
    • Winch operation
    • Tying at least the following knots:
      • bowline
      • cleat hitch
      • rolling hitch
      • figure-eight knot
    • Coiling and heaving a line
  • Safety information
    • Working with new sailors
    • 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 charts
    • Understanding of aids to navigation
    • Knowledge of boat's draft (8 feet!) and where it is not safe to navigate (under Long Island Bridge!)
    • Use of GPS receiver