Bluewater Crew Rating

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:

• The MIT Provisional rating.
• Complete the Nauticed.org Skipper course, and email your certificate of completion to bluewater-skippers@mit.edu. MITNA has arranged a discounted $25 rate for this online course. Please use the MITNA discount code to receive the discount. (If you do not have MIT certificates to view the discount code, or if this price is a financial hardship, please contact the bluewater skippers.)
• Read the U.S. Coast Guard guide to navigation markers

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

• Annapolis Book of Seamanship
• U.S. Sailing's "Basic Cruising"
• American Sailing Association "Cruising Fundamentals"
• ASA "Coastal Cruising Made Easy"

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
  • Starting the engine
    • Checking oil and coolant
    • Checking gauges
    • Checking for exhaust water
  • Stopping the engine

• 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
  • Checking and emptying the bilges

• 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!)
  • Use of GPS receiver