Difference between revisions of "Bluewater Crew Rating"

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(Bluewater Skills)
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* actively participate in the maintenance, upkeep, and improvement of the boat
 
* actively participate in the maintenance, upkeep, and improvement of the boat
 
* participate in at least two [[Bluewater Training Cruises | skipper training cruises]]
 
* participate in at least two [[Bluewater Training Cruises | skipper training cruises]]
* solicit approval from two other bluewater skippers by acting as captain on trips with them
+
* obtain approval from two other bluewater skippers by acting as captain on trips with them
 
* complete a licensed sailing course such as:
 
* complete a licensed sailing course such as:
 
** ASA basic coastal cruising certification (http://www.american-sailing.com/asa_standards/standard_basic_coastal_cruising.html)
 
** ASA basic coastal cruising certification (http://www.american-sailing.com/asa_standards/standard_basic_coastal_cruising.html)

Revision as of 17:19, 24 November 2009

This is a list of the bluewater ratings and the skills required to obtain them. This document is a work in progress (oct08). Once it stabilizes, the official ratings and checklists will be posted at the sailing.mit.edu site proper.

Bluewater Ratings

There are three levels of Bluewater Skipper: Basic, Night, and Intercoastal.

Basic. With a basic rating you are authorized to skipper within Boston Harbor during daylight hours.

Night. With a night rating you are authorized to skipper within Boston Harbor during daylight and night hours.

Intercoastal. With an intercoastal rating you are authorized to skipper anywhere along the New England coast.

Procedure

To become an MIT bluewater skipper, you must:

Bluewater Skills

  • knots including bowline, clove hitch, rolling hitch, taut line hitch
  • cleating and coiling lines for various situations
  • motoring onto and off of a mooring
  • sailing onto and off of a mooring
  • docking against a floating dock
  • docking against a fixed dock or piling
  • proper use of lines when docking
  • anchoring skills
  • proper use of dinghy and outboard engine
  • proper use of winches and general line handling
  • understanding of mainsail and headsail trim, including proper use of sheets, traveler, vang
  • sail reefing techniques
  • reading nautical charts
  • navigation techniques, such as dead reckoning and determining a fix
  • identification of bouys, lights, daybeacons, and other aids to navigation
  • understanding of tides
  • understanding of weather patterns, monitoring, and forecasting
  • proper use of the ship's compass
  • proper use of GPS
  • proper use of Radar
  • VHF radio protocols
  • knowledge of distress signals and other emergency procedures
  • comprehensive knowledge of U.S. and international Navigation Rules
  • understanding of state and federal boating laws
  • understanding and proper use of ship systems
    • electrical systems (12v and 110v)
    • diesel engine
    • head, pumping out
    • freshwater system
    • refrigerator