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:

• Read the U.S. Coast Guard guide to navigation markers
• Complete the (free) Nauticed.org Navigation Rules Clinic

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

• 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!)
  • Use of GPS receiver