Bluewater Skipper

Overview

MIT Bluewater skipper’s first responsibility is for the safety of the ship, their shipmates, and themselves. It is further expected that Bluewater Skippers shall lead growth in the MIT sailing community, maintenance of the Bluewater vessel, and the development of the Bluewater sailing program. They shall demonstrate sound leadership and technical sailing skills.

Mission:

MIT Bluewater Skippers shall provide safe circumstances in which to operate a sailing vessel. They shall preserve or improve the health of the crew, the vessel, and the ocean environment. They shall seek to maximize the exposure of the MIT community to opportunities to enjoy this environment. They shall nurture the growth of technical and leadership skills among members of the MIT sailing community who seek them.

Ratings

There are two levels for MIT Bluewater Skipper: Provisional and Full Skipper. The Provisional Skipper rating confers the privileges and responsibilities of sailing in Boston Harbor under Jib and Main during daylight hours. The Full Skipper rating includes the privileges and responsibilities of the basic rating and adds the privileges of sailing beyond the Boston vicinity under sail plans and conditions that are appropriate for the experience of the skipper and crew. All skippers must hold active sailing cards.

Expectations of All Skippers

As agreed to in May of 2023, the below list of minimum expectations are meant to prevent people from doing unsafe things and is not exhaustive. Skippers are intended to use their own best judgement. These are minimum expectations and skippers are empowered to make these requirements more strict (e.g. requiring the use of PFDs for all sails) as they deem necessary by their own personal limits.

• Setting up sails
  • every sail must be on the MITNA website, even if not open registration
  • everyone onboard should be registered for the sail online
  • everyone onboard should have an active sailing card. If they are a guest of the skipper, they have to create a virtual card
  • be mindful about crew affiliation when selecting people for the sail. Once safe operation needs are met, priority should be given to current students
  • best practice: set up sails at least 24 hours in advance
  • all sails should be advertised through the bluewater list; if there is an exception it should be emailed to the skippers list instead

• Sail Practices
  • attendance should be marked on the website before leaving the mooring
  • the log book should be filled out before and after every sail, including the names of those onboard
  • A trip report should be sent to the skippers list after each sail

To be refined

• Use of PFDs
  • After sunset
  • when it is precipitating
  • if the winds are over 10 kts
  • if going past deer island
• Two skippers on any overnight sail (by their nature, more involved and higher risk)
• At least three people onboard when sailing (e.g. when not doing a motoring delivery)

• Use of jacklines
  • when after sunset and beyond deer island
  • when doing a delivery of greater than 25nm
  • when more than 5nm offshore

• Weather minimums
  • 25+kts sustained in the harbor is a no go
  • Further go/no go to be decided
• Mashnee should not be sailed more than 20nm offshore when not in a race setting with other boats (limiting factor is the range of VHF radio). Weather diversions? Who holds authority for deviations and in what situations are they appropriate?

Harbor Skipper

Privileges:

• Responsible operation of the boat in the Boston Harbor (out to Graves Light and Hull) during daylight hours under Jib and Main
• Selection of crew, giving preference to those with active sailing cards
• Bringing one guest, per the MIT Sailing Pavilion policy

Responsibilities:

• Safe operation of the vessel
• Schedule every trip through the MIT Sailing website
• Ensure selection of crew who haven’t sailed on the vessel
  • New skippers must take at least two experienced and competent crew
• Contribute to the positive growth of the MIT sailing community by inspiring enthusiasm for sailing and developing the knowledge and skills of participants.
• Maintain the seaworthiness of the vessel
• Contribute to the improvement of vessel operability
• File a trip report on the bluewater skipper email list concerning the state of the vessel, crew and events after every trip

Qualification Criteria:

• Proof of knowledge of the Inland Navigation Rules for safe operation of Mashnee under sail or power in Boston Harbor.
• Proof of knowledge of all of Mashnee's boat systems necessary for safe operation of the vessel in Boston Harbor.
• At least 30 days of coastal sailing in tidal waters, prior ownership of a 35'-50' keel boat, or equivalent experience at sea.
• Recommendations by two current skippers after practical assessments of On the Water leadership, seamanship, and maintenance skills.

Skills which may be Assessed during On the Water Checkout Sails

Leadership Skills:

• Self-Awareness – The skipper shall demonstrate that they are conscious of the impact their words and actions have on people they lead, both implicitly and explicitly. At all times, they shall make an effort to conduct themselves in a manner which supports the mission of safe operation and positive community development.
• Situational Awareness – The skipper shall demonstrate the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the vessel and crew with regards to the mission of safe operation and positive community development. They shall avoid situations or events that degrade situational awareness and embrace opportunities to improve it. Specifically, the skipper shall take proactive steps to:
  • Ensure the communication of information related to the safe operation of the vessel including:
    • Traffic
    • Aids to navigation
    • Hazards to navigation
    • Matters related to the health of the crew
    • Situations which may impact the maneuverability of the vessel (e.g., weather, equipment state, rigging)
    • Skills and abilities of shipmates
  • Limit the propagation of false information
  • Eliminate uncertainty in their assessment of a situation

• Good Judgement – The skipper shall demonstrate the ability to perceive a situation and make a decision. Good decisions and good judgment support the mission of safe operation and positive community development. Judgment determines team actions in a given situation and depends on information that skippers have curated about themselves, their team, and the environment. Specifically the skipper shall take proactive steps to:
  • Gather information by soliciting input from teammates and environment
  • Cross Check information sources for consistency
  • Consider multiple solutions/contingencies
  • Consider the consequences of solutions
  • Provide a rationale for the selection of the most effective solution

• Communication – The skipper shall effectively exchange information. Specifically, s/he shall:
  • Acknowledge the receipt of information
  • Provide information when asked in appropriate situations
  • Ensure communication is accurately received, eg by repeating it.
  • Use, or define, terminology familiar to all parties involved in the communication
  • Inform appropriate individuals when plans change
  • Communicate all information needed by those external to the watch

• Assertiveness – Assertiveness is the ability of team members to state and maintain a position that may be counter to the position of others, until convinced by the facts, not the authority or personality of another, that their position is wrong. The skipper shall advocate open and questioning communication by team members. S/He shall maintain a mutually respectful environment.

• Risk Management – Risk management is a process by which we can maintain an acceptable level of safety during the operation of a vessel. Through observation, discussion, training and foresight the skipper shall mitigate all known risks to the safe operation of the vessel. Specifically, s/he shall:
  • Accept no unnecessary risk
  • Make risk decisions at the appropriate level
  • Accept risk when benefits outweigh the costs

• Flexibility and adaptability – Sailing trips do not always go as planned. By exercising the leadership skills outlined above, the skipper shall demonstrate the ability to change plans, assignments and goals to best support the safe operation of the vessel and positive growth of the sailing community as situations and environments evolve.

Seamanship Skills:

• Basic seamanship skills outlined in Bluewater Crew rating
• Compliance with the Standing Orders
• Mooring – The skipper shall demonstrate the ability to pick up and secure a mooring line at a water speed of 0.0kts
• Refueling
• Docking
• Pumping out the Holding Tank
• Helmsmanship - The skipper shall demonstrate the ability to hold a course for 30 minutes with no more than +/- 5 degrees from the course ordered, excepting situations which jeopardize the safety of the vessel or its crew.
• Navigation – The skipper shall not navigate the vessel into waters with depths of less than 15 feet or in sea conditions more than Force 4
• Human Overboard - Dummy Recovery in less than 5 minutes, with boat speed of less than 0.2 kts during recovery.
• Change of headsails and reefing
• Engine- Check fuel, Oil, coolant levels
• Battery - Check Battery Status

Sample Drill Scenarios:

• Fire Drill
• Crew Overboard Drill
• Injured shipmate Drill

Note: All drills will be clearly announced

Provisional Fast Track

The Bluewater program recognizes that members may enter the community with significant prior experience which they would like to share for the benefit of others. Some examples of 'significant prior experience' may be ownership of a keelboat, extensive racing experience, significant bareboat skippering experience, charter/delivery captains, or professional watch standing training from a maritime institution such as military service, merchant marines, or the American Sail Training Association.

The process to follow the Fast Track to the Provisional Skipper License, which confers the same privileges and responsibilities as the Provisional Skipper, is outlined here.

Fast Track Procedure

• Obtain a letter of nomination from an active skipper or sailing master
• Attend an orientation sail
• Pass one On-The-Water Assessment, conducted by a skipper who did not write the nomination letter
• Review the Bluewater Mission and Skipper expectations with the Sailing Master

Full Skipper

Privileges:

• Responsible operation of the boat beyond Boston Harbor
• Selection of Sail Plan, including spinnaker and storm sails
• Selection of crew, giving preference to those with active sailing cards
• Bring one guest, per the MIT Sailing Pavilion policy

Responsibilities:

• Safe operation of the vessel
• Schedule every trip through the MIT Sailing website
• Ensure selection of crew who haven’t sailed on the vessel
• Contribute to the positive growth of the MIT sailing community by inspiring enthusiasm for sailing and developing the knowledge and skills of participants.
• Maintain the seaworthiness of the vessel
• Contribute to the improvement of vessel operability