Original Crew Rating

The original MITNA Crew Rating was a test of various nautical knowledge and terminology, as well as nautical skills such as knots and rope handling. The Crew Rating Test could be taken after the sailor aquired a Provisional Rating, and the Crew Rating was a pre-requisite for obtaining a Helmsman Rating.

The Crew test required that the sailor know all of the material contained in the booklet, Sailing and the Tech Dinghy, that were not previously covered in the Provisional test.

In the 1990s, the Crew Rating requirement fell out of practice and since then, the Crew Rating test has been rarely given.

Sailing Terms

The sailor was expected to know and understand the following nautical terms.

• windward
• leeward
• starboard
• port
• forward
• aft
• head up
• bear off
• jibe
• tack
• by the lee
• on the wind
• broad reach
• sailing free
• ease
• trim
• ready about
• prepare to jibe
• pinching
• hiking
• shooting to windward
• weather helm
• lee helm
• heavy weather
• heeling

Boat Parts

The sailor was expected to be able to identify the following parts on a boat:

• Mast
• Mast Step
• Mast Partner
• Boom
• Forestay
• Shrouds
• Painter
• Traveler Line
• Traveler Block
• Sheet
• Outhaul
• Downhaul
• Boom Vang
• Pintles
• Gugeons
• Rudder
• Tiller
• Gunwale
• Thwart
• Sail Ticklers
• Centerboard Lever
• Centerboard Trunk
• Parts of the Sail
  • Head
  • Tack
  • Clew
  • Foot
  • Leech
  • Luff
  • Roach
  • Draft

Fittings

The sailor was expected to be able to identify the following fittings on a boat:

• chain plate
• winch
• turnbuckle or shroud adjuster
• cable or rope thimbles
• jib hank or snap halyard lock
• clevis pin
• spinnaker-pole, mast ring and topping lift
• shackle
• hiking straps
• cotter pin
• leech lines
• cleats
  • jam cleats
  • horn cleats
  • cam cleats
• spinnaker sheet or guy
• self bailers and scuppers
• guy or reaching hook
• twing line
• snap hook
• eye strap

Points of Sail

The sailor was required to know the various points of sail:

• Close Hauled
• Close Reach
• Beam Reach
• Broad Reach
• Run
• By the Lee

Knots

The sailor was required to demonstrate tying the following knots:

• Bowline
• Stunsail Tack Bend
• Figure Eight Knot
• Square Knot
• Sheet Bend
• Fisherman's Knot
• Clove Hitch
• Rolling Hitch
• Anchor Bend
• Double Half Hitch

Rope Skills

The sailor was required to demonstrate the following skills:

• Whipping (plain and sewn)
• Splicing an eye splice
• Splicing a short splice
• Coiling and Heaving a Line

Anchor Types

The sailor was required to identify the following anchor types and describe their use.

• Navy Anchor
• Mushroom Anchor
• Kedge Anchor
• Danforth Anchor

Rigs

The sailor was required to identify the following sailing rigs:

• Catboat
• Sloop
• Cutter
• Yawl
• Ketch
• Schooner
• Marconi vs. Gaff Rig