Sailing with St. Bart's:
You Can't Beat the Experience


St. Bart's Sailing Members' Handbook 2002

Training

Requirements to Qualify as a Skipper

Basic Requirements

The Skipper is responsible for the safety of the vessel and her passengers.

Attitude
  1. Safety of the passengers is the number one priority
  2. Keep cool in difficult situations
  3. Maintain a pleasant manner
  4. Always offer instruction when requested and practical
  5. Recognize that every sailor, including oneself, has room to develop his/her skills
  6. Be a club "team player" by participating in maintenance and social activities
Skills and Knowledge
  1. Successfully meet all the requirements to qualify as a First Mate
  2. Knowledge of critical dimensions of the boat: draft and height of the mast above the water
  3. Knowledge of local sailing waters
  4. Knowledge of approach to boat's regular slip
  5. Knowledge of applicable rules of the road and requirements for right-of-way, lights, and fog signals for sailboats, powerboats, tugboats (with and without tows), and fishing boats
  6. Knowledge of proper use of butane stove and propane barbecue
  7. Knowledge of proper use of inboard diesel engine
  8. Knowledge of parts of an anchor and rode, and how to determine scope
  9. Know how to properly anchor, including using two anchors to minimize swing
  10. Knowledge of procedures for freeing a keelboat when aground and how to protect from damage a firmly stuck boat
  11. Knowledge of weather systems common on Long Island Sound
  12. Know how to reef the main, heave to, lie a hull, run under bare poles, and use sea anchors, and when such techniques are appropriate
  13. Complete knowledge of chart symbology and the use of tide tables
  14. Knowledge of piloting, including taking bearings, charting courses to be sailed, identifying visual aids to navigation, determining distance covered over ground, and compensating for tidal currents and use of the compass and GPS
  15. Knowledge of artificial respiration and treatment for hypothermia
  16. Know the location and proper use of emergency and safety gear on board: signaling kit, first aid kit, horns, bells, emergency bilge pumps, sea cocks, emergency tiller, radar reflector, tool kit, spare parts, and marine radio
Practical
  1. Demonstrate the ability to dock and undock boat
  2. Demonstrate successful man-overboard drill

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