Bluewater

Sailors who are comfortable and confident at the Bluewater Crew level and want to be more involved in the offshore program can choose to work towards a Bluewater Skipper rating.

To become an MIT bluewater skipper, you must:

• Obtain the Provisional, Crew, and Helmsman ratings
• Illustrate your comprehension of Mashnee’s systems
• Illustrate your mastery of ocean sailing skills
• Demonstrate your ability to direct a crew
• Actively participate in the maintenance, upkeep, and improvement of the boat
• Be able to handle Mashnee in normal sailing conditions and emergencies with a crew of mixed abilities
• Obtain approval from two other bluewater skippers by acting as captain on Mashnee trips with them
• Complete a US Coast Guard course such as OUPV (6-pack) or master license, or ASA chartering course
• Teach at least one sailing class session at the pavilion each season
• Be approved by the MIT Sailing Master

Practically speaking, working towards becoming a skipper means sailing as much as possible. There’s no better way to understand what happens on the water than to be there. It also means helping with maintenance, getting to know the boat inside and out, and developing a strong working knowledge of the rules and regulations around sailing in a commercial harbor. If you’re interested, speak with the current skippers to make opportunities to learn.