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NorthWest Sailing Association

NWSA Crew Guide

1. Clothing and Equipment

Be prepared for any weather condition possible - from cold and rainy to hot, humid and sunny; from hot noontimes to cool evenings. Bring sunglasses with a strap, suntan lotion - not oil, personal medication, your own and your child’s PFD’s, a towel, a hat and long sleeve shirt/pants to protect yourself from sunburn. Do not wear jewelry. If you are susceptible to any type of motion sickness, take medication at least one hour before departure. Ginger is helpful to ease the queasy feeling; ginger snap cookies or chewable ginger tablets.

Wear deck shoes or white-soled athletic shoes. Black soles and sharp heels are not welcome aboard since they will put marks on the boat. If you find you enjoy sailing, you may want to invest in a pair of deck shoes, sailing gloves, and a PFD. Inflatable PFD’s are now approved by the Coast Guard, and can be worn comfortably without restricting movement. As your interest in sailing grows, think about purchasing foul weather gear, boots and gloves.

You may want to assemble a small duffel bag containing all of your sailing gear and clothing. Leave a change of dry clothing, and items unnecessary for that day, in your car. You are responsible for your gear on board so keep it together as compactly as possible. In the old days, as a lesson, some skippers used to throw overboard every article of clothing left unattended. Your goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible, while taking aboard only what you need for that sail.

Bring and wear your NWSA namebadge. It will help people get to know you and you them; and make the sail much more personal when you can call each other by name.

2. Food

Bring your own lunch, snacks, and beverages, with ice, in a soft sided cooler, if possible; and perhaps something to share. Don’t bring anything that requires preparation. As space is limited on a boat, you may be asked to consolidate coolers with other crew. Glass containers can break and greasy foods cause slippery hands or decks. Both are discouraged, as are red or purple drinks, as they can stain. `Ziploc’ bags are recommended for snacks and storage. Pre-moistened towelettes are handy for cleanup. If you partake, ask the skipper if alcohol or smoking is allowed on the boat.

3. Participation

You are encouraged to learn to help sail the boat as `crew’, not take a free ride as a ‘passenger’. You will get more out of the sail if you take an active part. Observe how the boat is sailed. Ask questions about what you don’t understand. Volunteer to help. If unsure how to perform an assigned task, say so! With the Captain’s permission, practice tying knots, coiling lines and trimming sails. Arrive early to help prepare the boat and stay after to help clean up and secure the boat. Take off everything you brought aboard, except gifts to the Captain. Offer to buy ice or help pay the Skipper’s out-of-pocket expenses related to the day’s event.

4. Skipper’s Responsibilities

Much of the blame for inadequately trained crew must be borne by those of us who are boat owners. Our primary function should be as Instructors, not ferry pilots. Develop and conduct an orientation briefing for all new guests, including safety gear, sailing equipment, head operation, gear stowage, and ship’s rules, (which are different for every vessel). To ease your burden, have a list of simple chores the crew can perform successfully. Organize and label your boat, with new crew in mind, to simplify boat familiarization.

Actively manage crew placement, and warn crew of potential hazards - jibing booms, working lines, heeling, etc. Explain what you and the boat are doing or planning to do, and encourage questions. Demonstrate knots, sail trim, the points of sail, right of way, and steering. Conduct a `Demo Sail’ to familiarize yourself and everyone else with the sailing characteristics of your boat. Plan ahead and don’t be shy about assigning a leadership role, or delegate to other experienced crew members. Efforts in this regard will be rewarded with more knowledgeable and enthusiastic future crew.

5. Courtesy

Please remember that we are all guests at the discretion of the boat owners and act accordingly. ‘The Skipper is legally responsible for the safety of the boat and crew. Sign up for events at meetings, or by phone, and be on time. If you have to cancel, please do so in advance. If you have questions about an event, call the Cruise Captain for that event or any of the Board Members.