Sailing the Monomoy Windsong
Basic Sailing Program
Sailing Achievement Level Cards
MYC requires the successful completion of the knowledge and skill requirements summarized below and detailed in the Sailing Achievement Level Cards. These requirements are expected to be performed safely with confident command of the boat in familiar waters with a wind range of 5 to 15 knots. Nantucket Sound often has stronger prevailing conditions: Winds up to 20 Knots, with clear visibility and wave heights up to 3 feet will be acceptable if the candidate can safely control the boat and be aware of his or her and their crew's limitations in these conditions.
To be an Approved Operator of the Club's sailboats, potential Skippers are expected to have passed a state approved Boating Safety Course and have demonstrated the knowledge laid out on these cards. You may take any level through on-the-water demonstration to an MYC appointed Mentor/Moderator.
The knowledge called for in these Sailing Achievement Level Cards is based on US Sailing Basic Keelboat Course but has been
divided into different levels to accommodate Members from beginner sailor to rusty skipper!
It is the Member's responsibility to retain these achievement level cards and record their own progress or if already experienced, note any knowledge gaps. The Mentor/Moderator will sign off and record your passing when you achieve Skipper level.
The purpose of these four sailing levels is to:
- Provide Mentor/Moderators with a consistent and means to assess Members skills.
- Baseline a Member's achievements when Mentoring a Member for the first time.
- Provide Members with a set of specific, measurable and achievable goals by which to guide their own progress whilst always enjoying the sailing experience.
- Provide Skippers with a baseline on their crew's experience level.
The four levels detailed below are:
(click to jump to its description)
Master
Skipper
Mate
Objective: Upon achieving Mate, an adult sailing student is able to
- Equip themselves with proper clothing and footware for anticipated conditions
- Rig and de-rig a boat with cues and guidance.
- Comfortably handle the tiller and main with navigation direction and support.
- Identify basic sailing and sailboat terms.
- Find the wind and understand why you cannot sail into it.
A typical Mate…
- Has no (or has mostly overcome any existent) fear of being in a sailboat in fair weather conditions.
- Rigs and de-rigs the boat with assistance and cueing.
- Willingly takes the tiller and mainsheet.
- Handles the boat with guidance.
- Is smiling and eager to sail again and wants to learn more.
| Rig & Ready |
|
Basic safety
Navigate dock & boat
Rig/derig with guidance
|
| Underway |
|
Basic safety
Boat awareness
Boat & sail control
|
| Terms & Knots |
|
Terms
Knots
|
| Theory |
|
|
Midshipman / Midshipwoman