All OSC Mate Candidates are required to complete a checklist of 10 areas of seamanship in their Mate’s Manual and have each signed off by either the Candidate’s Mentoring Skipper or other OSC Skippers. The areas are broad based, for example: ‘Preparing To Sail/Leaving The Dock’, Sailing At Sea’, or ‘Navigation’. Each Mate Candidate is encouraged to sail with a variety of skippers, and having these areas signed off by several skippers helps broaden the Candidate’s perspective.
While most of these items can be successfully completed and signed off during routine sailing on the Club’s sailboats with the OSC Skippers, we also offer three Seaworthy Training Sessions. These sessions cover skills that may not be encountered in daily sailing, namely: Boat Systems Training, Crew Overboard drills, and Anchoring. Systems and Anchoring are covered in one session each, and that one session should provide enough information to the candidates in those sessions, although a periodic refresher on these subjects may be advisable. Crew Overboard drills are done in a Seaworthy session in addition to practicing multiple times during the training process because COB recovery is challenging at first and requires considerable practice to master.
These sessions complement the Club’s Assessment & Enhancement (A&E) Program and ensure that Mate Candidates are fully trained to fulfill their responsibility, including acting in the Skipper’s place in times of emergency. Following is an overview of the three Seaworthy Training Sessions:
Anchoring – The proper procedures for anchoring are reviewed in addition to actual practice of dropping & hauling up the anchor, safe operation of the anchor windlass, ensuring correct scope is used, etc. In a typical session, we anchor at least twice, with one group of candidates on the bow for each session. Four students max is ideal, so everyone gets hands-on practice. Because anchoring is an essential skill in sailing, but is not a normal part of our operations, this Seaworthiness session is required of Mate Candidates.
Boat Systems – An overview of boat systems is conducted on-board a Club vessel including through-hulls, engine, electronics, water and wastewater, and emergency response equipment e.g. first aid kit, fire extinguishers and emergency tiller. This seaworthiness session is required of Mate Candidates because Mates need to be up to speed about what is on board in the event of an emergency.
Crew Overboard (COB) –This hands-on session includes practice maneuvering to the COB as well as deployment and use of on-board emergency equipment including a Life Sling that has been installed on each of the club’s sailboats. Mate candidates participate in actual simulations of crew overboard rescue situations, maneuvering the boat back to the COB, and bringing the COB (simulated with a flotation cushion) back to the swim step ladder for rescue. Seaworthy Training Sessions are delivered with a minimum of 2 and generally a maximum of 3-4 participants. Because COB is typically practiced extensively with the candidate’s mentor and other skippers, participation in this seaworthiness session is optional.