How to Become a Skipper (Checking Out)
Checkout Procedures (99.16kb pdf)
Written Test (84.17kb pdf)
Candidates wishing to become Skippers are expected to have some sailing knowledge and experience, ideally with keelboats in tidal waters. Fairwinds does not teaching sailing - however, we DO teach you our boats.
To ensure that everyone who takes out a boat has the skills to command and operate it in a confident and competent manner, the Association over its 40+ year history, has implemented a procedure to progress members from joining to Full Skipper. Called the "Checkout", the procedure is designed to ensure the safety of the boats and their crew. To this end, Skippers must be able to demonstrate sailing proficiency and be thoroughly familiar with all the systems and the handling of a given boat. This includes (but is not limited to) the safety equipment, the engine, electrical system, navigation/communication equipment, propane system, plumbing and holding tank, anchor, sails and all rigging.
A new member joins as Crew or Non-Skipper. As Crew the member can book and take out either of the boats as long as he or she is accompanied by a qualified Skipper. A prospective skipper’s experience/competency should be such that 4 day sails with different skippers in windy conditions, a systems orientation with the boat captain, and a good read of the boat’s SOP is enough be ready to pass both the written and practical exams - regardless of whether this happens quickly or slowly. Association skippers are available for orientation sails and to help new members "learn the ropes". It is, however, the responsibility of new members to take the initiative to learn the boats and prepare for checkout.
Review the Checkout Procedures document (link above) to understand what is involved. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential reading and every skipper needs to be completely familiar with their content. Once you've reviewed the appropriate documentation a good approach to arranging orientation sails is to send out an email to other skippers suggesting possible date/times. When a Crew member feels confident enough to handle the boat by themselves, he or she can request that they be checked out by the Vice Commodore.
In addition to the sailing checkout, the candidate must also complete a written test. The written test is open book and can take as long as the candidate wishes. However, it must be completed and handed to the Vice Commodore sometime before the sailing checkout. The purpose of the written test is to demonstrate that the candidate has basic knowledge of boating safety, sailing, the rules of the road, chart reading and how to handle difficult situations.
Members wishing to checkout must possess a Pleasure Craft Operator's Card (PCOC or equivalent) from Transport Canada and a "Radio Telephone Operator's Restricted Certificate" from Industry Canada (the boats have fixed station marine radios). If the member does not already have one of these certificates, he or she must make the appropriate arrangements to complete the exams and obtain same. Copies of these certificates need to be provided to the co-op. Completion of either a Power Squadron or CYA Coastal Cruising course, while not mandatory, is highly recommended.
Detailed information on the requirements for checking out and a copy of the written test can be obtained by clicking on the links at the top of this page. Both of these are Adobe Acrobat PDF documents.
Once the member has checked out and pays the annual Sailing and Capital Fees, he or she becomes a Skipper. At this point the member can take out the associated boat on his or her own.
Sailing Partners
The C&C check ride is basically a one person (Skipper) checkout, although a partner is certainly welcome. The Pearson, being a larger and more complicated 2-person boat, is a "Skipper plus Crew" checkout.
It's recommended that your normal sailing partner participate in orientation and checkout sails. While this is optional for the C&C, in the case of the Pearson this is mandatory. Primary responsibility remains with the Skipper, but if there is an emergency it's important that your partner be able to handle the boat and critical equipment, single-handedly if necessary. Also, for many activities such as anchoring, stern-tying, docking, sail management etc. you really want to have 2 people comfortable working together. For the Pearson, your partner must demonstrate "competent-crew" sailing ability.