Steven Bussolari, MITNA Bluewater Skipper, USCG Captain
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None
Have you dreamed about chartering a cruising sailboat in some far-off location? Do you want to give offshore (bluewater) sailing a try? Even if you just want to be one of those annoying people who point out the 10 things that Robert Redford did wrong in “All is Lost”, this shore school is for you. This course is designed as an introduction to offshore cruising and racing for sailors. The seven lectures will cover the basic knowledge necessary for safe and efficient offshore sailing. There are no prerequisites for this course, but some previous sailing experience is desirable.
This course is excellent preparation for bluewater sailing aboard MIT's cruising boat "X Dimension".
Sponsor(s): Athletics, Physical Education & Recreation
Contact: Steven Bussolari, LL-S3-132, 781 981-7016, BUSSOLARI@LL.MIT.EDU
| Jan/07 | Tue | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
This class will be a general introduction to offshore sailing and an overview of the course material. The various forms of bluewater sailing will be discussed, including coastal cruising, offshore passagemaking, and ocean racing. MIT's bluewater sailing program aboard "X Dimension" will be described.
Matthew Wall - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, USCG Captain
| Jan/09 | Thu | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
This session will present the preparation necessary to take a yacht offshore. A description of the various types of bluewater yachts will be presented along with an assessment of their seaworthiness characteristics. Rigging, sail inventory, and equipment will be discussed.
Matthew Wall - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, USCG Captain, Scott Dynes - MITNA Bluewater Skipper
| Jan/14 | Tue | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
The various aspects of living aboard an offshore sailing yacht will be presented. Watch schedules, daily routines, cooking aboard, and other elements will be discussed. Dr. Chuck Oman, MIT aerospace engineer/neuroscientist, experienced offshore and one design sailor, and lecturer at US Sailing Safety at Sea Symposiums will discuss causes, prevention and treatment of seasickness in bluewater sailing.
Keith Winstein - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, Gigi Lirot - USCG Captain, Chuck Oman - Director, Man Vehicle Laboratory
| Jan/16 | Thu | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
This session will discuss the weather phenomena relevant to offshore sailing. The principal features of weather systems will be discussed, including High and Low pressure systems, warm and cold fronts and the associated cloud cover and precipitiation. Sources of weather information for the offshore sailors and their interpretation will be presented.
Steven Bussolari - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, USCG Captain
| Jan/21 | Tue | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
In this session we will address the skills, practices and attitudes that contribute to safe and enjoyable offshore sailing. We will discuss the practical aspects of crew and boat safety, including boat handling, sailing in various conditions, emergency situations, communications, crew responsibilities, watch schedules and more. We will end with a discussion of case studies (and perhaps a recent movie).
Scott Dynes - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, Keith Winstein - MITNA Bluewater Skipper
| Jan/23 | Thu | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
The principles of ocean navigation will be covered in this session. We discuss coordinate systems and ocean chart types then inshore aids to navigation and tides and currents. We will then describe the basics of navigational technique, including dead reckoning, and chart work. We will finish with a discussion of GPS and celestial navigation for ocean passages.
Steven Bussolari - MITNA Bluewater Skipper, USCG Captain
| Jan/28 | Tue | 06:00PM-09:00PM | Sailing Pavilion |
This session will include an overview of the Racing Rules of Sailling followed by a discussion of offshore racing strategy and tactics.
Francis Charles - Sailing Master, Matt Lindblad - Assistant Sailing Master