NAUT 301b

Watch Captain Level
Offered Fall and Spring
Wednesday, 7:00pm to 9:00pm (semester-long)

2 units
Prerequisite: NAUT 301a or equivalent experience

Using the Crew Level skills acquired in the NAUT 301a class, the student moves on to more advanced skills and knowledge. These include vessel nomenclature, design, nautical history, common seamanship problems, navigation, marine weather, heavy weather seamanship, Rules of the Road, and night navigation.

Relating to the classroom theory, students complete a single day/night advanced voyage. During this passage, the majority of the ship’s operations are in the hands of the students.

Focus
Navigation Skills (Intermediate)
Marine Weather
Sail Aerodynamics and Trim
Nautical Rules of the Road

CNET Skills Profile for Watch Captain Course (301b)
Mission: To train students at the intermediate level in the skills of the use of sails, sail theory, navigation equipment, piloting, radar navigation, rules of the road, marlinspike seamanship, ship handling, and anchoring. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to perform the duties of Watch Captain on an offshore sailing yacht as outlined in the Offshore Sail Training Manual P1552/1 (Series) and in accordance with the applicable sail training manual(s). Chief of Naval Education and Training.

Profile Statement: Skills Taught

Identify Watch Captain watch station requirements for an offshore sailing yacht
Identify various navigation equipment and their usage
Identify terms and characteristics of nautical charts
Set sails correctly on a specified sailing yacht
Locate and identify safety equipment
Identify buoys used in the U.S. Lateral Buoy System
Identify light characteristics by chart symbol and name
Identify inherent and environmental factors affecting ship handling
Identify methods of man overboard recovery
Identify factors affecting man overboard recoveries
Successfully perform man overboard recovery
Identify terms and definitions associated with time theory
Identify preparations for docking and mooring to a buoy
Identify terms and characteristics associated with ground tackle and anchors
Demonstrate the principles of docking and ship control
Identify navigational terms and definitions
Identify the name and use of plotting equipment
Identify terms and their definitions associated with tides and currents
Identify characteristics and principles associated with the magnetic compass
Identify principles and standard rules associated with DR plots
Maintain a DR plot of a harbor transit
Identify light characteristics of lighted navigation aids
Identify principles associated with the proper care of synthetic fiber line
Identify basic marlinspike tools and their use
Identify parts of a block
Identify indications and actions to correct abnormal conditions
Identify components of steering systems and their functions
Identify terms used in the rules of the road and their meaning
Identify steering signals and their meaning
Demonstrate general damage control procedures
Identify major components of radar equipment and their functions
Take and plot radar fixes
Identify the usage of one, two, and three letter signals
Pilot a vessel under simulated low visibility conditions
Pilot using visual bearings and charted depths
Identify sail types and combinations for different points of sail
Set various sails as dictated by point of sail and wind conditions
Direct a vessel to a selected anchorage
Navigate a sailboat in open/offshore waters
Identify vessels by their running lights displayed