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Before you get underway assign the following duties to your
crew. These checks will prevent problems later and will familiarize
your crew with the boat's systems. These actions are based on
practices proven aboard Navy offshore sailboats.
All Hands
- Have supply of seasickness remedy found to be personally
most effective.
- Adjust safety harness and PFD for comfortable fit.
- Inventory personal safety gear.
Actions for Skipper
- Ensure all emergency assignments are up to date with people
assigned to functions by name.
Actions for First Mate or "Bosun"
- Inspect all standing rigging from masthead to deck, ensuring
cotters intact, taped as necessary, no cracks in swages or signs
of broken wire stands.
- Inspect all running rigging. End for end as necessary, whip
loose ends, install chafing gear or change leads to prevent chafe.
Examine areas under strain in heavy weather (e.g., reefing lines
where they pass through cringles).
- Bend on all storm sails, install sheets and determine sheeting
locations - mark with permanent felt-tip pen. Mark storm sail
corners (i.e., tack, head, cles).
- Mark all reef tack and clew cringles on mainsail and mizzen
with numbers corresponding to reef number.
- Inventory sail ties. Carry triple the normal number.
- Lay out safety lines on deck and in cockpit. If wire, check
swages for cracks or unlaying. If braided webbing, check condition
and any stitching. Run tether hooks fore and aft to ensure free
travel.
- Inspect and inventory safety harnesses. Check for sprung
clips, torn webbing and inoperative lights.
- Inspect and inventory PFDs. Check whistles, lights and reflecting
tape, ensure boat's name is on each PFD.
- Inspect life raft for security of stowage and attachment
of painter/operating lanyard to boat with weak link.
- Inventory sail repair kit.
- For- by six-foot heavy canvas for chafing gear.
- At least six assorted sail needles; two roping palms, right
hand.
- Three small rolls sail twine.
- Sail repair material including at least one yard of eight-
to nine-ounce sailcloth, adhesive-backed Dacron (sheet and tape)
and rip-stop nylon tape for spinnakers.
- Two yards reinforcing nylon or Dacron tape.
- Spare hanks and slides to fit each sail.
- Complete set spare battens; yarn for telltales.
- One yard spare cloth to match heaviest sail; one yard spare
cloth for each weight of sails.
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Actions for Engineer
- Clean bilges, removing all debris and clearing limber holes.
- Clean bilge pump strainers.
- Test bilge pumps by pumping clean water with each pump.
- Ensure batteries and other heavy equipment are secured against
rollover.
- Ensure all batteries are fully charged (use hydrometer for
wet-cell type). Replace defective batteries.
- Inspect steering for correct cable tension, proper clamps,
freedom from binding cable and sheave conditions. Remove or secure
loose quadrant area. Check and fill hydraulic steering reservoir
and air charge.
- Test emergency tiller and stow in readily accessible place.
- Inventory engine spares.
Actions for Navigator
- Test receipt of VHF and SSB weather information by copying
at least one broadcast. Ensure complete list of weather frequencies
is aboard.
- Test weatherfax if installed. Carry sufficient paper for
1.5 times anticipated need.
- Verify ability to receive time signals on at least two frequencies.
- Check barometer accuracy against standard barometer.
- Inventory emergency gear: Flares, EPIRB, survival mirrors,
radar reflector, space blanket and abandon ship bag.
- Ensure sufficient spare batteries for 1.5 times anticipated
needs for flashlight and portable electronics (GPS).
Actions for Cook
- Prepare menu for 30 hours of storm conditions.
- Ensure Sea Swing stove and sufficient fuel is on board.
- Secure all stores for possible rollover.
- Rig all lee cloths and check for adequacy of attachment.
- Inventory and inspect immersion suits.
Actions for "Damage Control Assistant"
- Fit all washboards and other hatch closure devices. Ensure
covers for large windows are on board, properly stored and ready
for mounting.
- Cycle all thru-hull valves and lubricate as necessary. Check
for DC plugs of correct size adjacent to each fitting. Ensure
all hoses below the waterline connected to thru-hulls are double
clamped.
- Check topside tightness by applying high-pressure hose to
hatches, deck edge, windows and mast boot.
- Locate all Dorade vent covers.
- Inventory damage-control kit and toolbox.
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