6 Pack info

[CapnK]

Make mine a 6 pack of IPA, beer *designed* to round a Cape... ;D


I know a fellow who got Moe to sign off on his hours towards a 100-ton license a few years back. He's got less time on the water than I do, by far. At the time, he was basically a steward on a gambling boat, a 3-hour-booze-cruise kind of thing. He did get some time at the wheel, but not as much as what was written on his forms. He'd gotten his 6-pack time on a parasail boat, which is marginally more instructive than watching a boating movie.

Yep, they're out there, but my hope is that most people who take the time to get their ticket don't do the shortcut route, and take pride in doing it proper.

[s/v Faith]

Yep, they're out there, but my hope is that most people who take the time to get their ticket don't do the shortcut route, and take pride in doing it proper.

Sadly they are out there, but FWIW,

  The outfit I went with was World wide marine training, they do a refresher course, and then they administer the exam in 5 parts.  Navigation, Navigation pract, safety, seamanship, and rules of the road.  The instructor was a retired USCG CO of a buoy tender, so his knowledge of vessel operation was pretty advanced.  It was a good course, and even though I believe I would have passed the course without the review it was very helpful. 

I passed all 5 sections of the exam with perfect scores, the examiner appeared to be impressed, and said that it was very rare for someone to come through with a perfect set of exams.  (I am pretty much a rock, so don't be too impressed).

  As far as the sea time.  I have have much more documented time, day for day, then the 720 days I needed, across over 15 vessels well over the 200 ton limit for the license (I plan to upgrade to the Masters, 200t).  I have spent time in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Red sea, and Persian gulf as well as up and down the eastern sea board from New York to Ft. Lauderdale, on small boats and much larger vessels.  I crewed on a couple of merchants when I was a teenager on the Gulf coast.

  None of this really matters for poop, other then to say that the idea of the 'license in a box of crackerjacks' idea is pretty offensive to me.  I am sure there are some out there, just like I remember some pretty BS pilot license programs a few years ago.  People with limited integrity will pretty much figure out a way past any barrier (I had to show multiple forms of ID, as people have tried to have surrogates take the exam for them in past).

  My experience with this process is that it is a pretty good license to get, and the process is pretty well thought out.  I would encourage anyone who is thinking of doing it not to put it off, as the process is likely to continue to become more restrictive as the federal government becomes more paranoid.

  The reasons to get the ticket vary, but I believe that it is a good thing to have even if you are not planning on being a professional Capt.

  I have heard people say they would not get their ticket because they don't want to be accountable for being more knowledgeable in the event of an accident.  That is a cop out, and I suspect those are the same people who resist learning proper sail trim because they 'are not going to race anyway'. In my mind, even if you never 'use' it, the it is good to have as it opens up options you don't have otherwise. 

  FWIW

[AdriftAtSea]

Just remember, the paper tigers aren't limited to the Captain's licenses. 

For instance, in my industry, the IT field, there are a lot of people with paper certifications for Cisco and Microsoft, that don't have the real world experience to back them up with. 

[Cmdr Pete]

Congratulations Captain Craig on getting your ticket

[s/v Faith]

"HEY!.....

  You scratched my anchor!"

;D ;D ;D

[Zen]

Congrats Craig!

Good Show mate! :D
I 've been doing a lot of landlubber art stuff so I'm behind on things 8)

[CapnK]

"Rock" ;) -

Having that 200t cert seems like it would be a good thing once you get out cruising, allowing you to pick up jobs unavailable to those of us who don't have a nice jacket like yours, or such a fancy cap... ;D

CONGRATS, man! Good job! Aceing all the tests - I bet thats a statistical rarity!

Grog for the new Captain! :D

[Zen]

NO way Jose! 8)

I have two sailing trips planned over the next 2 weeks coming

My ASA BKB instructor test Nov 1st

also moved my Japan passage forward 3 yrs, so now into a 5 yr plan. how sweet it is... ;D

Just need to balance the life sails on land from time to time.
8)

[Captain Smollett]

Congrats Craig.  Good News.

Now we know who to ask all those tricky ColRegs questions.   ;D

[Captain Smollett]

also moved my Japan passage forward 3 yrs, so now into a 5 yr plan. how sweet it is... ;D

Very Cool.

Are you planning to sail straight from SF to Japan, or make stops along the way?  I was recently looking at a world atlas and thinking about sailing routes, and actually thought of you since Japan looked to be not so easy to get to (winds/currents, etc).  It got me to wondering what route you are planning to take.

(Sorry if you've posted this before)

[Zen]

Direct no!

SF to Hawaii
Hawaii to Marshall Isl
Marshall to Micronesia
Micronesia to Guam
Guam to Japan

I stay with better currents and winds. Get rest & play stops every 3 weeks, can do layovers for better weather (as in avoid Typhons). Longer but a more pleasant voyage. Besides it is about the journey... ne!
Hopefully it will be pleasant to venture further south to the deep Pacific islands. It is do able...grabing the gusto 8)

[Fortis]

Oh go on, admit it, you are wanting to do the Melbourne to Osaka race!

;D


Alex

[Zen]

shhhhhhhhh , it's a secret  ;D

[castawaysailor]

got mine about 15 years ago, not a big problem but some local fishermen did not do so well.  the rules of the road can be tough for some as you must score 90% or greater.  good luck

[Fortis]

I recently joined the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (think British Life Boat Service and not US Coast Guard as a model).

I am going through the training that they will give us over the next year....Ye Gods!!!


There notion of Competent Crew certification is a full step above the coastal skipper ticket in yachtmaster.

I am suddenly going to have to buckle down and study again...well worth it though. Lots and lots of marlinspike seamanship. A variety of splices in both traditional and all common modern ropes is the FIRST INTRODUCTION to the course. Then it is onto serious rigging.

Suddenly all I am confident in is my first aid, fire fighting and sea safety survival stuff...I get the feeling I have stepped into the serious end of things for just about everything else in the course. I am not going to make assumptions about anything regarding navigation and all the other stuff I thought I already knew....they are just going to take a can opener to my head and pour new stuff in.



Alex.

[Captain Smollett]

I recently joined the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard (think British Life Boat Service and not US Coast Guard as a model).

While it may or may not be similar, I've thought of going the Coast Guard Auxilary route rather than (or perhaps in addition to) six-pack.

Good luck, Alex; it sounds like a rigorous (and worthwhile) program.

[s/v Faith]

John,

  The Coast Guard Aux provides a great service, I think you would be doing well to associate with them.  I also think you should go after the license as well if you are inclined.  The process has been worthwhile for me, and the studying has definitely made it worthwhile, even if I never use it.

  Yes, I intended to day that.   :o 

  :D

By the Grace of God, I finished my Master's exam this afternoon.  I also passed the test for the towing endorsement, both with perfect scores.   ;D

I frankly do not see any circumstances under which I want to carry more then 6 passengers, or command a 200 ton vessel, but should the opportunity ever present it's self, I will have the license.   

[AdriftAtSea]

Congrats on the Master's and the towing endorsement. :D  Of course, s/v Faith would probably be a horrible tow vessel...most sailboat are underpowered to begin with. ;)

[s/v Faith]

Actually.......

  'Faith' has towed other vessels twice.  Once was just a boost to a fellow Sailor who was aground.

  The best one was a small (~24') power boat who was drifting about 2 miles from my marina.  It is a minimum $300 for seatow where I am (unless you have a policy, with them or Towboat US) and I see this couple drifting.  I go in as close as I can get (they were in about 2' of water), and ask if they need help.  Their motor had died, and they had run down the battery trying to re-start it.  THey wanted a 'jump' but as I could not get over to their boat, and had no cables that would reach my battery I heaved them a line.

  I towed them back out into the channel, I figured out that their motor had probably not been charging, so even if I could jump them off they would probably not make it back to the marina......

  The wind was blowing them back into the shoals, so I did the only logical thing.... hoisted the main and headed in with them in tow. 

  I wanted REAL BAD to call back to the marina and ask someone to take the picture as I sailed up to the 'T' dock with them.. but I figured they would be embarrassed enough....

[AdriftAtSea]

LOL... that's great.. that would have been a picture for the website... a sailboat towing a stinkpot via sail power... :D  I LOVE IT.