Crew resources
Guides on USCG licensing, sail handling, charter work, safety, and life on San Diego Bay.
The six knots a charter deckhand needs to know cold — bowline, cleat hitch, clove hitch, figure-eight stopper, round turn and two half-hitches, and reef knot — with the use case for each.
Read →The mechanics of line handling at departure and arrival on a charter vessel — the four standard lines, fender placement, cleating technique, and how crew and captain divide the work.
Read →The split of duties between the captain and two mates on a charter sailing yacht — deck operations, sail handling, guest safety, and emergency roles aboard JADA — The Queen of San Diego.
Read →How to record and submit sea service for a USCG mariner license — the CG-719S form, what to track on every trip, and what counts toward near-coastal and sailing endorsements. Source: USCG National Maritime Center.
Read →Why CPR and First Aid are required for commercial marine credentialing, what courses count, and where to get certified in San Diego.
Read →The International Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) — what the convention requires, who needs STCW certification in U.S. waters, and what Basic Safety Training covers.
Read →The yacht clubs and sailing programs in San Diego that produce racing and cruising crew — how their training programs work and what skills translate to charter work.
Read →A ground-level description of what crewing a charter sail in San Diego involves — conditions, expectations, and how to evaluate if it is the right fit.
Read →The MMC is the single document that holds every USCG license and endorsement a mariner earns. How it works, what it contains, and what the renewal cycle looks like.
Read →Pre-employment, random, post-incident, and for-cause drug testing for USCG-licensed mariners. What the regulations require and how consortium enrollment works.
Read →A crew member's walkthrough of a standard 3-hour charter sail in San Diego — from the hour before guests arrive to post-sail clean-up.
Read →The Transportation Worker Identification Credential — who is required to have one for commercial maritime work, how to apply, and what it does not cover.
Read →The safety briefing every charter crew member is responsible for delivering before guests leave the dock. What federal regulations require, and what good operators add.
Read →What separates a yawl from a sloop or cutter rig, and how the mizzen changes the way the boat sails, trims, and balances. Practical notes for crew new to two-masted rigs.
Read →The three Master tonnage tiers for U.S. Coast Guard licensing — what each allows, which vessels require which tier, and how sea service requirements change. Facts from 46 CFR and USCG NMC.
Read →The OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) credential — what it allows, what it limits, and what you need to qualify. Source: USCG National Maritime Center.
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