The Bytown Brigantine Sailor’s Handbook

The Sailor's Handbook  is designed for all trainees who are planning a trip on board the sail training vessel Fair Jeanne. We feel that good preparation makes for a more rewarding voyage, so we would urge you to look through this material and familiarize yourself with its contents.

The adventure you are about to embark on may seem a little overwhelming right now, however, the aim of this Sailor's Handbook is to answer some of your questions and get you more prepared for your sail training experience.

When you first arrive

As a part of your registration package, you will be told where and when to meet the Fair Jeanne. When you arrive you are to ask permission to board the ship from one of the ships officers who will be waiting for you on deck. Upon boarding you will be asked to sign aboard as part of the ship's crew (it is important that at this point you present your passport, next of kin information, medical information, and any prescription or non- prescription drugs you may have with you). After signing on, your adventure begins and, you are officially part of the crew!

While the remainders of the trainees are arriving, you will have a chance to meet some of your fellow crew members and get to know them a little; after all, it is the first time on board for many of you!

Once everyone has arrived the entire ship's company will gather together, and the Captain will introduce his/her ship along with the ship's officers. Everyone will be divided into "watches" (watches are like teams or groups). Your watch officer, who is the leader of the watch, and your Petty Officer, who helps the watch officer, will introduce themselves and then explain what happens next (see appendix I for crew positions and responsibilities).

During the first few hours on board, each watch will go through what is called "in- house". During in-house you will have a chance to learn how to safely don your harness and climb aloft. Also, you will learn all about the safety equipment on board and how it operates, how to set sails, and make up a line. When it is your watch's turn to go below you will get a chance to see your bunk and unpack your gear (remember when you are packing that you only have a three foot square area to stow all of your gear including the bag you brought everything in). You will also learn the essentials like how to operate the heads (the toilets) so you don't flood the ship, and how to operate the galley equipment. Basically, you learn the basic survival skills for on board. Always remember that there are no dumb questions! If you are not sure about something ask, even if you think it is silly, that is part of what the ship's officers are there for.

Following everyone's participation in a full in-house, the crew, that means you too, will prepare the ship to get underway. Once the last line has been cast off from the dock, and it is safe to do so, the Captain will give the word to set sail. The entire crew will work side by side with the instruction of the officers and set what could be as much as 4500 square feet of sail!

The Watch System

Fair Jeanne operates on a 24-hour schedule. You and all the members of your watch will rotate through each time, and by the end of your voyage you will have stood each watch at least once. The following is a break down of how the watch times are broken down and how they rotate:

Note: This rotation will continue for the entire voyage.

A schedule will be posted for each trip, starting with day one that describes how each watch or team will rotate through each watch or time period. As you can see, the word "watch" has several different meaning aboard ship so it is important that you understand the above differences.

But the best part of being in a watch is that you live in such close quarters you really get to know people, better than you ever thought possible. You spend so much time together on watch that often you will sing songs with your watch - whether you can carry a tune or not, or you could be telling stories, or jokes. If it's soaking wet and raining outside, you're all dealing with the cold wet weather together. You and your watch, including your officers, are totally in charge of what happens. You could be navigating through buoyed waters and plotting on the chart, or setting sails together. Everyone's likes and dislikes end up complimenting the others so there are people who like to go aloft, and those who don't, people who like to navigate and plot, and those who don't. By the end of a voyage on the Fair Jeanne you will have sailed a tall ship, been through some incredible challenges with people you just met two weeks ago but who now you would do anything for. You're a part of watch, you face every challenge as a team, you look out for the safety of your fellow crew members, you navigate the ship through easy and difficult times, you create lasting friendships and memories that come with being a part of a tall ship crew.

Meal Time

Usually there are two sittings for each meal. If your watch is next to go on duty then you will get to eat first. If you have any special dietary requirements please make sure that the office is aware before you arrive. The last dinner of each session is always an important one, so whenever possible, everyone eats together. It is here that everyone gets to say good bye and share his or her sea stories.

Ships Concert

One of the last nights you are on board, the entire Ships Company will gather together for a "ship's concert". Throughout the voyage, you and your watch mates will have been preparing for your part in the ship's concert. The songs that you were learning the entire voyage will be sung, the officers will have a skit, even the Captain will do his/her part. And, each watch will present something whether it be a song, skit, or some sort of activity. One year we even had a group of dancing bananas, you figure it out! If you have any special talents i.e. play a small instrument, juggle, or sing, the ships concert is the place to do it!

Instruction

While you are on board you will be issued a Bytown Brigantine logbook, which is yours to keep, and inside you will find the requirements for all of the levels. On your first voyage you can usually achieve level one. This logbook ranges in items from knot tying, to navigation, to proper galley cleanup. Throughout the course of a day there will be hands-on workshops to help cover the syllabus in the logbook, for example you will actually be shown and be able to plot a course. If you want to learn more about a specific area of the ship i.e. navigation, engineering, rigging, your officers will be more than happy to answer any of your questions or show you around.

Appendix I: The Crew

Fair Jeanne's professional crew consists of the following positions:

Captain

The captain has complete responsibility for the safe and effective operation of the ship, and the safety and well being of the entire ship's company. The captain may also run one of the watches.

Trainees should never address a captain by his/her first name, but as "Captain (surname)" or simply "Captain".

XO (Executive Officer) or 1st Mate

The XO is the second in command and is responsible for assuming the captain's authority in the event that something should happen to prevent that captain from exercising his/her normal duties. The XO is specifically responsible for the overall neatness and physical appearance of the vessel, for moral conduct, for conveying the captain's orders to the rest of the ship's company and for running one of the watches.

Trainees should address the XO as "Mr./Ms. (surname)" or "Number One". Several positions are filled by former trainees or volunteers, who have achieved the appropriate level of accomplishment. These positions are considered "semi-professional" and may receive an honorarium or may be purely voluntary.

Watch Officer

Former trainee who has completed Level III in the Bytown Brigantine Logbook or other qualified personnel fill the position of Watch Officer. The watch officer supervises the running of a watch as well as participating in other sail training programs aboard ship.

Trainees should address the watch officer as "Mr./Ms. (surname)".

Cook / Purser

The cook is responsible for the provisioning, menu planning and food preparation. From time to time trainees will be asked to assist the cook in the galley either with meal preparation or cleanup. The cook is the only is the only member of the crew who does not stand watch.

Trainees should address the cook as "Mr./Ms. (Surname)

Petty Officer

Having completed the level II in the Bytown Brigantine Logbook, petty officers are normally former trainees who assist in running a watch.

Trainees should address the petty officer as "Petty Officer (surname) or "Mr./Ms (surname)".

Boatswain

With specific responsibilities related to the rigging and physical maintenance of the ship the boatswain may be a former trainee or qualified adult volunteer. This position is sometimes combined with that of a watch officer.

Trainees should address Boatswain as "Mr./Ms. (surname).

The Engineer

Similar to the boatswain, the engineer is a former trainee or qualified adult volunteer whose specific responsibility is the main and auxiliary engine, and the electrical and mechanical systems. This position is sometimes combined with that of a watch officer.

Trainees should address engineer as "Mr./Ms. (surname).

Program Delivery Officer

Helps deliver special programs such as historical re-enactments involving the ship and her crew.

Supernumerary

Guests of the owner or crew who may stand watch but is given no specific responsibilities.

Appendix II: Important Information for Black Jack  Island Adventure Camp

Sleeping Accommodations

The sleeping facility is aboard a floating bunk/galley barge with barrack-style accommodations in one large great room. All participants, male and female, share this common sleeping facility. This arrangement demands that all trainees respect each other’s privacy and security. Violations of this ethic will result in immediate removal from the program. Proper sleeping attire is required. Change rooms are available and must be used.

This page last updated: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 10:59

BYTOWN BRIGANTINE INC.
2700 Queensview Drive, Ottawa, ON K2B 8H6 CANADA
phone: (613) 596-6258
contact us by email

Copyright © 2008 Bytown Brigantine Inc. a non-profit charitable foundation (Charitable Registration #118822253 RR0001) dedicated to providing adventure, education, and training in a demanding and rewarding environment.