2024/25 Program Outline

We will be running two academy levels this year:

We will have the original Bluewater sessions (ICC) 3 x 3 day passages, and 9 x 3 hr training sessions

and an intensive Coxswain ‘All at Sea’ Version with two 8 day passages for AMSA Coxswain (240 hr) candidates !

Who is this for:

• New owners (skippers) with limited experience of / keel boat sailing vessels from 40ft - 50ft

• Sailors who want instruction, sea time experience and skills requirements to pass (exceed) the ICC certificate exam

• AMSA Coxswain NC1 Trainees: Observed sea time and work-book participants.

What is the Bluewater Academy?

Fieldtrip Bluewater Academy is a keel boat sail training program aboard SV’Bolero’ on Victorias sail training playground - Port Phillip Bay. The academy breaks the mould in that it’s tailored to you and your experience level, with the academy crew developing as a team, and the conditions of the day(s). We adopt a leading from behind method using observation, intuition and participation. The academy has a zero to hero goal to not just qualify, but exceed the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) requirements. We have mid week sessions which can be practical and / or theoretical, optional racing and then a monthly passage on (November - February). Come March, you will be ready for the next step, an extended bluewater cruise.

How does it work?

We are using a ‘season pass’ model with a limited intake of 4 people per course. The season pass, gets you in the crew and on a boat for 8 nights of passage sailing and 9 training and sessions. The pass fee covers your instruction, provisioning and accomodation and an occasional beverage when safe at harbour. The design of the program is versatile enough for participants to jump in and out as our busy lives require and not miss out on too much (80% attendance). This provides the opportunity to structure the experiences based off the best conditions to learn from, over the duration of the season. The pass works on an economy of familiarity. Everyone gets to know the boat, how it works, who’s good at / or likes doing what… and from that we build a better more focussed and engrained understanding. A real quality and quantity equation as we see it. Putting you in good stead, wherever sailing takes you. We are stoked on adventure (cruising) sailing, and want to share the love. The fees go to partly cover the cost of running the boat, this (unfortunately for us) is not a profit making scheme. This requires 100% commitment to an 80% participation from the selected participants. Team work makes the dream work.

Season Pass: AUD$2600 (ICC exam not included)

HOW

We take a human centred approach to sailing instruction. You and the crew, steer the ‘learning’ ship as we go. With the goal being that we cultivate a collaborative learning environment and we can develop hands on demonstrations in practise and theory that is sensitive to a variety of different understandings and perspectives. Sailing is as much about the soft skills as the hard. The academy strives to cultivate both. The outcome for the crew will be as varied as the participants themselves. Fill out the application to help us meet them.

WHO

The Academy is aimed at people who have a strong desire to get into sailing through a series of structured and memorable, fun mainly, experiences. Motivated by the hope to sail the world, or at least charter abroad, work commercially locally, or sample the simple joy of travel under sail. We are striving to provide an alternative to the long shouty and not particularly informative journey, of racing experiences that most entry level participants endure. Why? Because this is what the people want. A relaxed and fun learning environment.

WHERE

The activity is varied between several spots around the bay, Portarlington, Wyndham Harbour (near Point Cook) or St Kilda Marina. So if you live in Melbourne we have you covered. We aim to keep it clean and green so we will set up car pooling for the various sessions too. Wednesday sessions vary between video classes, practical hands on sessions or sailing drills.

• Lots of ‘hands-on’ sailing time: helming, sail trim and pilotage/strategy.

• Sailing Fundamentals

• Vessel Familiarisation

• Safety (survival) at sea

• Boat handling (not watching, doing!)

• Navigation

• Mechanical Basics

• Weather (including tides)

• Radio and Comms

• Provisioning

• Passage Planning

• Rescue scenarios

• Advanced Sail Trim

• Small Boat Handling

• Pilotage & Strategies

• Night Navigation

• Emergency Response & contingencies

• Advanced Weather

BIG Plus
SUPER COOL
Bonus STUFF.

We believe in sampling all the joys of sail cruising and they are not limited to simply sailing. Fishing out a big one, swim with a dolphin, dive a sea shelf, sea glean some shellfishes, visit a seal colony, capsize a kayak, sail a dinghy. This is how we spend spare time so join the fun, it’s not all ropes and knots and weird names for everyday objects.

Intro Bay Passage 1: Portarlington & Whitecliffs 50nm
Two Days - November 11th - 12th 2023

Bay Passage 2: Portarlington & Queenscliff. 50nm
Three Days - December 1st - 3rd

Bay Passage 3: Wyndham, Mornington to Queenscliff. 50nm. Three Days - January 13th - 15th

Bluewater Passage 4: Wyndham to Westernport. 100nm
Three Days - February 3rd - 6th

ICC ASSESSMENT

The ICC is the international passport to sailing, proof of your experience. At an additional minimal fee we will get an assessor down for the 6hr assessment and you’ll be ticketed and ready for cruising abroad.

What you need

All you need is your able body (yep, sorry folks that’s essential), be autonomous (over 18), stoked on the fact that inflation and crazy airfares has you grounded for the summer, and a cool $500 with the application form ahead of the $2100 course fee (which can be paid in 3 instalments ) to join the crew. There’s only 4 spots and they get scooped up pretty quick. The application is quick and fun, we just want to know why you want to join, what you want to get out of it… and how much experience you are bringing to the start line. Safety equipment, wet weather gear, life jackets is all provided.

ABOUT SV BOLERO

The vessels we use are 12m Beneteau 393’s. A french build of luxurious ‘passage maker’, Bolero, a ‘survey vessel’ meaning she meets the safety standard for commercial vessels as administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Agency. They are three cabin layouts with twin berths in each. Toilets front and back. A large saloon to seat 6. All the mod cons in a spacious layout. Safe and sturdy enough to cross an ocean.

Who’s in charge

Simon Murray

• Coxswain NC Grade1
• AMSA Commercial Operators
Certificate of Competency.
• Program Director &
Instructor

With nearly 10,000nm of sailing experience which is over half way around the planet, only not in his case as he’s made squiggles, everywhere from the Adriatic, Aegean, the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, and almost length of the East Coast of Australia, but his passion is right here, cruising ‘the Strait’. Handy in the galley too for those wondering… Bolero is his 8 ton baby.