NSAR 2008

Marlinspike

NSAR Rules

Photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor SITREP

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MARLINSPIKE (Knowing the Ropes)

The purpose of this event is to evaluate the marlinspike skills, teamwork, communications skills, and leadership abilities of the team.

The standard for this event will be the USCG Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, M16114.5 (series), Chapter 7, Marlinspike Seamanship.

  1. There are 3-labeled stations for each Team and two assigned tasks will be carried out at each station. The stations must not be moved. Station 1 will be manned by team member 1, station 2 by team member 2 and station 3 by team member 3. You may choose your stations before the event;
  2. The necessary equipment to complete all evolutions is provided at station 1. Read the event description, select the necessary equipment that you will need and move the required equipment to stations 2 and 3. All remaining equipment will be needed at station 1;
  3. Team member 1 will complete tasks 1A and 1B, team member 2 will complete tasks 2A and 2B and team member 3 will complete tasks 3A and 3B;
  4. The tasks are to be carried out in the following order: 1A to 2A to 3A, 3A to 2B to 3B and then ending at station 1 with task 1B. Be careful! This order must be followed.
  5. Keep your task sheet and instructions with you at all times. Follow these directions carefully or penalties will be imposed.
  6. Stay within the boundaries (“on deck”) of your skills station at all times when conducting the evolutions. You may go outside your skills station to retrieve cargo that has gone adrift if a knot becomes untied, but you must go back to the station where the knot was tied and try again. Penalties will be assigned if a knot becomes untied;
  7. You may assist each other, but only verbally and from inside the boundaries of you skills station;
  8. This exercise is timed so speed is important, but hurrying too much may only waste time. Accuracy in following instructions may be a factor at the judges’ discretion. For example, a knot that is tied incorrectly will bring a penalty and interference, such as offering more than verbal coaching, will be costly;
  9. Start the tasks when the judge blows the whistle! Good Luck!

 

Please note that failure to tie any knot will result in a penalty of 1 minute being applied to the team’s overall score. Knots that are tied incorrectly will be considered as not being completed and the 1-minute penalty will be applied. Failure to follow the posted sequence of skills will result in a penalty of 2 minutes. Coaching fellow team members from outside of the skill station will result in a penalty of 1 minute. Stepping outside of your skill station (dock) will result in a penalty of 1 minute for each infraction.

Scoring for this event will be based on time.  100 points for 1st place, 90 points for 2nd place, 80 points for 3rd place, 70 points for 4th place, and 60 points for 5th place descending to 20 points for 9th place.

Task 1A

  1. Coil nylon line ready for throwing.
  2. Pick up one free end of the line and tie a Round Turn with Two Half Hitches to the ring on the deck.
  3. Pick up coil and throw to station 2.
  4. Untie the Round Turn with Two Half Hitches to free the line after caught by Station 2.

 

Task 2A

  1. Catch free end of line thrown from Station 1.
  2. When Round Turn with Two Half Hitches is untied at Station 1, haul in balance of line.
  3. Tie Timber Hitch around cargo (4x4).
  4. Pick up coil and throw to Station 3 so that cargo may be hauled to that station.

Task 3A

  1. Catch line thrown from Station 2.
  2. Haul in cargo.
  3. Tie end of the manila line to the nylon line on cargo with a Sheet Bend.
  4. Pick up coil and throw to Station 2.

Task 2B

  1. Catch line and haul in cargo.
  2. Tie the poly line to the manila line with Reef (Square) Knot.
  3. Pick up coil (Poly line, manila line and nylon line) and throw to Station 3.

Task 3B

  1. Catch line and haul in cargo.
  2. Untie Square Knot.
  3. Untie Sheet Bend.
  4. Untie Cargo.
  5. Tie nylon line to cargo, through the ring with a Bowline.
  6. Throw coil (nylon line) to Station 1.

Task 1B

  1. Catch line.
  2. Fasten free end of line to cleat on dock with Figure Eight wrap.
  3. Haul in cargo.
  4. Untie Bowline.
  5. Remove line from cleat.

Finish

     

    Marlinspike 01 Marlinspike 02 Marlinspike 03 Marlinspike 04

    Marlinspike 05 Marlinspike 06 Marlinspike 07 Marlinspike 08

     

    Marlinspike 09 Marlinspike 10 Marlinspike 11 Marlinspike 12

     

    Marlinspike 13 Marlinspike 14 Marlinspike 15