Physical & Mental Fitness Policy

Fitness On Board

There are no “passengers” aboard the SALTS ships—every person on board (other than the professional crew) is a “trainee” and will actively participate in the sail training program. Previous sailing experience is not required, but trainees must be physically agile and mentally alert. Trainees are required by law to be “able bodied” and capable of hearing, understanding and promptly acting on instructions given by the crew, in order to safely participate in the program, and to respond in case of an emergency.

Situations may arise where there are:

  • erratic and heaving motions of the deck

  • slippery conditions on deck

  • moving parts of the ship’s rigging

  • movements causing motion sickness

Every person on board must have the physical strength to:

  • actively respond to the conditions listed above

  • climb the ship’s companionway ladders (8’ high) while the ship is in motion

  • participate in hauling lines when setting sail and launching dories (smaller boats for shore excursions)

  • use footholds and arm strength to climb the side of the ship when boarding and disembarking the ship’s dories and at some docks.