The skipjack Nathan of Dorchester is accepting new volunteers for sail crew, docents, maintenance and administrative positions for her 2012 sailing season.

A volunteer orientation session will be held on Monday, March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dorchester County Public Library meeting room in Cambridge. Registration for the session is required by March 12. Light refreshments will be provided.

Owned, operated and maintained by the nonprofit Dorchester Skipjack Committee, the Nathan sails late April through early November from Long Wharf in Cambridge. In addition to a regular public sailing schedule, charters are available for all occasions. The skipjack also offers heritage theme and educational sails and participates in special events throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

Sail crew volunteers must be at least sixteen years of age and fit enough to handle physical challenges such as hauling on lines, raising sails and hoisting the pushboat. No prior sailing experience is necessary, as all crew members undergo extensive training before serving on passenger trips.

Crew training begins in late March and continues throughout the season, with trainees participating at their own availability and pace. Once full crew status is earned, volunteers are expected to serve on at least a few passenger trips each month, as well as participate within the all-volunteer organization. As a Coast Guard certified vessel, all sail crew are subject to initial and random drug testing. Captains with Masters Licenses and Sail Endorsements also are needed.

Docent crew enhance the sailing experience for passengers. These volunteers need not complete sail crew training. Sail crew may also train as docents. Docents receive instruction in skipjack heritage and other areas of local interest to share with passengers on public sails and on charters where a docent is requested.

While the Nathan is the youngest skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay, built by volunteers in 1994, as a wooden boat she still requires constant maintenance. Carpenters, riggers, engine mechanics and those who enjoy scraping and painting are all welcome as volunteers.

Administrative help also is needed. The organization can use one or several individuals who have computer access and time to answer phone and email reservations and requests, along with someone to help at the dock during public sails. Except for the times at the dock, most of the work can be done from home.

The Nathan’s public sailing season begins on April 28, when she will sail to Oxford to offer free trips during Oxford Day. Her regular schedule of public sails from Long Wharf begins Saturday, May 5. Two-hour sails are offered each Saturday the skipjack is in port, from 1 to 3 p.m. The Nathan offers two one-hour sails one Sunday each month, beginning May 20.

To register for the orientation session, call 410-770-9410 by March 12. For more information or to charter the boat, contact the Dorchester Skipjack Committee at 410-228-7141 or visit its website, www.skipjack-nathan.org.

In photo: Some of the trainees and crew who served on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester last year include, left to right, Tom Kish, Lari Caldwell, Lou Hyman, Michael Hoff, Brian Cassidy, Mike Schneider, Lucy Lewis and Craig Caldwell.