Sailing Semester is 2/3 over... hope we get more good weather

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We have been very lucky with the weather this fall; and gotten in a lot of sailing practice.

We have NOT YET managed to have the newbies in the class successfully complete any drills, however. Let me remind everyone that the goal of this class is to learn how to make the boat sail properly; this means to hold a course, perform all the maneuvers, dock or pick up a person overboard. This fall, the sailing squad has learned a lot, and I believe we have risen to the level where most of the Sailing Squad -could- demonstrate these skills. So DO IT!!

There is still time -if- our good luck with the weather continues.

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We also have written assignments (otherwise known as TESTS) out, so complete them and get them turned in... just a reminder!!

On The Beach... bringing the FJs in at the end of a sailing session... why is #4 sideways at the dock ??!?

Coach King spent the entire time on the water dealing with one of the Flying Juniors which capsized over & over. So we don't have any sailing pictures this week, which is a shame because some of the new sailors took to the FJs for the first time. This was a lot of fun, especially with enough breeze to really make the boat 'do what it do' ... which is to FLY!

Unfortunately, as you can see in the pic above, we had some awkwardness putting the boats away. It took much longer than it should have, and we put some scrapes & scratches on them that shouldn't have been put there.


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Make sure to take good care of these boats! They are yours, and you are not likely to get new ones any time soon. For example, dragging the transom of FJ #2 across the ground... HEY WAKE UP!!




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Now let's move on to more pleasant topics... let's focus on what we've been doing RIGHT.



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Some of the advanced cadets are not only getting their Blue Books signed off, they are practicing some fairly advanced skills.

Here is the Sailing Squad Commander sailing backwards. That's right, put it in "R" and go!


At some point we will have skill in sailing & maneuvering, and know the Right-of-Way rules, to have games on the water. How about playing soccer in sailboats? Wouldn't it be more fun & exciting if we had 3 balls in play? This kind of activity is something we can look forward too.

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Another thing we can look forward to is getting together with another junior sailing program. We have an invitiation to go to Bow & Stern in Oriental (link), which also has FJs... how many of you want to go show off?

Under the watchful eye of Commander Tyson, the remaining 3 FJs are carefully unrigged and put away.


So, who will return to FJ sailing next Monday? Who will get in an FJ for the first time, and graduate from the Javelins? Who will be the first FJ skipper to get passed and get gassed by a Javelin?

...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King








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