There's an old Navy phrase, "haze gray and underway." This is usually a grudging compliment for a vessel that is often steaming out to a deployment. Well, the New Bern NJROTC boats are certainly not 'haze gray' but they were underway this afternoon, and most of our Sailing Squad cadets got a chance to take the helm.
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(at left) Getting the FJs rigged up & ready, the New Bern cadets are joined by several guests from the Pamlico High School NJROTC unit.
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Cadet boat team captains and their crews working to get ready for some real sailing... yes the wind is light, but the FJs get moving pretty well once we get out on the open Neuse River.
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Coach George Meyer (at right, standing in red shirt & white/blue cap) was generous in applying his sailmaking skills for the NBHS-NJROTC's Flying Juniors... now he finally gets to see his craftmanship in action!
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Video (thanks to cameraman LCDR Tyson) of the fleet setting sail!.
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Sailing in sunlight!
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The "Baby Duck" drill calls for everyone to be in line, need to work on that a little.
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Boat 1 is skippered by Cadet Commander Tommy Powers. Sails are set properly for a beam reach (unlike Boat 4, who is letting their jib luff) but the skippers need to remember to sit further forward in the FJs!
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Maybe at some point in the future, we will have sail numbers that match the hull numbers, too.
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Here's one time "Bailing Out" is a good thing!
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So... the coaches have spent all winter getting more boats, and the fleet is MUCH improved. Unfortunately we still have so many in the program that many have to wait on the dock for their turn. Fortunately, it looks like they're having a good time!
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These "Baby Ducks" are scattered all over the river! However, this is a great view of part of the fleet in action, with our host Bridgeton Marina in the background.
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So far, the old railroad bridge (far left) has not lured any of our boats too close. It is a boat-trap we hope none of our boats & cadets will ever get snared.
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Now these "Baby Ducks" are finally in line! It takes more skill than one might think to be able to do this, and there are more advanced drills to perform once we can do this easily.
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With so many students in the Sailing Squad, each only gets a short turn to practice their skills, and we try to make the most of it.
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The historic New Bern skyline gives a nice backdrop, harking back to days when fleets of sailing vessels were the town's bread & butter.
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Some of the skippers had a chance to show their skill in docking under sail. There were no crashes but we will definitely work on approaches... sailboats don't have brakes.
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Time's up!
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Putting the boats away properly is hard work, but it is necessary so they'll be secure through the week and be ready to sail again.
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This might look like lassoing as stray calf, but they are just towing the last FJ back to the base. Boat 2 crew, were you really the slowest ones getting unrigged? Good thing for you all that flogging is outlawed... do better next week, 'K?
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Just kidding!
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Head Coach Rezab says that today's sailing exercises were a big success. The "Baby Ducks" spent more time straying than following the Mama Duck, but considering it was the first time sailing for most of the skippers, the drill did not look too bad. The skippers and crews did a good job handling the boats around the dock, and showed that they could at least keep the FJs moving in -mostly- the right direction. Only a few got stuck "in irons" and then only for a short while. The boats got unrigged & secured in good time and with only slight confusion & bedlam... remember the quicker we can get organized & rigged, the quicker we can get sailing... and the quicker we can get unrigged & secured, the more time we can spend out on the water!
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On the whole, the Sailing Squad earned a hearty "Well Done" for their 2nd day of 2010 sailing.
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Everyone should review the points of sail and the basic maneuvers. Next time we will do more "Baby Duck" only with some added complications: those who have shown they can tack acceptably will try gybing; and all will go on varying points of sail instead of just beam-reaching back & forth.
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posted by Assistant Coach Doug King
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PS- more video to come.
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