Sailing day... great weather, couldn't be better for practice!

The New Bern NJROTC fleet got some pretty good sailing action this afternoon. the weather was so perfect it was almost unbelievable: clear & sunny but not too hot, 6~8 knot north-east wind, no wave action or chop (except the wakes of the coach boats).

However, it seems likely that the cadet sailors were too busy to appreciate how fine it was!

(...photo at right... some of the coaches seeing our newly-donated chase boat for the first time... Thanks Brett!)

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(...photo below left... the advanced students rig & launch their FJs)


Although the group sails together & sticks together, there were two almost-seperate activities going on. We have a small (but elite) group of returning sailors, experienced skippers who just need a quick refresher before sailing to glory. So FJ#1, FJ#2 and FJ#3 did variations on "The Clock" drill, then some practice tacks & gybes (working our way up to roll-tacking but not quite there yet), then practiced some docking approaches.

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We also have a group of new sailors. They have proven their mettle in capsize drills in the pool, and practiced rigging & knot-tying & simulated maneuvers on dry land... today was their first chance to get out & prove what they can do on the river!

(...photo at right... traffic at the leeward point of "The Clock"


The coaches rigged & launched FJ#4, FJ#5, and FJ#6 this afternoon for the newcomers; in the future they will do this themselves just like the veterans. But for now, we wanted more time on the water & to focus on actual sailing skills. Some of them aslo tried out "The Clock" but it looks like we need to be baby ducks for a while yet.



OK we have done capsize drills... does everybody remember what THIS means?






Remember when I mentioned there were some not-too-pretty gybes? Here's what can happen. Then it was followed up by the crew playing "mountain climber" in the cockpit. Those floaties on the upper sidestays really work well.

Kidding aside, this is important. In stronger winds, the floaties can be driven under... the Neuse River is not deep enough for an FJ mast. That means it would stick into the bottom mud. From there, things go bad to worse.



Fortunately, everything worked out well in the end. The boat was righted by the skipper, the crew 'scooped' in just fine, all recovered, and they kept on sailing.

So the big lesson for the day... SAIL ON!

posted by Assistant Coach Doug King