Splash!! ...it's capsize at the Y time...

The fall 2010 sailing group finally had a chance to get wet, only not in the Neuse River.

The New Bern YMCA is generous to allow us to practice the capsize drill in their pool.

As the cadets learned during the summer, capsizing in the pool is EASY compared to the real thing! We want to be prepared, so it's good to get familiar with the boats & how to handle them... under mild conditions and with the situation fully under control.

We also have video of this capsize training session, but it is not edited yet... sorry!



Feet under straps... that way, you stay with the boat whether it fully capsizes or not...


Unfortunately the skipper has let go of the hiking stick at this point. The rudder is out of the water, so it doesn't really matter BUT this is all part of doing the job correctly!

We concentrate on learning one thing at a time... got the feet right, we'll get the hands right later!


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Ready or not, over you go!


Isn't it cheating to keep the boat in 5 1/2 ft deep water, where you can stand up but the other cadets can't?


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Nothing like a nice refreshing swim!

In this session, two experienced cadets swam next to the boat & capsized it for the newbies.

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The skipper swims around the transom & grabs the centerboard. In many cases, it's possible to right the boat quickly by pulling it down (do your chin-up exercises!), but the training is to wait for the crew to rig a righting line.







Most of the novice skippers were concentrating on getting into the boat, and doing the drill... which is good... however with no mainsail rigged, the boom tended to swing wildly.

Some of the cadets remembered that the skipper is supposed to STEER and held the hiking stick. This cadet was the only beginner to also take the mainsheet in hand to control the boom!






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Here's why the coaches keep reminding the cadets "keep your feet tucked under the hiking straps!"

You don't want to fall out of the boat. Out on the river, this boat would probably have popped back up & sailed off on it's own.

Very good training! Even the experienced cadets have not been in an FJ for almost 2 months, so they needed the reminder. And the newbies showed they can float, and also perform needed tasks under pressure, while in the water.

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Posted by Assistant Coach Doug King