Docking Lesson 1... stopping would be nice

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Learning how to GO is obviously one of the first steps, but when you think about it, learning to STOP is just as important. Maybe more so.

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Here's a boat sailing along on a beam reach. The skipper turns slightly away from the wind, and eases sails out as far as they'll go.


Is the boat going to stop? After all the jib is just flapping and the mainsail is at least partly flapping. Very little if any forward power is being produced.


The answer- this boat will slow down but it will not stop. Even the flapping sails exert a force called DRAG (link), and when the boat is angled downwind then it will be pulled forward.





Here is a boat that turns directly head to wind. This boat will definitely come to a stop and may begin sailing backwards. It is difficult to judge how how far the boat will coast straight into the wind. What's more, it will be difficult for the crew & skipper to see what's in front of the boat and it will also be difficult to get the boat started moving again.

Is there a better way to STOP?



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If the boat turns a little into the wind and the sails eased all the way, the boat will stop. The sails aren't flapping right in their faces so they can see & still balance; plus it's easy to get going again by just pulling in the sheets a little.

This is the better way to STOP a sailboat




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The STOP drill- step1. tiller toward the sail... T-T-T... just like tacking, but DO NOT tack! (link to "TACKING")
step 2. ease the sails.
step 3. repeat steps 1 and 2 UNTIL the sails are fully luffing (flapping) freely
step 4. pull the tiller to center sharply, if the boat is head-to-wind in irons, or almost so, put the tiller AWAY from the sail (or where the sails used to be) to put the boat at an angle to the wind, before it completely stops and you can no longer steer at all.
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With a little practice, a beginning skipper should be able to bring his boat to a stop right beside one of the buoys. This is safer than practicing on a real dock.

We will practice docking in all conditions, so be prepared for a coach to ask you to demonstrate.






In order to fly a plane, you must learn to bring it in for a landing. Same with a sailboat, maybe a little easier learning to dock BUT it's still necessary. And it's worth practice even for experienced sailors.

There's no such thing as being 'too good' at docking!

(link to GLOSSARY)



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2nd Annual Regatta... is it a tradition yet?!?

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Here is the scene, getting ready for our 2nd Annual Regatta. It was a big success!



Our program is really oriented towards developing teamwork, leadership, and seamanship BUT the races are a challenge of skill and good clean fun too. The regatta is a fundraiser (boats, sails, and gear are ex$pen$ive) and also raises awareness in the community.



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R-r-r-racing!


Here's one of the high school teams versus local hotshot (in 2nd childhood). In this situation, boat #6 is vulnerable to be passed at the next turning buoy but for now have the advantage of Right-Of-Way (starboard tack).






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One of the great things about our sailing base is that we have FRONT ROW SEATS for the action. Most places where sailing races are held, it is very difficult for anyone to watch unless they get in a boat themselves.











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Here are some of the racers on their way upwind. The boats are 'close-hauled' with the sheets pulled in tight, and the skippers choose their route on a zig-zag course toward the Neuse River highway bridge in the background. The other three boats skippers thought the other tack was faster (these boats are on Port Tack) so the fleet is split up.



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Here's the part of the race where the fleet is going directly down wind. All are running 'wing & wing' with the jib opposite the mainsail.

It can be very close, and the sailors must know the Right-Of-Way rules in order to not have problems & collisions. This was close racing, it was exciting even if the top speeds are not high.



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In last years regatta, we did not have a New Bern NJROTC team entered. This year, a couple of our most experienced cadets (both have sailed big keelboats in the NYRA Winter Series) took up the challenge! They did not win, but they did prove that they could sail the boat efficiently and knew the Right-Of-Way rules... at one point they almost passed Coach King, but he still has a few tricks he has not yet taught them...





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Here's Coach Murphy and the Commander sailing in our #1 Javelin. It would not be a fair match to race these against the Flying Juniors, but it must have been tempting to try!

By the way, several of our basic sailor cadets skippered the Javelin during the day, taking the opportunity for some practice while they were busy with regatta work.



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Once the skippers get the hang of the time signals, and getting the boat into the right spot with all systems "GO", this is what the starting line looks like. Remember there are 3 more boats jammed in close behind these 3.

Don't our new sails look great, too?







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Here's a look at the starting line and our Race Committee vessel, COMPASS ROSE. Nice view of historic New Bern in the background. Several cadets served on the Race Committee, signaling the sailors, communicating with shore & with the chase boats, and recording the finishes. After a semester of our training, they know their way around a big boat too!


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Here is a crew's-eye view of DOCKING A SAILBOAT. We don't have brakes, so bringing the boat to a full stop requires some skill & maneuvering. Then there are all the other boats in the way, and of course the potential to capsize right at the dock (not the recommended method).

The helpers are ready, we had no crashes and no capsizes. It's really a lot more fun that the photos can possibly show you!


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Here's our Head Sailing Coach Jerry Rezab and his 'crash boat' crew. Their job is to stand by for rescue, to tow the sailboats if needed, to ferry Race Committee crew out to the RC vessel, and they also placed a warning buoy at a large obstruction (a piece of some derelict building) in the river.

The 'Blue Book' sailors are allowed to drive the program's motor boats once they are qualified, but this comes only after passing the basic sailing qualification.


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Last word-
Congratulations and BRAVO ZULU (that's Navy-ese for "Great Job, Well Done!") to the winners of our 2011 Regatta.

Y'all come back, now!


... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King

Spring Update... yes we are! (sailing, that is)

Apologies for the lack of photos of our sailing progress. We have had 2 successful sailing days in the FJs and the Javelins. So far, no newbie skippers have passed the basic drills but we are building knowledge & skills, we're getting there.






We had a cadet go overboard into the Neuse River but the coaches were at hand; the whole episode from accidental gybe + falling overboard to being pulled into the RIB safety boat took less than a minute. BTW the weather is warming up but the water is chilly!













Our experienced sailors are in the FJs getting some practice in all the maneuvers from gybing to docking; we still don't have a racing team BUT we do have some skippers who recently passed their Navigation qualification.




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In other news, the New Bern NJROTC's fleet was reduced by 1 boat- we had a Pintail donated years ago and Coach Rezab sold it after a full reconditioning. This was our dry-land exercise boat for a few years but we have little use for it as a sailing trainer. The money received will help pay for ongoing operations like bus transport.

Generally, we do not solicit donations of boats to resell but only accept boats we can use in training. We would love to get some more Flying Juniors and maybe one or 2 more Javelins; we could also use a 2nd safety boat (and motor & trailer). Gear is also welcome, in particular we need new lifejackets!



... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King