Our FLEET is growing!

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The Javelin has proven itself as a great boat for our fleet, they are more stable & secure than the Flying Juniors. We were given our first Javelin, named the USS Craig-Bob in honor of the bequest, last spring. This boat now has 3 semesters of getting our cadets afloat, and we continue to appreciate both the gift and boat's virtues.



Many of the beginners get a feel for sheet & tiller in these boats before 'graduating' to the FJs, but then at least one skipper has showed that a well-sailed Javelin can pass an FJ!

Here's a photo from last fall, showing the Javelin (far left) sailing close-hauled towards the green buoy... getting there ahead of FJs #4 and #1 (on right).





Although the Javelin is only a slight amount longer, it is a much LARGER boat than the FJ. This might sound funny, but it's true. Boats are not just long or short; but also beamy or narrow, deep draft or shallow, and heavy or light (termed "displacement" when a vessel is in the water). The Javelin is more stable because it has more beam, and weighs almost twice what the FJ does. We often put 3 or even 4 persons in the Javelins which would be unthinkable in an FJ, it can have a much greater displacement.

Here is photo of Coach King proving that the foredeck of a Javelin is OK.

The Javelin is also very strongly built. For example, we never step on the foredeck of the Flying Junior for 2 reasons: it might buckle from your weight, and it makes an already-tippy boat very eager to capsize. This is not true of the Javelin, which feels very solid.






This month the New Bern NJROTC Sailing Squadron were donated a third Javelin, and we will put it to good use this fall!






The boat was donated by the son of the late Jimmy Cox of Trent Woods, a World War II Navy veteran. So this boat has a bit of history coming with it. He kept the boat in very good condition, and we offer sincere thanks to his family.

The NJROTC fleet all lined up & waiting at Bridgeton Harbor



Here's our 'new' Javelin, settled in it's new home. School will be starting soon and the cadets will be rigging & launching the boats for sailing... the FJs are dollied on the beach but the Javelins stay in the water.

... posted by Assisstant Coach Douglas King

We test-drive... err, test-sail a new boat!

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Thanks to Dave Ellis, owner of a new Raider II Turbo sailboat, we had a chance to sail around in a new type of boat. Not just new to us, but relatively new to the sailing world.



Here are Cadets Ferree & Taylor showing how easy it is to go fast in this boat




This is a 16' sloop with a innovative hull design. It is very ergonomic and efficient. It is easy (in fact it's downright comfortable) for the skipper & crew to place their weight far outboard for increased righting moment... in other words, you can hike out farther & harder, with less work... and that means more horsepower coming from the sails. The "wings" on the sides of the hull are also very buoyant, and increase the reserve stability such that the boat is very difficult to capsize.

The sails are also designed to produce more power. Of course, this means BIGGER sails, but they also have full battens at the top (this is not really a new idea, but in this boat it is very well implemented) for a more efficient aspect ratio, and complete adjustments for shape.


The Raider jib is set on a roller-furler, so the boat can be sailed easily with just the mainsail or as a sloop.

Here we see Coach King advising the test pilots on how to unfurl the jib, and then furl it back up again if desired. The jib is a great way to keep the crew busy!






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Blackbeard Sailing Club in the background, the Raider zooming along close-hauled... dealing easily with the motorboat wake... and in the foreground, Cadet Taylor practicing his boat-handling skills.
















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Looking down to make sure that feet are under hiking straps... okay guys now hike the boat flat!

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One of the advantages of the Raider is the double hull allowing the cockpit to be completely self-bailing.






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A brief rest on the beach before putting the boat away.













... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King

End of the School Year... Forward Into Summer

We tend to look just at our own little corner of the NJROTC world... yeah it's Navy but that doesn't mean it's all about boats! The New Bern NJROTC has a very full plate, and continues it's strong academic record. At the end of spring, we have college plans & summer jobs. We say goodbye to the graduates. We have an annual banquet to gather with families & celebrate.

Our spring semester sailing cadets who stuck with the program, turned in written assignments, worked at "learning the ropes" (and the knots), get the honor of standing in front of the brigade to be recognized as SAILORS.

What does it mean to be a sailor? First, it means having skills & technical knowledge. Our little sailboats are simple but each part has a special name and it must be rigged correctly to work. Being a sailor means to be alert to one's surroundings. Awareness of the weather, of the wind direction, and keeping a lookout for objects... OR PERSONS... in the water, is necessary at all times.

Being a sailor means being a reliable part of the team. You must do your job even if the wind is gusting and the boat is heeling 'way over about to capsize. You must concentrate & do your job because the vessel and everyone onboard is depending on you. Being a sailor means to be resourceful and self-reliant. You can't get out and walk home! You can give up & quit, but you're still out at sea.

These are all characteristics we'd like to see in ourselves, in our family, in our co-workers, and very definitely in the next generation coming along. This is what it means to be a real sailor, and this is what our sailing program is all about.

At the banquet, we also give awards. The highest award we can give in the sailing program is the Skipper's Aiguillette. This requires learning not just how to sail a small boat, but demonstrating leadership in a wide range of on-water activities. It requires learning to navigate, to read weather systems, learning about different types of vessels, the physics of buoyancy & stability, communication inculing radio protocol... it's a big step.

Cadets Wheeler & Fouts are awarded their Skipper's Auguillettes.


Another event that occured at the end of the spring semester is a change of command. The New Bern NJROTC Brigade had it's change of command, and the Sailing Squad also has a new cadet commander. Congratulations to the Brigade officers and to Andrew Ferree on becoming "Top Sailor."

I apologize for the long delay in getting this post & pics onto the web site. Hope everybody is on their way to having a GREAT summer. We will have more sailing news soon!

...posted by Assistant Coach Doug King