And we heard them exclaim
As they sailed up out of sight
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
And to all a good night!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas !!! !!!
.
And we heard them exclaim
As they sailed up out of sight
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
And to all a good night!
And we heard them exclaim
As they sailed up out of sight
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
And to all a good night!
Monday, November 7, 2011
We Get Lucky... with the weather, more actual SAILING !!!
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Today was a great day of sailing. We had 7 boats in the water, 6 of them skippered by cadets...all skippers completed the "Clock Drill" (link) and almost all cadets took a turn skippering a boat. There was also one ugly ducking in the flock, FJ#4 was sailed by Coach King and LCDR Tyson... hey we like to have some fun once in a while, too!
This photo shows Coach King leading the sailors thru a GYBE... in light wind, it's easy but we want to be ready for stronger winds, right??!? BTW where was FJ#2 and why were they not in this picture?
What does the "Clock Drill" accomplish? It puts the boat(s) on everypoint of sail, and the boat(s) must both tack & gybe to sail around the circle. At the beginning of today's exercise, not every skipper knew the difference between tacking & gybing; but by the end of the sailing session we were not only tacking smoothly, gybing with good control (most of us).
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We also got a chance to practice the RIGHT-OF-WAY rules! Coach King spent most of the session looking backwards (offering helpful advice to the student sailors) but that is no excuse for getting in a collision! But wait a minute... isn't the R-O-W vessel supposed to take avoiding action when it becomes obvious that the one who is supposed to give way isn't ?? ok it wasn't really a COLLISION more of a gentle bump. Still, not good!
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If we can get in some more practice this fall, we are ready to begin some sailing games. This might include some racing... although clearly none of the cadets are ready for the big league, since Coach King and the Commander were easily faster while looking backwards & giving instructions... and working on finer points of control such as sailing backwards.
.
Not such a great photo, but it was taken with a cell phone while skippering an FJ... that Coach King is full of excuses! This picture shows close action with all the Javelins together, they are moving right along in this light air.
Still, it's possible to stall the boat and stop accidentally. We are seeing less & less of this sloppy boat-handling as we make progress. The fact that all the boats kept together, all the boats completed the drills (umm, wait, did every boat do a STOP at a buoy?), and everybody got a chance to skipper, shows that we're moving forward on this!
.
All good things come to an end.
It's well into autumn, the sun set at 1708 this evening (that's 5:08 pm to you civilians) and we were already putting the boats away. There will be less & less time after school BUT with any luck at all, we can get in a few more sailing days this semester!
Thanks to Coach Drew McCrocklin for all the photos (except for the cell phone shot).
Now remember, we will also have AT LEAST one more written assignment to turn in this semester! If you have work to turn in, do so... not everybody is going to pass this sailing course and turning in assignments doesn't hurt your chances.
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
Today was a great day of sailing. We had 7 boats in the water, 6 of them skippered by cadets...all skippers completed the "Clock Drill" (link) and almost all cadets took a turn skippering a boat. There was also one ugly ducking in the flock, FJ#4 was sailed by Coach King and LCDR Tyson... hey we like to have some fun once in a while, too!
This photo shows Coach King leading the sailors thru a GYBE... in light wind, it's easy but we want to be ready for stronger winds, right??!? BTW where was FJ#2 and why were they not in this picture?
What does the "Clock Drill" accomplish? It puts the boat(s) on everypoint of sail, and the boat(s) must both tack & gybe to sail around the circle. At the beginning of today's exercise, not every skipper knew the difference between tacking & gybing; but by the end of the sailing session we were not only tacking smoothly, gybing with good control (most of us).
.
We also got a chance to practice the RIGHT-OF-WAY rules! Coach King spent most of the session looking backwards (offering helpful advice to the student sailors) but that is no excuse for getting in a collision! But wait a minute... isn't the R-O-W vessel supposed to take avoiding action when it becomes obvious that the one who is supposed to give way isn't ?? ok it wasn't really a COLLISION more of a gentle bump. Still, not good!
.
If we can get in some more practice this fall, we are ready to begin some sailing games. This might include some racing... although clearly none of the cadets are ready for the big league, since Coach King and the Commander were easily faster while looking backwards & giving instructions... and working on finer points of control such as sailing backwards.
.
Not such a great photo, but it was taken with a cell phone while skippering an FJ... that Coach King is full of excuses! This picture shows close action with all the Javelins together, they are moving right along in this light air.
Still, it's possible to stall the boat and stop accidentally. We are seeing less & less of this sloppy boat-handling as we make progress. The fact that all the boats kept together, all the boats completed the drills (umm, wait, did every boat do a STOP at a buoy?), and everybody got a chance to skipper, shows that we're moving forward on this!
.
All good things come to an end.
It's well into autumn, the sun set at 1708 this evening (that's 5:08 pm to you civilians) and we were already putting the boats away. There will be less & less time after school BUT with any luck at all, we can get in a few more sailing days this semester!
Thanks to Coach Drew McCrocklin for all the photos (except for the cell phone shot).
Now remember, we will also have AT LEAST one more written assignment to turn in this semester! If you have work to turn in, do so... not everybody is going to pass this sailing course and turning in assignments doesn't hurt your chances.
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
Sunday, October 30, 2011
A CHILI day... thank you, Cape Lookout Sail & Power Squadron!
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This past Saturday a small crowd wolfed down chili for a cause... the annual CLSPS cook-out benefit for -us- the NJROTC sailing program. We really appreciate the support, and the chili was delicious too!
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Coaches Gormley & King brought their own home-cooked pots of chili, along with a dozen more Power Squadron members. LCDR Tyson brought a pot of "Official Navy Game Chili" featuring venison & Guinness... hot enough to get your attention, and delicious! There was also no-bean chili, white chili with chicken, generous helpings of cornbread, and a steaming pot of clam chowder (not a Southern tradition, but a welcome treat).
.
There was some discussion of various ways of cooking chili, and every
body got to vote on the HOTTEST, the BEANIEST (is this good?), and the overall BEST chili. Although Coach King's chili, which featured curry as one of the spices, was the first to disappear, it did not get any votes. Bob's Oktoberfest Chili was almost unanimously voted the 'Best Overall' even though it was almost sweet rather than spicy-hot.
Richard Tobacco, Power Squadron Commander, announces the winners. You can see all the chili lined up on the counter... nobody went home hungry!
Meanwhile, out on the river, winds were strong and our head Coach Jerry Reab was winning the first of the Winter Series races. Overall it was a very good day!
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
This past Saturday a small crowd wolfed down chili for a cause... the annual CLSPS cook-out benefit for -us- the NJROTC sailing program. We really appreciate the support, and the chili was delicious too!
.
Coaches Gormley & King brought their own home-cooked pots of chili, along with a dozen more Power Squadron members. LCDR Tyson brought a pot of "Official Navy Game Chili" featuring venison & Guinness... hot enough to get your attention, and delicious! There was also no-bean chili, white chili with chicken, generous helpings of cornbread, and a steaming pot of clam chowder (not a Southern tradition, but a welcome treat).
.
There was some discussion of various ways of cooking chili, and every
body got to vote on the HOTTEST, the BEANIEST (is this good?), and the overall BEST chili. Although Coach King's chili, which featured curry as one of the spices, was the first to disappear, it did not get any votes. Bob's Oktoberfest Chili was almost unanimously voted the 'Best Overall' even though it was almost sweet rather than spicy-hot.Richard Tobacco, Power Squadron Commander, announces the winners. You can see all the chili lined up on the counter... nobody went home hungry!
Meanwhile, out on the river, winds were strong and our head Coach Jerry Reab was winning the first of the Winter Series races. Overall it was a very good day!
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
Monday, October 10, 2011
Columbus Day Sail... what did we discover...
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This holiday would not normally be a school day, BUT thanks to Hurricane Irene we have to make up some lost time. We get to gain some more sailing practice too.
This is appropriate since Columbus Day commemorates one of the great sailing achievements in history.
Should we expect that after our precision sailing demo this Saturday, that we could get all the Javelins close together and on the same point of sail for a picture?
.
Here's some of the 'blue-book' sailors mixing it up in the FJs.
Good news: today we have a bunch of new sailors who are ready to step up to the 'sports cars' of the fleet after sailing the Javelins.
.
These next two photos show how one skippers puts an agressive move on another. Instead of simply following in FJ#1's wake and 2nd-hand wind, FJ#1 cuts to windward and passes.
Of course, both boats would be moving faster if the sail trim were a little more accurate, the boats being held flat, and weight a little more forward in the boat. It's also disappointing to see these two skippers NOT steering with the hiking stick.
.
This passing move works for several reasons. By turning closer to the wind (but not quite close-hauled), FJ#2 generates more apparent wind. This will be especially helpful in lighter breezes.
.
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Not satisfied with beating FJ#1, the team in FJ#2 chases & passes two of the Javelins, this time on a close-hauled course.
In way this is a shame, because the Javelins sail well and a skillful skipper & crew have in the past humbled the FJ sailors... and the team in #2 are making some mistakes that another boat could take advantage of.
Next time we sail, let's get more of those FJs in the water! The weather is not turning cold yet but the days are getting shorter!
...posted by Assistant Coach Doug King
This holiday would not normally be a school day, BUT thanks to Hurricane Irene we have to make up some lost time. We get to gain some more sailing practice too.
This is appropriate since Columbus Day commemorates one of the great sailing achievements in history.
Should we expect that after our precision sailing demo this Saturday, that we could get all the Javelins close together and on the same point of sail for a picture?
.
Here's some of the 'blue-book' sailors mixing it up in the FJs.
Good news: today we have a bunch of new sailors who are ready to step up to the 'sports cars' of the fleet after sailing the Javelins.
.
These next two photos show how one skippers puts an agressive move on another. Instead of simply following in FJ#1's wake and 2nd-hand wind, FJ#1 cuts to windward and passes.
Of course, both boats would be moving faster if the sail trim were a little more accurate, the boats being held flat, and weight a little more forward in the boat. It's also disappointing to see these two skippers NOT steering with the hiking stick.
.
This passing move works for several reasons. By turning closer to the wind (but not quite close-hauled), FJ#2 generates more apparent wind. This will be especially helpful in lighter breezes.
.
.
Not satisfied with beating FJ#1, the team in FJ#2 chases & passes two of the Javelins, this time on a close-hauled course.
In way this is a shame, because the Javelins sail well and a skillful skipper & crew have in the past humbled the FJ sailors... and the team in #2 are making some mistakes that another boat could take advantage of.
Next time we sail, let's get more of those FJs in the water! The weather is not turning cold yet but the days are getting shorter!
...posted by Assistant Coach Doug King
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Mumfest Sailing
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New Bern has a BIG open-air festival every autmn. It has been going on for 31 years now and is called MUMFEST (link). This year the NBHS-NJROTC Sailing Squad participated in this grand event and put on a sailing demonstration for the first time.
The weather turned out beautiful. However "just in case" things turned out not so great, we used the Javelins which are built a bit tougher than the Flying Juniors (they also weigh more than twice as much!). Our sailing demo was scheduled to happen right after the
rescue demonstration by the Marine Corps HH-46 helicopter & Coast Guard crews.
Here is the VMR-1 Search-And-Rescue helicopter, universally known by it's call sign PEDRO, hovering over the Neuse River off the town front of New Bern. Their SAR missions have included the rescue of many civilian boaters over the years; we are very lucky to have such a capable unit stationed nearby.
In most military operations, in order to be sure of being at the correct place at the correct time, we arrive plenty early. The Mumfest demo sail was a good example of this "hurry up & wait" principle, but this time it was a lot of fun to loiter just outside the operation area. There was a GREAT breeze for sailing!
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Here is the PEDRO rescue demonstration. You can see the down-wash of the helicopter would present a major hazard to small craft especially sailboats. At the far right is the Union Point pavilion, at the far left is the USCG 41-foot vessel.
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.
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Next, it's our turn to show off! Here is the Javelin fleet headed right into Union Point, sailing "wing & wing" which is one o the more difficult points of sail. Of course only the real sailors in the crowd on shore can appreciate this, and unfortunately the sailboats cannot approach the shore closely because of shallows & rocks along the edge of Union Point.
However, anybody can see the boats being handled skillfully in close quarters. And everybody would enjoy the sight of these graceful little vessels sailing along the historic New Bern waterfront.
.
The boats have gybed, then turned onto a close-hauled course... these are basic maneuvers we cover in the sailing course, when sailing near a rocky lee shore it pays to have perfect control of the vessel... not to mention we don't want to wreck one of our boats in front of a crowd of onlookers.
.
.
This was a longer day of sailing than our usual training sessions. The sailing cadets got to stop in town (thanks to the Galley Store (link) who kindly let us use their dock) and also met the Coast Guardsmen on their 41-ft vessel.
Here is the Sailing Squad Commander forgetting his dignity for a moment, signalling that he is ready for MORE SAILING!
We hope that the NJROTC Sailing Squad will be ready & able to make this an annual event. We have events in the Spring, the Open Regatta; and now a Mumfest Demo Sail in the Fall.
...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
New Bern has a BIG open-air festival every autmn. It has been going on for 31 years now and is called MUMFEST (link). This year the NBHS-NJROTC Sailing Squad participated in this grand event and put on a sailing demonstration for the first time.
The weather turned out beautiful. However "just in case" things turned out not so great, we used the Javelins which are built a bit tougher than the Flying Juniors (they also weigh more than twice as much!). Our sailing demo was scheduled to happen right after the
rescue demonstration by the Marine Corps HH-46 helicopter & Coast Guard crews.Here is the VMR-1 Search-And-Rescue helicopter, universally known by it's call sign PEDRO, hovering over the Neuse River off the town front of New Bern. Their SAR missions have included the rescue of many civilian boaters over the years; we are very lucky to have such a capable unit stationed nearby.
In most military operations, in order to be sure of being at the correct place at the correct time, we arrive plenty early. The Mumfest demo sail was a good example of this "hurry up & wait" principle, but this time it was a lot of fun to loiter just outside the operation area. There was a GREAT breeze for sailing!
.
Here is the PEDRO rescue demonstration. You can see the down-wash of the helicopter would present a major hazard to small craft especially sailboats. At the far right is the Union Point pavilion, at the far left is the USCG 41-foot vessel.
.
.
.
Next, it's our turn to show off! Here is the Javelin fleet headed right into Union Point, sailing "wing & wing" which is one o the more difficult points of sail. Of course only the real sailors in the crowd on shore can appreciate this, and unfortunately the sailboats cannot approach the shore closely because of shallows & rocks along the edge of Union Point.
However, anybody can see the boats being handled skillfully in close quarters. And everybody would enjoy the sight of these graceful little vessels sailing along the historic New Bern waterfront.
.
The boats have gybed, then turned onto a close-hauled course... these are basic maneuvers we cover in the sailing course, when sailing near a rocky lee shore it pays to have perfect control of the vessel... not to mention we don't want to wreck one of our boats in front of a crowd of onlookers.
.
.
This was a longer day of sailing than our usual training sessions. The sailing cadets got to stop in town (thanks to the Galley Store (link) who kindly let us use their dock) and also met the Coast Guardsmen on their 41-ft vessel.Here is the Sailing Squad Commander forgetting his dignity for a moment, signalling that he is ready for MORE SAILING!
We hope that the NJROTC Sailing Squad will be ready & able to make this an annual event. We have events in the Spring, the Open Regatta; and now a Mumfest Demo Sail in the Fall.
...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
Monday, September 19, 2011
Fall 2011... newbies get underway in Javelins!
...
. . Here we GO!
Everybody got a chance to sail one of our Javelin sloops this afternoon. Winds were light, but most of the time the boats kept moving right along.
Here are 2 fledglings leaving the nest... umm, dock...
So far we have learned some basic terminology, names of parts of the boat, and practiced capsizing in the FJ... actually, the capsize lesson gave us a good familiarity with how small boats behave (or mis-behave) on the water.
This sense of coordination & familiarity is very important to learning the next steps... how to take control of the boat & make it go where you want!
.
.
Today, the green buoys were anchored at the windward side of our sailing area. Here is a cadet skipper & crew sailing up wind (how is that possible? link)... obviously they have made good progress under the eye of Coach Jackson.
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Here is our recently donated Javelin, given to us by the son of the late Jimmy Cox of Trent Woods. Mr. Cox was a Navy veteran of World War 2 and loved to sail.
These cadets with Coach Murphy are doing well... the boat is close-hauled (going upwind) and weight is centered, jib & main are trimmed properly for this Point Of Sail.
.
OK, one more close-hauled pic... here's our original Javelin, the USS Craig-Bob, with Coach Dillinger relaxing. Looks a little stern-heavy but the tiller is straight & the sails are full., boat is moving.
.
By now, all sailing cadets should have their textbooks and their first assignment. Today we practiced sailing on several Points Of Sail, steering with the tiller, and tacking... all these things must be mastered before moving on to the next skill level. The text should explain today's practice and help get us ready for actual sailing drills!
What's wrong with this picture? Who's not wearing a life jacket?!?
Actually, we do not currently have enough life jackets SO for now, some of these cadets have permission to not wear PFDs.
Here is Coach Cornford teaching knots & rope skill to the cadets who were not in the first group of Javelin sailors.
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But they DID get to sail! Here's Coach Jackson again, with his 2nd group of sailors.
This Javelin was donated by the Myers family of Pennsylvania
Here's another safety rule- long hair should be tied back, it is too easy to get caught in lines or blocks... makes a great indicator for wind direction though!
BTW what about SHOES ??!?
.
This boat is moving well, not surprising because it has 2 experienced cadets sailing it now!
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Coach Dillinger says, "Steer the boat toward that green buoy, come close but don't hit it."
Piece of cake, right?
In the background you can see the two orange buoys which were anchored at the leeward (downwind) side of our sailing area.
.
OK, we've done the sailing thing... what happens when 2 boats get close together? There are a set of 'Right-Of-Way' rules to guide boats around each other safely.
These 2 Javelins are ON the same TACK (being "on a tack" is not the same thing as "tacking" sorry)... note the jibs on the same side of the mainsail... so what rule(s) should they follow to avoid a collision?
That was not part of today's lesson BUT it is part of the upcoming lesson(s). Think ahead!
Review- By now, we should know basic boat parts (which one is the SHEET, which one is the HALYARD); we should know some boat procedures including boarding & capsize procedure, 3 knots (bowline, figure-8, cleat hitch), how to steer with a tiller, how to set the sails, and how to steer & adjust the sails in combination for the different POINTS OF SAIL, and how to TACK.
Next week we will build on all this knowledge & all these skills; hopefully we can begin the basic sailing drills... remember we have only 9 sailing sessions through the fall. This class is learning quickly and has much to be proud of, but we also have a long way to go!
... posted by Assistant Coach Doug King
. . Here we GO!
Everybody got a chance to sail one of our Javelin sloops this afternoon. Winds were light, but most of the time the boats kept moving right along.
Here are 2 fledglings leaving the nest... umm, dock...
So far we have learned some basic terminology, names of parts of the boat, and practiced capsizing in the FJ... actually, the capsize lesson gave us a good familiarity with how small boats behave (or mis-behave) on the water.
This sense of coordination & familiarity is very important to learning the next steps... how to take control of the boat & make it go where you want!
.
.
Today, the green buoys were anchored at the windward side of our sailing area. Here is a cadet skipper & crew sailing up wind (how is that possible? link)... obviously they have made good progress under the eye of Coach Jackson.
.
Here is our recently donated Javelin, given to us by the son of the late Jimmy Cox of Trent Woods. Mr. Cox was a Navy veteran of World War 2 and loved to sail.
These cadets with Coach Murphy are doing well... the boat is close-hauled (going upwind) and weight is centered, jib & main are trimmed properly for this Point Of Sail.
.
OK, one more close-hauled pic... here's our original Javelin, the USS Craig-Bob, with Coach Dillinger relaxing. Looks a little stern-heavy but the tiller is straight & the sails are full., boat is moving.
.
By now, all sailing cadets should have their textbooks and their first assignment. Today we practiced sailing on several Points Of Sail, steering with the tiller, and tacking... all these things must be mastered before moving on to the next skill level. The text should explain today's practice and help get us ready for actual sailing drills!
What's wrong with this picture? Who's not wearing a life jacket?!?
Actually, we do not currently have enough life jackets SO for now, some of these cadets have permission to not wear PFDs.
Here is Coach Cornford teaching knots & rope skill to the cadets who were not in the first group of Javelin sailors.
.
But they DID get to sail! Here's Coach Jackson again, with his 2nd group of sailors.
This Javelin was donated by the Myers family of Pennsylvania
Here's another safety rule- long hair should be tied back, it is too easy to get caught in lines or blocks... makes a great indicator for wind direction though!
BTW what about SHOES ??!?
.
This boat is moving well, not surprising because it has 2 experienced cadets sailing it now!
.
Coach Dillinger says, "Steer the boat toward that green buoy, come close but don't hit it."
Piece of cake, right?
In the background you can see the two orange buoys which were anchored at the leeward (downwind) side of our sailing area.
.
OK, we've done the sailing thing... what happens when 2 boats get close together? There are a set of 'Right-Of-Way' rules to guide boats around each other safely.
These 2 Javelins are ON the same TACK (being "on a tack" is not the same thing as "tacking" sorry)... note the jibs on the same side of the mainsail... so what rule(s) should they follow to avoid a collision?
That was not part of today's lesson BUT it is part of the upcoming lesson(s). Think ahead!
Review- By now, we should know basic boat parts (which one is the SHEET, which one is the HALYARD); we should know some boat procedures including boarding & capsize procedure, 3 knots (bowline, figure-8, cleat hitch), how to steer with a tiller, how to set the sails, and how to steer & adjust the sails in combination for the different POINTS OF SAIL, and how to TACK.
Next week we will build on all this knowledge & all these skills; hopefully we can begin the basic sailing drills... remember we have only 9 sailing sessions through the fall. This class is learning quickly and has much to be proud of, but we also have a long way to go!
... posted by Assistant Coach Doug King
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Capsize Drill
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Your textbook (handout) discusses BOUYANCY and STABILITY. These two must be understood, if you want to predict how a vessel will react in a given situation.But right now, let's go with the understanding that any vessel can capsize. How are you going to cope when it happens to your FJ?
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Here are the basic steps:
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1- ensure that your skipper/crew are OK.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
2- get control of the boat... keep it from turning turtle (skipper holds the centerboard)
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... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
3- when ready, pull the boat upright (crew does the "scoop"). Start sailing again!
(note- this shows the crew already in the boat... the proper SCOOP method will be detailed later)
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
These 3 simple steps should be easy to remember. Unfortunately, real life usually gets a bit more complicated. Before going into complications, let's look at what NOT to do!
Do NOT abandon your crew or skipper
Do NOT leave the boat, attempting to swim to shore
Do NOT attempt to pull the boat upright until ready, and you are sure you can keep control of it
(note- this is important, because capsizes often occur due to circumstances that make the boat difficult or impossible to control, such as violent squalls)
Do NOT climb up the cockpit, or stand on the rig.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Now let's go into some more detail about each of those steps. In theory, it will go just fine as long as you follow the simple procedure. In reality, we all know that stuff gets complicated.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1- Check on each other's safety, make sure each person on board is OK.
This is pretty straight forward. It obviously requires that you look after your own safety too. If you sit in the right place on the boat, you are less likely to be entangled or struck.
This is one time where it is OK to yell... make sure you can be heard! However, be careful to not contribute to panic
If a person is not OK, then obviously your new top priority is to help them. Get their head above water and make sure they're breathing. Signal for help from the coach boat (4 long blasts on your whistle).
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
2- Get control of the situation... yeah, this is where it can get complicated. Don't get wrapped up in petty details, though!
A primary concern is to prevent the boat from turtling. For one thing, the Neuse River is not deep enough and the mast will stick in the mud. The skipper can swim quickly around the stern & grab the centerboard, just holding it.
What if you are hiking out when the boat capsizes, and you're sitting on the high side? This is OK, if you're careful you can swing around to the bottom of the hull & place some weight on the centerboard easily & quickly.
This pic shows a perfectly acceptable position... if you end up there naturally. Just don't try to climb there! Also, the hull is slippery, so be careful to not fall.
In strong winds and/or choppy waves, it may be necessary to have the crew swim to the bow of the boat & hold it into the wind. Also, if necessary you can lower the sails while the boat is on it's side. Try to roll them up neatly & tie them into place securely, you'll want them in good shape later!
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You may have been told "Never bounce on the centerboard" which is correct. It's strong but it is possible to break the centerboard. A broken 'board leaves you in a MUCH worse situation!
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Another problem can be sheets. If the sails are pulled in tight & the sheet tangled, you can see that the sails are going to try & hold a LOT of water, making the boat difficult to pull upright. The crew should make sure that both sails are free. What could be worse? Pulling the boat upright with the sheets tangled, so that it immediately capsizes again... harder this time!
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OK, everything is under control! The boat is held steady on it's side, the crew has finished trouble-shooting everything that can go wrong, the skipper is ready to pull the boat upright, the crew is ready to 'scoop' aboard...
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So, how do we SCOOP?
This is a method of bringing the boat upright with the crew already on board & ready to keep control, and also able to help the other person(s) back aboard promptly.
The key is to NOT impede the righting of the boat. In this picture, one person is pulling the boat upright (and the sails are already rising out of the water freely), and the other is ready to "scoop" by holding securely (the hiking strap is a good hand-hold) BUT is still floating or treading water.
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Note that if the FJ is handled properly through the capsize drill, it will come up without any water inside.
As the boat continues to turn upright, the crew pulls/swims up into the boat. Be careful of metal points & hard edges. When the boat is fully upright, the crew should be securely inside & ready to help get the skipper aboard.
When you consider everything that can go wrong, the capsize is daunting. However if you follow the simple steps in order, and troubleshoot problems within the sequence of following these steps, you should be able to get the boat under control, keep it under control, and resume sailing.
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
CAPSIZE !! on purpose this time
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Any vessel can tip over. Here is the SS Normandie, one of the world's greatest ocean liners.
The first photo shows how majestic & powerful she was. Many people consider her the most beautiful ship ever built. For years the SS Normandie crossed the Atlantic Ocean carrying thousands of passengers in safety & luxury. No question of her stability.
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The second photo shows how, after a seemingly minor accident, she capsized at the dock.
(link to history of the SS Normandie)
Our handout shows a Royal Navy (British) destroyer laying on her side after a battle. So, we know for sure that any vessel can be capsized.
.
By this time, our cadets have all experienced a capsize too. Small boats may actually have a greater range of stability, but they are also more likely to be overcome by sea & weather conditions. The ability to cope with a capsize is an important skill for any sailor.
A big "Thank You !!" to the Twin Rivers YMCA (link). It's great to have a calm & controlled environment to practice this skill.
.
Here are two beginner sailors... their very first time afloat in an FJ, actually... ready to show what they've learned. Don't they look dry? That's about to change!
Part of the fun is the advanced sailors get to handle the boat in the water. It's not just dunking your fellow cadets in the pool, it's serious training! All kidding aside, the two 'Blue Book' sailors who handled the FJ from the water did a great job. It's not as easy as it looks to keep the FJ centered and not hit anything with the hull or mast.
.
Everybody got to take a turn. When under stress, we do what we've drilled. This is why we practice the basic steps in order, the same way every time. Only a few New Bern cadets have capsized on the river, but when they did, they recovered quite well thanks to this practice.
This photo shows the last step, crew helping the skipper aboard. It can be surprisingly difficult to climb aboard a boat!
.
Here we see another basic lesson: DON'T STAND UP IN AN FJ!
But these two newbies did OK in the actual capsize drill.
.
Anybody can make a mistake, especially at something you've just begun. Here the crew looks rather nervous even though they've watched several other crews do the capsize drill first. But that's not the mistake... the skipper is not steering properly! How should the skipper be holding the tiller?
.
But all is well in this photo, the skipper & crew are in their places & doing their jobs.
The skipper has control of the boat by holding the centerboard. This prevents it from drifting away or turning all the way over "turtle." The crew rigs the righting line (orange rope laying over the rail) and then prepares to scoop into the boat as the skipper pulls it rightside up.
.
"All aboard !!"
The key to doing this: let the boat heel toward the person in the water. This lowers the side they have to climb over, and makes it easier for them to get a grip on the hiking strap to pull themselves in.
.
Here's three of our advanced sailors, two are practicing the capsize drill and one is handling the boat.
What, you expect one of us coaches to get in the water? Relax, we've done it a thousand times, now it's your turn!
This skipper & crew are just finishing up Step 1... makes sure that everyone on board is OK. They did a fine job.
.
Capsize drill completed smoothly, time to head back to port.
Remember how we said anybody can make a mistake? Well, this skipper has forgotten to hold the tiller at all, much less do it the right way!
.
.
Now all the fun is over. You can hear FJ #3 heave a sigh of relief! We unrig the boat completely, which is not a step we normally do... boom comes off, mast comes down, boat goes on trailer...
All is ready for Monday! Hope you're ready too!
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King
Any vessel can tip over. Here is the SS Normandie, one of the world's greatest ocean liners.
The first photo shows how majestic & powerful she was. Many people consider her the most beautiful ship ever built. For years the SS Normandie crossed the Atlantic Ocean carrying thousands of passengers in safety & luxury. No question of her stability.
.
The second photo shows how, after a seemingly minor accident, she capsized at the dock.
(link to history of the SS Normandie)
Our handout shows a Royal Navy (British) destroyer laying on her side after a battle. So, we know for sure that any vessel can be capsized.
.
By this time, our cadets have all experienced a capsize too. Small boats may actually have a greater range of stability, but they are also more likely to be overcome by sea & weather conditions. The ability to cope with a capsize is an important skill for any sailor.
A big "Thank You !!" to the Twin Rivers YMCA (link). It's great to have a calm & controlled environment to practice this skill.
.
Here are two beginner sailors... their very first time afloat in an FJ, actually... ready to show what they've learned. Don't they look dry? That's about to change!
Part of the fun is the advanced sailors get to handle the boat in the water. It's not just dunking your fellow cadets in the pool, it's serious training! All kidding aside, the two 'Blue Book' sailors who handled the FJ from the water did a great job. It's not as easy as it looks to keep the FJ centered and not hit anything with the hull or mast.
.
Everybody got to take a turn. When under stress, we do what we've drilled. This is why we practice the basic steps in order, the same way every time. Only a few New Bern cadets have capsized on the river, but when they did, they recovered quite well thanks to this practice.
This photo shows the last step, crew helping the skipper aboard. It can be surprisingly difficult to climb aboard a boat!
.
Here we see another basic lesson: DON'T STAND UP IN AN FJ!
But these two newbies did OK in the actual capsize drill.
.
Anybody can make a mistake, especially at something you've just begun. Here the crew looks rather nervous even though they've watched several other crews do the capsize drill first. But that's not the mistake... the skipper is not steering properly! How should the skipper be holding the tiller?
.
But all is well in this photo, the skipper & crew are in their places & doing their jobs.
The skipper has control of the boat by holding the centerboard. This prevents it from drifting away or turning all the way over "turtle." The crew rigs the righting line (orange rope laying over the rail) and then prepares to scoop into the boat as the skipper pulls it rightside up.
.
"All aboard !!"
The key to doing this: let the boat heel toward the person in the water. This lowers the side they have to climb over, and makes it easier for them to get a grip on the hiking strap to pull themselves in.
.
Here's three of our advanced sailors, two are practicing the capsize drill and one is handling the boat.
What, you expect one of us coaches to get in the water? Relax, we've done it a thousand times, now it's your turn!
This skipper & crew are just finishing up Step 1... makes sure that everyone on board is OK. They did a fine job.
.
Capsize drill completed smoothly, time to head back to port.
Remember how we said anybody can make a mistake? Well, this skipper has forgotten to hold the tiller at all, much less do it the right way!
.
.
Now all the fun is over. You can hear FJ #3 heave a sigh of relief! We unrig the boat completely, which is not a step we normally do... boom comes off, mast comes down, boat goes on trailer...
All is ready for Monday! Hope you're ready too!
... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King