Short but pretty good... wind kicks up!

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Yesterday we had a pretty good sailing session... had to cut it short because the wind was kicking up and the chop was building to the point where the boats were getting difficult to handle. When we have waves coming over the bows of the Javelins, then it's getting a bit rough out there.

Here's two of our 3 Javelins, heading out from Bridgeton Harbor... their course is towards the old grain elevator in New Bern

The good news is that we carried out sail training, completing a basic exercise: bring the boat up to a given point, then sail UPWIND including tacking a few times, then back downwind to a another given point. The goal is to practice keeping the boat under control when conditions are difficult. The bad news is that we had a collision between boats. Fortunately there was no damage done but that was due to very good luck rather than any applied skill.

Looking upwind toward the highway bridge... the Javelin on the left has eased her mainsail in a gust, the one on the right is heeling. To the sailors on board, it feels like the boat is laid right over but you can see the angle of heel is not extreme

In light winds, steering a close-hauled course is a challenge. In heavy winds, that becomes easy and steering down wind... broad reaching or running... is more difficult. Gybing is the most difficult of all, the boat's steering & sails must both be kept under close control at all times thru the maneuver. Our cadets, including one of the beginners, gybed several times and did very well: no slamming, no broaching, no clonking the head!

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All 3 Javelins, historic New Bern in the background... now they are sailing downwind and going FAST (look at the wakes)




Yesterday was a bad day for coach boats, due to trailer problems with one, and engine problems with another (note- these boats are owned by the coaches who generously volunteer to use them in the program), we had only one small coach/safety boat. Since we completed the exercise, it was decided to call it a day and send the fleet back to base!

Now this was a good day to build some confidence, and to show Coach Rezab that 'yes you can sail in stronger winds' so let's get some more practice! The major exercises left are the CAPSIZE DRILL (we will want to do this on a calm day) and Right-Of-Way rules...

...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King