sailing... Baby Duck drill !!

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Weather- cloudy, cool, threatening thunderstorms, winds 5~6 kt NW... nice day for a sail!

Here's what an actual Baby Duck drill looks like

It may seem pretty late in the semester, but this is still only the 5th sailing session for our basic sailors... well, some got in a lot of extra practice yesterday in OpSail MUMfest... so most of us are actually learning pretty fast!

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One FJ wandering a bit off course after a tack, Javelin #3 (yellow hull) about to tack into position... This is demonstrating how well you can (or can't!) control the boat.

Review- we've learned terminology, rigging (and unrigging), Points of Sail, Tacking... we should be at least a little familiar with getting underway and docking, since we've been doing those things each time but not formally teaching them... and you should know a -lot- of safety points to go with each stage of all these actions!



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We sailed 3 FJs and 3 Javelins... we -should- have pictures of 6 boats sailing, then... This photo is the only one in which all 6 boas were close enough together to get them in a picture! Kinda shows what we can do better, eh?


"To Do" list-
Knots- learn to tie a bowline, cleat hitch, figure-8, and clove hitch...
Gybing- it's like tacking only different, and you have to be a good deal more assertive about control of helm & sheet
STOPPING (link)- this is mandatory, will be applied to docking and to man-overboard practice...no you can't jump in!
Right-Of-Way rules (link)- when we sail in close quarters with other boats (which will be almost always) then we need to know who dodges whom. Collision = FAIL for both skippers!
Sailing Drills (link)- weather permitting, we will sail a couple more drills to improve and demonstrate sailing skills for both skippers & crews.


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We will continue to work on steering (and the physics of all forces in play to make a vessel turn or go straight), in fact this "steering" is a complex subject which will always have new points to learn for the most advanced sailor

Speaking of advanced sailors; where was our 5O5?

Infested with fire ants! Do Not Touch!!



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The coaches do a lot of work and bring a lot of equipment ... including a First Aid Kit which would be good for treating fire ant bite... but did not bring a can of RAID... seriously we need to nuke these things!

But here's a look at what the coaches were doing, aside from carefully supervising: Head Coach Rezab and Coach Murphy working at fixing a wind indicator at the top of the mast. Also see the bottom of Javelin #1 coated with anti-fouling paint, done before launching this spring. Look Ma, no barnacles! Yeah, tell us coaches to stop slacking off, go ahead...

In all, this sailing session was a big success and hopefully will be followed up by even bigger success.

... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King


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