Hmmm... is sailing over for 2012 ??

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This afternoon, the New Bern NJROTC sailing coaches... with the assistance of a select few cadets... pulled the Javelins out of the water and unrigged all the boats. We will still have scheduled SAIL CLASS on Monday afternoons.

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Here are the coaches working on a Javelin hull & centerboard. These boats stay in the water for our sailing semester, and have anti-barnacle paint on their bottoms. However the hulls must be cleaned & inspected and the centerboards checked.

Fall 2012 has been a great semester for our sailors. We've had over 20 cadets come out on the river, 7 returning skippers including 2 cadets who have now -almost- completed their advanced qualifaction (the "Blue Book"), and 16 new sailors. Many of the new sailors are looking like they'll pass the basic sailing qualification this semester. This has been fun but it's not an easy class.

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Lowering the 5O5 mast... this boat has been a blast, and presented a challenge for the advanced sailors... next semester, how about getting the spinnaker into action?


 
What do we learn?
The New Bern NJROTC is quite frankly the best basic sailing course anywhere. We cover the fundamental knowledge & skills (link) to handle a small boat safely, to travel open water and reach a destination. First, there is the terminology and the parts of the boat. This is a big lesson in itself. Next comes points of sail and basic maneuvers. The first two sections -must- be learned before any of the 'real sailing' makes sense. Students get time on the water to demonstrate their mastery of each section, starting with being able to rig the boats & get underway. When underway, skippers & crew must each know their tasks, be able to communicate, and work as a team. They must know and follow the Right-Of-Way Rules for all vessels, and maneuver in close quarters.

Sailing is a lot of fun, even though it is a lot of work. By the time we hold our last sailing session, it has all happened so smoothly that the cadets skippering their way to a windward goal, and bringing the boat to a smooth stop at a given destination, that it seems like they must have always known how. Is there more to learn?  YES !!  But for now, the coaches are satisfied with having done a good job.

Note- sailing class will be held at the normal time on Dec 3 and Dec 10

... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King