Chillin'at the pool.... not really! Capsize drill at the YMCA

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Today was the day for our Capsize Drill!
Thanks to the Twin Rivers YMCA, we can practice in a calm & controlled environment.

Here, our Cadet Sailing Team Commander is still holding the hiking stick properly, but he's wondering if his crew is going to be OK


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 Here's a link to the lesson on Capsize... we all need to know & practice this!
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These two cadets are already wet! Did they fall in by accident? No, this is actually their 2nd attempt at capsizing.

Part of the fun is that the advanced cadets get in the pool to handle the boat and help with the tipping over...  yeah thanks for the HELP!









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Here's the last phase of capsize recovery... getting back in. We use the "scoop" method, where the crew rolls up inside the boat as the skipper pulls it upright, but then the skipper has to climb in over the gunwhale. This is generally not a dignified procedure.

These cadets did very well, the crew helped the skipper in while balancing the boat, the skipper came up using knees and a sideways roll instead of doing a straight-in face plant.






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Coach Rezab (far right) stays out of splash range. Here is part of the group getting ready for another practice capsize... practicing getting into & out of the boat from a slippery low "dock" is a learning process too!


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Next!

Every sailing cadet, beginners and advanced, got a turn practicing the capsize drill both as skipper and as crew

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A good crew not only helps his skipper in, he is prepared to heel the boat to make it easier, to move his weight for balance... and does it with a smile too!



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Now the crew becomes skipper.

Here, his job is to hold the boat from turning "turtle." Soon the crew will be ready, and he pulls the boat upright.




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Who said we lack adult supervision?!?

Top takes this seriously, like all drills. The cadets' safety could depend on the skills they learn today. LCDR Clark is witnessing his first capsize drill.




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Hey!
CAPSIZE means the boat is supposed to tip over! Here we see two cadets who left the boat a little too early, and the boat snapped back right-side up without them. This is why we teach keeping a grip on the sheet(s) and hiking straps!


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 Here comes the "righting line." The crew takes the tail of the bow line (painter) and tosses it over the gunwhale to the skipper. Some times it is not needed, but it is always helpful and gives the skipper something to hang on to so the boat doesn't float away.










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Fun time is over! Coach Rezab, the Cadet Sailing Commander, and one of the newbies (wait, can we still call him that after today?) put away FJ#4.

You can see the pool enclosure, which is a good thing because today was cold & blustery... but it means more work because we have to break down the boat and carry it out thru the air lock.

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We give a tremendous THANK YOU to our local Y
Twin Rivers YMCA (link)

....  photos by Coach Mike Murphy
....  posted by Coach Douglas King



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