Light wind is better than not sailing at all

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 At first there was really no wind. In order to get away from the dock, we used the paddles.

Hey it's important to learn about PROPULSION right ??

Paddling takes some skill too, it is not as easy as it looks.
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Then the wind actually came up a little, so we started sailing.

Here is the group trying to get together to start sailing a Baby Duck drill





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Can you hear me now?

Let's all get going in the same direction, so we're all on the same point of sail, and we can practice the same maneuvers!

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Now it looks like a plan is starting to come together.

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 Here is a beginner skipper with an advanced sailor as crew, focused on steering accurately and getting the sheets adjusted properly for the point of sail. The boats are actually gliding along at about a walking pace, so they are definitely SAILING
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The plan IS coming together! Although in this light wind it is difficult to sail close-hauled, so we led the Baby Ducks on a close reach. Then we tacked. Actually this photos is after several tacks, we are about to rotate skippers in the Javelins.

Guess who is skippering the 5-O-5? It is zipping past the other boats easily!
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Here we see the red-stripe Javelin practicing how to STOP (link)... very important.

This is true of -any- vehicle: if you can't stop, you are not in control

Hey FJ#3 you did know you were supposed to stop here, right?






Today was a good day of sailing practice, we did an actual sailing drill (link) and practiced some things we need to pass this course. Paddling isn't one of them but it was fun and it was good exercise, and there is certainly a skill to it that takes a bit of learning.

...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King


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