1st actual sail goes quite well... not a lot of wind

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Our first sailing day this semester went quite well. At this point, we are not perfect in knowledge of boat parts & terminology, but we did get rigged up and underway.








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Most of the new sailors sailed the Javelins with coaches help. Here we see Coach Gormley with his cadets. There is not a lot of wind, but there is enough to get the boats moving along.







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The advanced cadets sailed the FJs, getting a bit of a refresher... for example, this spread-out group is supposed to be a "Baby Ducks" drill. However, we did practice tacking & gybing and also stopping... the necessary basic skills!





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Here is Coach Murphy with his new sailors.

 Lighter wind makes it more difficult to see what the sails should be doing, but with good coaching the new cadets kept their boats moving and practiced tacking (link).





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Practice... it's how you get good at stuff!

Stopping a sailboat (link) is a needed skill for advanced sailors and beginners alike. We practice in open water on nice soft buoys, so that we can bring the boat to the nice metal dock later.


... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King

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How To Capsize, and How Not To... thank you Twin Rivers "Y"

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Having planned and prepared for today's lesson, the coaches relax while waiting for the cadets to arrive by bus.

left to right Head Sailing Coach Jerry Rezab,  Coach Joe Gormley, Coach Mike Murphy








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 The main practice for today is CAPSIZING... but of course, to do that you need to get into the boat, and assume the proper positions for sailing. There are one or two right ways, and many wrong ways.

At least this cadet skipper is holding the tiller, even if he's not really doing it correctly.






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 This boat is NOT going to "turtle"

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 This skipper maintained her grip on the tiller... "that steering thing-y" ... quite well indeed!










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This skipper has a good steering grip, but we hope she's not going to try holding the boom while really sailing.

Part of the fun of sticking with this program, and being one of the advanced sailors, is that you get to help the beginners capsize (holding mast, at right)




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Holding the centerboard, using the "righting line" ... this skipper is steadily pulling the boat upright, it takes some patience









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Steady! Steady! Having checked each others safety, then gained control of the boat, this is the last stage of the Capsize Drill.... skipper pulls the boat upright while the crew "scoops" into the hull as it comes up.






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Job well done!
Now we put the boat and all the gear away.

All the cadets did well at capsizing, and learned a lot about how to handle boats under adverse conditions.

Next week, sailing FOR REAL at Bridgeton Harbor!

posted by Assistant Sailing Coach Douglas King

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Sailing Class already begun... next week, capsize at the YMCA

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If you want to be a sailor this fall, you still have a chance. You will need to get a parental permission to LCDR Clark, and show up for the next classes.



Our next class is guaranteed to be fun. We will be holding capsize practice at the Twin Rivers YMCA.  Here is what it was like (link) last spring.



 Class meets immediately after school, every Monday. We will only have 10 classes and 2 of those have already met! You should study these brief pages: Terminology- parts of the boat (link), then study Terminology- Directions (link), then follow up with Rigging the Boat (link), because this is material we have already covered in class. A written assignment has been handed out, and if you missed it, you can pick it up in the Commander's office or from the Sailing Squad cadet leader.




Then, to truly be up to speed, check out the Capsize Drill (link). You may need to carry this out for real!

... Assistant Sailing Coach Douglas King



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