Sailing the "Baby Ducks" drill

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After learning about all the terminology, the basic parts of the boat, proving able to rig the sails, having the coaches help while learning to steer and trim the sails properly... now we are proving our ability to sail.


We use sailing drills to practice and improve skills, and to demonstrate control of the boat in different circumstances. In order to qualify as a sailor, our cadets must complete 3 sailing drills beyond the simple (and fun!) "Baby Ducks" (link). But you have to start somewhere!








"Baby Ducks" may be simple. Just follow the coach boat flying the "L" flag. It might be simple but it is not easy, we will sail on all points of sail and carry out several maneuvers including TACKING (link). The students try hard to stick as close as possible to Mama Duck, and the coaches can see directly how much they learned. We can even see them improve as we carry out the drill!












As we sail close together, avoiding collisions is very important. The Javelin on the left is tacking but is directly in the way of Coach Jackson's Javelin. Fortunately the cadet skipper on the left  has good control of his vessel and steers downwind to go astern of the one tacking.

This brings up our next major topic, the Right of Way Rules (link).













These cadets have learned well, sailing faster and tacking more efficiently. With such good control of their boat, they should get promoted to sailing FJs soon!








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This skipper and crew are also doing well, at this point we are just sailing for fun... everybody passed the drill!

 Now comes the time to un-rig the boats and put everything away.

What's the name of this rope, the one we use to hoist and lower the sails? No problem, the jib halyard and main halyard. We can even handle cleat hitches (one of the qualifying knots).


We have good weather, a good breeze, and a very good afternoon of sailing.





... ... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King

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Nor for some REAL sailing... good and bad

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Getting underway!



No band playing, but the cadets sailing out from Bridgeton Harbor pass by their CO on the dock.







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Coach Gormley's boat sailing CLOSE-HAULED with a beginner skipper. He is using the hiking stick correctly although gripping it with both hands may be a bit overly dramatic.

There was enough wind to make today's sailing exciting!





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Wait a minute... what is CLOSE-HAULED? By this point in the program, all beginners should know the POINTS Of SAIL. These are very important to remember, in fact all beginner sailors (and most advanced ones too) should memorize this diagram.









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Here is our Javelin, sailed by Coach Gormley's cadets (who did so well, they even sailed back in to the dock), sailing Close-Hauled. Obviously the boat is moving well, the crew is shifting his weight to the high side (which is good, boats sail better when heeling less). Sails are trimmed correctly... now the question, which TACK is this boat on?

Hint- which side of the boat is the wind hitting (ie the high side)?




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Now let's take a look at some cadets who aren't doing so well. For one thing, these cadets have already passed the basic sailing qualification, and should be in an FJ, not a Javelin... especially a Javelin with a coach helping them!

1- jib is trimmed too tight, they are on a beam reach
2- skipper is attempting to trim the mainsail and pull it in by wrapping the sheet around his hand... a disaster waiting to happen.

Coach Jackson, we feel your pain! However these cadets did fairly well at a couple of other things, hopefully they will get back in the groove next time we sail.


We are about half way thru the sailing class, so if you are unclear on POINTS OF SAIL and TACKING (link) then you definitely should review. Memorize the above diagram, no kidding! Plus, it's on your written assignment and yes, the written assignment is part of your grade (surprised? Why?) Maybe it will help if you go thru our On-Line Lessons (link) !!









If on the other hand, you are totally familiar with everything we've taught up to now, then let's move to something new...

What is this boat doing?
GYBING (also spelled Jibing)
It is the opposite of Tacking! It is when you really really need to be careful of the boom!





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Gybing can be done well, or it can be done poorly. It is fully possible (in fact, it has happened many times) for sailors to be injured, for the boat to capsize, or for the rigging to break, when gybing. This is why it is important to gybe properly.

Here is a photo of a crew finishing a good gybe. The boat is not heeling, the skipper did not make a wild turn, both skipper and crew have their respective sheets under good control. Note the skippers hand on the whole mainsheet... this is how to control the boom on a small sailboat when gybing.








Coach Murphy and his sailors... they did quite well, sailing on all Points Of Sail and Tacking properly... maybe next week they will be ready to start sailing drills!















Hey y'all... did you have fun this afternoon ??











posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King

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