FJ sailing... Learning + practice + wind = FUN

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This is the first time this semester we have sailed the "Flying Juniors," affectionately called FJs. These are the sports cars of our fleet, much lighter, generally faster (not always) but certainly more sensitive and responsive than the Javelins.

Some advanced sailors and a few select beginners rig up the FJs and move them down to the beach. It's a bit more work than rigging up the Javelins at the dock... but oh so much worth it!

I apologize for not having any photos of the beginners sailing Javelins today, but they were working with  Coaches Hittner, Gowans, and Jackson who did not take any pics for me.





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Head Coach Rezab supervises operations at the beach. It's a clear sunny day, and a "sea breeze" sprang up even as we were preparing to launch. This is why the boats are beached with bows facing outward, it is easier to hoist sails with the boat head-to-wind (or at least close to it).





We had some minor mayhem getting underway with the FJs, mostly because only 2 of the current sailing class have ever sailed FJs anyway, and partly because of the onshore wind (link) . We have not yet learned the lesson about "lee shores" but after today, it should ring some bells.





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Once we got away from the beach, the sailing part was pretty good. The sailors improved visibly with every tack, every controlled stop, every bear-away. FJ's are very sensitive to sail trim and weight, so the cadet got constant reminders of how to perform better. No capsizes, but a few lose calls!

The sailors in FJ#1 (left, further away) are figuring out what the hiking straps are for. Good fun, and the boat is really moving!

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We did not get in a good 'Baby Duck' drill (link) . The sailors were just getting familiar with the boats, and tacking, and keeping their weight located where needed (sometimes scrambling!). We did practice TACKING (link) and also STOPPING (link), so these skills will come in handy as we get further into sailing drills.




We are more than half-way thru the semester, and in order to pass, the basic/beginner sailors need to begin sailing drills. The advanced sailors also need practice too (we all do!), but today's session had excellent weather and everybody had a great time!


... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King




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Windy & Rough Again... real sailing

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There seems to be a weather pattern this spring, every Monday afternoon the wind picks up and the river kicks up. After lots of practice on everything we need to do, there is nothing left but to go sailing. So, that's what we do... sail!

But first, we have to rig up the boats. Work before fun! This class is a bit slower than some we've had in the past, many are struggling with the terminology and the parts of the boat. However, we're improving!

Here is the Table of Contents (link) for our sailing lessons. Most of the class would benefit from a little browsing here.


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"Which one is the halyard and which one is the sheet?" By now, all sailing cadets should know this basic stuff, we've been studying it for 8 weeks!

To be fair, one of the students in this photo is an advanced sailor helping out, not a struggling beginner.





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These cadets are all beginners, and they were the quickest to get rigged up. Here they are investing the saved time by practicing a few moves on the boat. Usually the reward for being the first to rig up is MORE SAILING but conditions today were too rough.







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We also had Coach Mike Murphy (link) bring his own boat, a Montgomery 15 cruiser. Another advanced sailor is showing his ability as skipper, with a beginner as crew. Coach Murphy is on board, just ducked out of sight the moment this photo was taken.








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We took turns sailing the Javelins, here is Coach Hittner steering while two beginners handle the sheets and get the feel of the boat moving in 15 ~ 18 knot winds.









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Taking turns sailing Coach Murphy's boat also. These two are both beginners, doing well for their first time.











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Here we are at the dock, switching out crews. There are several safety rules to keep in mind when handling boats around the dock, and on a windy, choppy day like today, they are not just theory!








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Coach Murphy's boat has a ballasted keel and is more stable than the Javelins, which in turn are much more stable than the FJs. It takes practice! Here is Coach Hittner correcting the steering of a beginner.

"Don't look at the tiller, look where you're going!" 








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THIS is more like it!

After all, today was our first actual real-life sail. With such a strong wind and rough water, mistakes could be very costly and/or painful. However, everything went quite smoothly, we only made some small errors and hopefully learned... like this time!






Approx half the photos in this posting were taken by NJROTC cadets

   ... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King




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Sailing Today... WINDY & ROUGH !!!

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We have not had good luck with the weather, so far it has not allowed us to have a real sailing session this semester. Today was forecast to have strong but manageable winds, and as we travelled to Bridgeton Harbor and rigged up the boats, it seemed like we should be 'All Systems Go.' However the wind got stronger and stronger, the waves built up too.

 As 1/2 the class rigged the Javelins, the other half practiced knots. Our 'Basic Ropes & Knots Lesson' (link)






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 Our required knots: the 'bowline' (link), the 'stopper' or 'figure-8' (link), the 'cleat hitch' (link), and the 'clove hitch' (link). Knots come easily to some people, or with great difficulty to others, but it's an important skill. Each knots serves a different function and we need them all!

Here we see a successful Cleat Hitch and the satisfaction of doing it correctly. Where on the boat do we use this knot?







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Anyone could guess that we use the 'Cleat Hitch' to tie the boat to the dock. Yes, true, good... but there is one OTHER important (very important) place we use this knot.

Also, when we are handling the boats at the dock, there are several safety practices you must keep in mind. This cadet is doing well.

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Looks like a scene of chaos & confusion, but actually this is a GREAT PHOTO because everyone is working at their tasks.   Rigging and unrigging the boats calls for many hands, knowledge of each part of the boats, teamwork, and leadership.

We have had classes of cadets who learned to rig up the boats very quickly and efficiently. Their reward? More sailing time!






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What's up there? Lots of important stuff! It's never a bad idea to check what's happening with the mast & rigging.

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Some cadets did go sailing today. A great opportunity, and we all got to see Coach Rezab (our Fearless Leader) demonstrate some great sailing skills.


...posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King




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