winter comes to sailing... cancelled

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Unfortunately, we lose a few days every semester because of bad weather. Although the coaches worked today to launch and dock the Javelins, it was too cold & windy... threatening rain, also... for students sailing.

It's a shame, and ironic because weather has been so mild this winter. We've had many days that would have been GREAT for sailing... but not today.











Where are we in the class?





We've learned a lot. For review, got to the Sailing Lessons Table of Contents (link).




We should know the knots.







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We should know the parts of the boat. We especially need to know about SHEETS and HALYARDS, and how to rig the sails. The class has had several sessions of practice on this, and today we would have been doing it for real, on the water.



This class should be ready to begin practicing sailing the boat to a goal.

This means that for our next class, we should know the points of sail.

Note the difference between port tack and starboard tack. On starboard tack, the wind is coming over the starboard side of the boat.

One way to remember "Close-Hauled" is that the sails are hauled in tight (close to the center). A boat can be close-hauled on either port tack or starboard tack.




We should also know our first basic maneuver TACKING. Here is a brief lesson (link) on this.

See you next time!

... posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King







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Capsize! ... What do we do NOW ???

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This Monday we held capsize practice at the Twin Rivers YMCA.

We've been learning the parts of the boat, and the terminology of boats & sailing. We practiced hoisting the sails (more complicated than it sounds!) and some of the other basic skills... now we get into a real boat that is really afloat!

It might not sound exciting to practice in a swimming pool, but it is calm and controlled... and it is the first time for many of our sailing cadets.


In small sailboat, capsizing should be part of the fun. However, it can be dangerous -IF- the sailors do not have the skills and the attitude to handle it. This is why we practice! Our Capsize Drill is found here (link).


While the rigging the boat, and the capsize drill, are simple, there is much to remember. For example, steering with the hiking stick! Here we see two beginners trying to remember everything we've learned so far. When sailing for real, for example, the crew does NOT hold onto the boom.


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The Capsize Drill is simple:  1- check on each others' safety
2- get control of the boat! This means to get a hold of the boat and keep from drifting away in separate directions. The skipper will swim around the stern to the centerboard, and hold it. This prevents the boat from turning "turtle."
3- When ready, pull the boat upright. The crew "scoops" into the boat as it comes up, so as to keep control of the boat and to help the skipper back aboard.

These cadets are carrying out Step #1... each makes sure the other is OK, before carrying out any other step.

In case of emergency, all our lifejackets have whistles so any cadet can instantly summon a coach.



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Step 2- gain control of the situation. This means keeping the boat from going all the way inverted; so the skipper holds tight to the centerboard.










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Step 3- pull the boat upright, the crew should be inside.

The reason for this is that a small boat can be very difficult to climb into from the water. Wearing a lifejacket makes it even more difficult.
Then, there is the risk of having the boat drift away. In strong wind, a small boat will skate away downwind much faster than you can swim. This is a serious emergency even if you are wearing a lifejacket!

A good crew helps his skipper get back into the boat after a successful capsize drill.







So now what?
We do it again!

Here, an experienced sailing cadet sees her crew trying to cope with an impending capsize, while steering with the hiking stick... good practice!








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Now, all the sailing cadets have practiced the Capsize Drill at least once. Many practiced in both skipper and crew positions.

Next, unrigging the boat under the supervision of Coach Murphy.

This class did very well, we are looking forward to sailing, FOR REAL




...           posted by Assistant Coach Doug King





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Sailing Class, Spring 2017, is under way

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The sailing class is off to a good start! We have begun learning all the terminology and parts of the boat (link). The work of getting the boats rigged has been done, which is one reason why it's important to know all the parts!    ...        ...       ...   Here we see Coach Mark Hittner showing the class how to get started raising the mast on an Oday Javelin. The cadets will do all the work themselves, which will prove how much they have learned.

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 Meanwhile, on our (repaired!) Oday Javelin "Red Stripe Jr" the mast is up, the boom is in place, the boat is ready to be launched. Looks like the New Bern sailors have learned a lot already!

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 How do we know that the boats are rigged correctly? What more is there to learn, before we are ready to actually GO SAILING! One way to find out is to hoist the sails!     ...    Here, a couple of our more experienced sailor cadets showing the beginners how to put the mainsail on the boom, and make ready for hoisting.

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Here, another crew is practicing hoisting their mainsail. Looks like it will not be long before they are ready!

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 So, if the coaches let the students do the work, why do we need coaches? Well, teaching is work. So is correcting mistakes.... we all make them, some make more than others.   ...  Speaking of mistakes, a cadet steered one of our Javelins (Red Stripe Junior) into a collision last fall. The boat was damaged badly enough to need repair.

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A closer look at the cracked fiberglass. The inner cracked part is secondary damage from the flexing of the hull under impact. These boats are strongly built, we are lucky that no sailor were hurt in the collision.   ... Fortunately, our coaches have experience with repairs to collision damage! Hmm, I wonder how they know these things... ...

This coming Monday (March 6) don't forget to bring a towel. We will be going to the YMCA for CAPSIZE DRILL

If you want to see what this looks like, try here (link)

...      posted by Assistant Coach Douglas King



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