Stop and go drill

We're still working on boat handling and seamanship skills. One skill needed when racing, especially before the start in fleet racing and at turning marks in team racing is the stop and go drill. Key points are identified in the video:

1. The safety position is about 60-70 degrees off the wind (if you point straight into the wind to slow you need to bear off before the boat stops.)
2. Make sure both sails are luffing completely. If the boom is hitting the shroud you're too far off the wind -- head up until the boom comes off the shroud.
3. Get going again by trimming. If you stay 60-70 degrees off the wind you are only close reaching (not beating) and the sail should not be all of the way in. If you come up to a beat both sheets need to come in tight.
4. If the hiking stick seems too long you need to slide forward and out. Your tailbone should be on the rail and your "front" leg should be against the traveler bar. The skipper should tell the crew to place their weight to balance the boat. In light air they should be sitting to leeward.
5. Trim the main using both hands. swing the hiking stick (not the tiller) as you trim in. Keep the sheet under the hiking stick so that the excess falls between your legs. Your "aft" hand is always on the hiking stick and your forward hand is on the sheet.
6. When on the other tack the forward hand still has the sheet and the aft hand has the hiking stick. Make sure you switch hands when tacking and jibing. You need to become ambidextrous!

First session at the Sailing Center

We finally got to attend a session at the Naval Station Sailing Center. Unfortunately, Thor had other ideas. In fact, as we were getting off the bus the siren went off. We spent the session as a "chalk talk" in the classroom primarily discussing team racing. Thanks to Mr. Suhr for acting as our escort.

We expect to get some water time tomorrow!

Light air mothing

We had a short session with Maggie, Zach, and Matt back in some classic moths. I shot some short clips with the goPro. The first clip shows all three sailing downwind in 3-5 knots of wind.

The second clip (in two parts) shows each gybing and the importance of sailing any boat on her lines.

The third shows each reaching. Sail trim and weight placement make a huge difference in light air!

Try outs for skippers

On Monday August 14th, six students demonstrated their skills in classic moth boats. The breeze was light and shifty but when weight was correctly positions the lightweight boats responded well. Each student also performed a capsize and recovery. As the session was ending, the wind stopped, the rain started and we all stayed a bit damp!