Greetings Sailors!
Several items:
1.) Congratulations to John Kauffman, SCOW's newest cruiser skipper! Thanks also to our Commodore Chris McGraw for conducting John's water checkout yesterday evening, rain notwithstanding.
2.) ***IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES*** for prospective Flying Scot skippers:
>>> Saturday May 19 will be a "practice day" and tutors will be available for on-water coaching.
>>> Sunday May 20 will be a "checkout day" for folks who are ready and want to take a water checkout.
To be eligible for these sessions, prospective Scot skippers must 1) send me their completed written exams beforehand (skipper@scow.org, or give me a call at 240.778.5198 to arrange logistics for hard copies); and 2) RSVP so we know how many to expect. Please do NOT just show up at the marina.
Copies of written tests for both Scots and cruisers can be found in the members' section of www.scow.org under "Skipper Info."
3.) Tacking/jibing: Several of you have indicated that you sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between a tack and a jibe. I've also noticed that folks will sometimes ask "So are we turning left or right?" when preparing to tack (by definition, it's one or the other. You're turning through the wind....so does that turn happen to be to the left or to the right for the particular course you're on?). This hesitation/confusion is absolutely normal (relax!) when you're starting out, but it's a concept that should be solidified fairly quickly after some time on the water. Below are a few different definitions of these maneuvers-- pick the one you like, or feel free to develop one that works for you, and please also check out some information online-- there are authors who can put it more eloquently and succinctly than I.
Tacking is coming through (across) the wind with the bow pointed into (toward) the wind.
Jibing is coming through (across) the wind with the stern pointed into (toward) the wind.
Tacking is changing direction upwind.
Jibing is changing direction downwind.
A typical tack involves turning through the wind from a close-hauled (upwind) course.
A typical jibe involves turning through the wind from a running (downwind) course.
Once you've gained some experience, the next challenge is to execute these manuevers precisely and professionally (and safely). Check out my February ChaNNels article ("A Real Pickle," February 2012, available on www.scow.org) on crisp tacking for more info.
Stepping back a little bit-- before you can set up for a tack or jibe, you need to know where your wind is. Folks also report that it's sometimes tough to know where the wind is coming from. I struggled with this as well, so I started making a habit of paying attention to the wind long before I ever set foot in the boat. Start broad, with the "general wind direction" from the forecast-- then pay attention to actual (frequently different than forecast!) conditions as soon as you get to the marina. Watch ripples on the water, flags, Windexes, telltales, blowing trees, smoke, etc. to help you mentally reinforce this "general wind direction" for the day. i.e. "Ok, I know that my GEneral Wind Direction ("GEWD") for today is northwest [southeast, north, west, etc.]. Once you've established your GEWD, it's easier to plan your tactics, your destination, and your launch and return.
Two caveats: 1) do NOT get "locked into" your GEWD, because the wind will shift at some point! It's highly dynamic, so you need to be highly dynamic and flexible. It's general wind direction for a reason. Adapt as necessary. 2) do NOT "sail by the Windex." Your eyes should be ahead on the water looking for traffic and obstacles-- not locked on the Windex. It's for quick reference (short glances) only.
4.) Docking: I've seen some stuff at the docks recently (not just SCOW, don't worry!) that has scared the living daylights out of me. We absolutely must must must use proper technique to avoid damage to equipment and/or physical injury.
The following is generally speaking. Of course there will sometimes be exceptions and differences of opinion on precise tactics, but if there's any sort of wind at all, your technique gets critical.
As you pull up to the dock, you (and your crew, and any bystanders) should observe the following 3 things. If not, something is wrong:
1) The bow of the boat should be pointing (roughly) into the wind.
I've seen a lot of downwind docking (aka crashing) lately, and this unprofessional and dangerous. The WSM docks are oriented such that our (docked) boats-- when positioned correctly at the ends of the docks--will end up pointing roughly east (toward the far side of the river/Maryland) or west (toward the GW parkway/VA). East or west is a one-or-the-other decision that's very much like your decision to launch on the left or right side of the dock, whichever is leeward. After you make this first macro (big-picture) decision correctly, it's easier to fine-tune your technique with micro decisions later. As you begin to think about your docking procedure, take a couple seconds to think about which general direction (east or west) you want to end up pointing in. The prudent choice will have the bow of your boat pointed generally into the wind.
2) The sails should be luffing (flapping).
This goes for raising the sails before launch too. Y'all are sick of hearing me ask, "Is the mainsheet free?" before we raise the mainsail-- but the answer to that question can mean the difference between pinched fingers and toes, sprained muscles, hull damage, or a boat launching itself with no one at the helm. Et cetera. If your sails are not luffing, by definition they're generating energy and powering up the boat, and if you're not ready to manage that energy, you're cruising for trouble. Energy management using sail trim on final approach to the dock is a learned skill, so be patient with yourself in the early stages, but make sure you get out on the water and practice. Just remember that luffing sails are your friend when you're trying to de-power the boat, slow down, and stop. Also, once you're tied up at the dock, make sure your sheets are still free (e.g. not cleated). If your intention is to "stop sailing".....make sure that you actually stop sailing!
3) The boat should be moving slowly (or not moving at all).
Part of the reason why we dock on the outboard sections (ends) of the docks is so we can wave off and go around if something goes wrong. A common problem is too much speed. On the other hand, we don't want to stall out and lose control of the boat either (see why sailing is challenging?). As noted above, much of the entire exercise is energy management, but for the sake of our boat hulls, we have to resolve not to use the docks themselves as part of our energy management plan. As I've tried to iterate many times, there is absolutely no shame in a couple of "practice runs" at the dock so you can gauge inertia and other factors before you commit. Watch that speed, and go easy on the boats (and the docks).
The sailing season is now in full swing (night sailing too!) and the FACES calendar is filling up, which is awesome. See you soon out on the water. If in the meantime you have any questions about techniques or other general sailing questions, send them to me and we can get some of our intrepid and distinguished club members to weigh in, perhaps in a future ChaNNels article so that everyone can benefit.
As always, if you're interested in getting skipper-certified or otherwise have questions about skipper matters, contact me directly and we'll get answers for you.
Mainsheet free,
Jonathan Thron
2012 Skipper Director
240.778.5198
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