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Master,
I recently heard of a yacht club (name unknown) that is
encouraging its members to go cruising by
organising offshore, overnight, sailing passages for
boat owners who have bluewater cruising aspirations but
lack the confident to take those first pensive
steps offshore. Apparently, the program works by having
participating vessels sail offshore in company, directly
out to sea for a few hours before returning to land the
next morning at approx day break. This exercise is
designed to give skippers and their crews an opportunity
to acquaint themselves with their vessel’s handling
characteristics in open ocean, night sailing experience
and the practical skills needed for ocean passages.
Perhaps experienced members of the club could form part
of the program by conducting a series of proceeding
talks on subjects such as;
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Vessel preparation (i.e. set-up, equipment, sail
wardrobe)
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Vessel maintenance (e.g. engine, sails, winches etc)
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Interpreting weather forecasts
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Passage Planning
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Watch systems
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Provisioning
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Heavy Weather Sailing techniques
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Anchoring
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Safety at Sea
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Bar Crossing etc
The discussion sessions could then be followed-up by
practical lesson on someone's
vessel, small-medium coastal hops before culminating in
an overnight passage offshore.
This may get more people out there!!
Fair Winds, Kent & Julie 'MAHALO' |
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Alan & Joy 'Galia' |
Hi John,
Might I suggest the mooring area deep in South West Arm
as a suitable location for an overnight sailaway
with a BBQ on shore (maybe near the old midden - take
our own gas!). An advantage is the availability of the
courtesy moorings - some of which, if I remember
rightly, are owned by RMYC. Out of the way, quiet, and a
million miles from the cares of the world - a lovely
spot. |
