Jump to:
Little Floaters Group
Beginners and Improvers Group
Racing Group
Seamanship Group
The focus of each of the Sail Training Groups is outlined below.
Little Floaters Group
What is it about?
• Building confidence on the water
• An introduction to sailing
• Exploring the river
• Most importantly… having fun!
Who is it for?
• Children of five years and older
• Must be happy to sail with other children with us for a few hours away from the hard
• Want to have fun in and on the water
When and where will it be?
• Running on Sail Training Days (except the first one of the year)
• Starting at 10 am and back to the club in time for lunch
• Meeting at the white hut on the sea wall
• Meeting in dry gear
What we plan to do over the sailing year…
Little Floaters will involve going on adventure sails, exploring different areas of the river. We will sail in small groups on larger dinghies such as the Laser Stratos or Wayfarers and work together to build skills and confidence.
We look forward to seeing you in Little Floaters!
Beginners and Improvers Group
|
|
First Steps in Sailing |
Building on the Basics |
|
Safety |
Buoyancy, suitable clothing, sunscreen. Keep everyone safe: in the field, on the hard and on the water. |
Conditions – weather and tide. Minimising risk… and what to do if it happens. Contextual consideration of ‘Sailing Safety’ on MSC website. |
|
Communication |
Listen carefully, ask if unclear. Explain what you’re doing. Basic ‘sailing words’. Signals to/from other boats and leaders. Tell us if you’re unhappy or worried. |
Sailing terminology – points of sail, manoeuvres. Discuss options and plans. Keep everyone on the boat informed.
|
|
Boat Preparation |
Club boats and storage. Parts of the boat. Rigging a Pico; what’s likely to be wrong? First knots and how to choose which; cleats. |
Preparing other club boats, differences from Pico. Weather-dependent rigging. More knots and what they’re for. Getting ready on time! |
|
Boat movement on the land |
Safety first! Teamwork, listening. What to be aware of – cars, cruisers etc. Running on the hard, slippery etc.. |
Help keep everyone safe. Eyes open… Winch lines and other trip hazards. Flapping sails and eyes; how to furl. |
|
Planning |
Wind direction… where can we sail? How can we get there? Listen to the plan. What to watch out for? Group control, signals from leaders. |
Wind, tide (strength and direction) and weather. Other boats? Making and discussing a plan. Potential problems? Reviewing on the water, fall-backs. |
|
Leaving the shore |
Wind direction – what can work? Who’s doing what? When to go? 1-by-1. Where to leave the trolley; helping each other. |
What could go wrong? Careful use of sails and foils. Staying in control. Avoiding other boats (and other things!). |
|
Sailing around |
Sailing area control, listen to the leaders. Sail controls for today’s conditions. Eyes out of the boat – fingers and hands in! How to alter sail controls round the course Tacking vs gybing… watch out for the BOOM! Caught in irons – push/push… pull/pull Roles in the boat. More smiling! |
Knowledge of basic aerodynamics: how sails work, how controls work. Power and de-powering. Stopping (inc. heave-to). MOB, picking up a mooring. Five Essentials – basics, weather and lee helm. Is the plan working? What to do about it? |
|
Coming back to shore |
What’s the plan? Where to land? What can go wrong? What’s in the way? Who’s doing what? Talk to each other… Stopping the boat safely. |
Lee shore options – choice of location, direction of approach, slowing the boat. |
|
Capsizing |
Build confidence – capsizing is not a big issue! Capsize drill – roles, communication. Aftermath – keep it fun! |
How could it have been avoided? Boat / sail setup, sailing area, 5 essentials? Turtling. Other boats. Reviewing plans after capsize. |
|
Avoiding collisions |
Communication – in the boat and with others. Which is safe way to steer? Hands in (again) |
Port/starboard, windward/leeward Don’t assume they’ve seen you… or will avoid you! Stay away from traffic on the river. |
|
Weather and Tide |
Today’s weather forecast – and what it might mean. What’s the tide going to do?
|
Weather (inc. wind) at MSC. Impact of tide at MSC. What drives the weather and tide (for those interested). |
|
More on how a boat works |
|
More details of Five Essentials. Sail shape, reefing. Aft main, catamarans, keelboats. Fun with rudderless and backward sailing. |
|
Spreading your wings – what next? |
MSC Cadet Week. RYA courses at MSC. |
Practice races, more rules. MSC Racing: procedures, courses. Dinghy Cruising, SB20s. |
Racing Group
|
|
Starting to race |
Progressing your racing |
|
Mental Preparation |
Racing is fun! Be considerate to others and enjoy! |
Relax, and think about what you’d like to achieve one day! |
|
Physical Preparation |
Food as a fuel Hydration Clothing, sunscreen |
Stretches post-race |
|
Boat Preparation |
How to rig your racing dinghy? Where to get tuning information? What’s likely to be wrong… |
Know how to use a tuning guide How to set up for specific conditions What to look for in sails |
|
Boat Handling |
5 essentials, as crew and helm Good mark rounding |
Rudderless steering Slow speed: stopping, accelerating, backward. ‘Pull the trigger!’ |
|
Boat Speed |
Sail controls for today’s conditions How to alter sail controls round the course |
Knowledge of basic aerodynamics: how sail works, how controls work Power and de-powering Weather and lee helm |
|
Teamwork |
Learn by helping Talk to your partner! Think how to make a good partnership |
Divide up roles on the course Divide up jobs in the boat |
|
Strategy and Meteorology |
Weather forecasts Clean air; gusts and lulls Tidal flow |
Weather (inc. wind) at Marconi SC Impact of tide at MSC |
|
Racing Rules |
Fundamental rules Basic rights of way |
Definitions Pt2 (right of way) Obligations and opportunities in Pt2 |
|
Tactics |
How to react to basic boat-on-boat situations |
Boat-on-boat tactics Clear air, covering Lee bow |
|
Starts |
Transits, distance marks Basic starting |
Bias Space to leeward Hovering, trigger-pull |
|
Racing at MSC |
Courses, sign on/off |
Local knowledge, tactics |
Seamanship Group
|
|
Getting afloat and back safely |
Building skills |
|
Personal Preparation |
Food and drink, clothing, sunscreen Flotation |
Further afield, longer trips |
|
Boat Preparation |
How to rig your boat, reefing Basic knots Buoyancy, built-in and bags, masthead What’s likely to be wrong… Safety equipment |
How different boats compare Spares to carry onboard Further ropework |
|
Planning the voyage |
Suitable for weather and tide Suitable for all sailors! Safety, group sailing, radio Group control |
Fallback plans, alternatives Tell others your plans, what should they do? Basic charts and navigation How to communicate |
|
Leaving the hard… and returning |
Safety on shore, winches Impact of wind on coming and going |
Lee shore approach, dropping sails Anchoring, types of anchor |
|
Boat Handling afloat |
Teamwork, communication, lookout Points of sail Sail selection 5 essentials, as crew and helm |
Confident gybing Coming alongside, picking up a mooring, backward sailing Different types of boat |
|
Capsizing and Man Overboard |
How not to… and what to do if it happens Water confidence MOB recovery |
Practical experience |
|
Meteorology |
Weather forecasts Tide |
Weather (inc. wind) at Marconi SC, weather changes Impact of tide at MSC and on the river Contingency planning |
|
Safety |
Contextual consideration of ‘Sailing Safety 17/9/2022’ on MSC website |
|