Words & Photos by Josie Hallatt
The group started our day with learning how to set up the jib and the mainsail on a 420 sailboat. Soon after we were pushed straight into exposure, as we needed to learn how to steer and control the speed of the boat while we were on the water. We started with only the jib sail raised, which allowed our groups to practice tacking around two buoys at a comfortable speed. Our cohort was separated into 2 groups, one on each boat, with one person assigned to the steering of the boat, while the others were in charge of the jib and the balance of the boat. After much practice being in each position, we returned to the dock, ate our lunch, and reflected on what we had learned so far.
Before we pushed our sailboats back on to the water, we raised the main sail. On the water, this made our boats travel much faster, and tacking around the two buoys was no longer as easy as it had once been. Communication, staying calm, and being proactive during a time of panic became key aspects that were necessary to keep our boat upright. There were times when our 420’s were travelling at such a speed that the boat became unbalanced, leaving its passengers in fear. We needed to remember to stay calm and communicate to the rest of the group to slow our boat down by releasing the mainsail and the jib.
We returned back to the dock and finished our day with planned capsizing. Our group was not very motivated to risk getting our dry clothes wet, except for one member, Rocky. He took the initiative and did a fantastic job at handling both the challenging, and risky task.
This outing was a great introduction to the basics of sailing, and some very important life skills. Our cohort lucked out with incredible weather, and perfect wind conditions, and we are all very excited for what the rest of the year has in store.