The bare boat sailing lessons culminate in an American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing certificate enabling you to captain or crew a sailing yacht (~45 feet). The course is for beginners who have little or no sailing experience as well as for sailors who wish to formalize their sailing abilities. This is the fourth year we have offered sailing lessons. The course will be taught by John W. Beck, an accredited ASA instructor captain, and will be conducted in the British Virgin Islands setting sail from Road Town, Tortolla. The cost is $1,400 which includes round trip transportation, boat, instructor, and text.

The sailing course uses two primary texts, Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson and, Chartering Fundamentals by Brian Fagan - both are published by the ASA. Prior to the sailing course you will receive these manuals to study. These books describe parts of the boat, crew responsibilities, hoisting sails, points of sail, tacking, jibing, right-of-way, anchoring, docking, navigation, knots, and more. We will have ground instruction that will prepare you for the written ASA tests and build a foundation of nautical knowledge.

You will sail with seven other students and the instructor captain on your 50 foot sailing yacht. There are several double cabins and a few single berths. Upon arriving at the marina, we will stow our gear in the cabins. Each crew will go through the boat`s equipment checklist to become familiar with the location and operation of all the equipment. Missing or broken equipment must be replaced or repaired. The operating manual for the boat must be reviewed by each of us prior to setting sail.

We will review our charted course beginning at the marina and complete our chart briefing in the morning. Setting sail just before noon, our first destination will be Cooper Island which is about two hours away. This will give us time to get our sea legs and allow plenty of time to anchor before dark. Each day we will plan to anchor by mid afternoon so we have good light and time to snorkle and explore the area. Although each sail is two or three hours in distance, we will spend much of the time practicing maneuvers and learning about the boat.

The next several days will involve practicing maneuvers during the day and studying in the early evening. We will have the opportunity to swim, snorkel, and explore the many awesome and incredible places. We will work our way around Tortolla, spending the night at many of the fascinating islands that surround it. The islands offer a variety of unique restaurants, shops, and night entertainment which are special. We will take turns cooking. On Wednesday night we will go out to dinner.

Parts of the Boat

It will be important to be familiar with the parts of the boat. In particular, this includes:

On the first day you will become familiar with the location and operation of the following essential and emergency equipment:

Crew Responsibility

Every student on board should strive to be a contributing member in the operation and management of the boat. The instructor captain is responsible for the safety of all crew and the safe operation of the craft. You will master helmsmanship, hoisting and securing sails, trim and adjustment of sails, and approaching and securing in both docking and anchorage. You will master management skills such as food preparation, stowage of equipment, maintaining hygenic and safe living quarters, and barking orders at your other crew members when it is your turn (just kidding).

Person Overboard Procedure

At any point in time you should be prepared for a person overboard drill. The person who sees the crew member fall overboard should shout "person overboard!" to alert the rest of the crew. The next step is to get a life ring, seat cushion, or a life preserver near the fallen crew member without hitting them. One crew member must keep an unswerving eye on the person in the water. As captain, you will learn the required action for several different conditions: under power and under sail; all points of sail; and, day and night operations.

If you actually fall overboard, remember (hasn't happened yet):

• Try to remain calm; do not panic.
• Try to keep clear of the rescuing vessel to avoid injury.
• Keep afloat the easiest way you can without expending a lot of energy.

Steering (Helmsmanship)

You will learn helmsmanship such that you can maintain a heading accurately with reference to compass and visual landmarks. You will be able to steer through a narrow channel under power; depart and approach a dock, mooring, or anchorage under a variety of conditions; and, steer all points of sail. Mastery just takes practice and you will get plenty of that!

Hoisting Sails

The first step in hoisting sails is to point the bow of the boat into the wind. Make sure the halyard is properly secured to the head of the sail, then check to see that the other end of the halyard has a figure 8 knot in its end. Make sure the halyard is free and straight from the head of the sail to the top of the mast before hoisting. Then, hoist away by hand, wrap around the winch to tighten the halyard, and then properly secure with a cleat knot around the cleat and a halyard hitch.

Points of Sail

Basically, there are five points of sailing: beating, close reaching, beam reaching, broad reaching, and running.

1. Beating is when the wind is coming from broad on the bow.
2. Close reaching is when the wind is coming from between the points broad on the bow and the beam.
3. Beam reaching is when the wind is coming from the beam (directly from the left or right).
4. Broad reaching is when the wind is coming from between broad on the quarter and the beam.
5. Running is when the wind is coming from between broad on the quarter and the stern.

Tacking

Tacking is defined as the changing of a sailboat's course so that the bow swings past the eye of the wind and onto a new course. The name of the new tack is derived from the side of the boat from where the wind comes. When tacking, the captain may order the helmsman to tack to a new heading. The helmsman will direct the crew, "stand by to come about." The crew should then position themselves with one crew member at each sheet of the jib and one standing-by the main sheet with a possible task of walking the sail around if there is any complication. The next command is, "ready about," which is followed promptly by each crew member saying, "ready." The helmsman then announces, "helm's alee," and turns the wheel to windward and the boat's bow turns into the wind. The crew member on the leeward jib sheet uncleats the sheet; but, does not let it go until the bow of the boat crosses into the head of the wind. The crew member on the windward sheet should start taking up on the windward sheet as the sail starts to cross the bow until it is taught. A few turns around the winch (be careful of fingers) and trim the sail for the new course. The main sheet is then trimmed when on the new tack, and all sheets are properly cleated and neatly secured. All crew members should keep notice on the boom when tacking so it will not strike anybody when it crosses the boat during a tack.

Jibing

Jibing is defined as the changing of a sailboat's course so that the stern swings past the eye of the wind as a new heading is established. A boat running with the wind aft of the starboard (right) side is sailing on a starboard tack, one with the wind on the port (left) side is sailing on a port tack. The most important procedure in jibing is the control of the trim of the main sheet. The helmsman first gives the command, "stand by to jibe." The crew all go to proper stations - one on each jib sheet and one on the main sheet. The helmsman begins to steer away from the wind so the jib sheet slackens. Once dead before the wind the crew member in control of the main sheet begins to haul in the mainsail as far as it will come before turning to the new course. The helmsman now gives the command, "jibe-ho," and the main sheet must be let out as the helmsman comes to the new heading. The crew members on the jib sheets release one side and take up the other as the boat comes to the new course and trim the sheets. In strong winds, both sheets should not be let go at the same time since this could cause a tangling of the sheets due to violent flogging of the jib.

Right of Way

The most basic rules are summarized below. Note that any sailboat that is under power (using its engine) is considered a power boat.

Sail vs Power: A power boat has the right of way when a sailboat:

1. overtakes a power boat, the power boat becomes the stand on vessel and the sailboat becomes the give way vessel;
2. approaches a power boat at anchor or not under way, the sailboat becomes the give way vessel; and,
3. is approaching a deep draft vessel in a narrow channel the deep draft vessel is the stand on vessel, the sailboat becomes the give way vessel.

Sail vs. Sail: There are three basic rules that apply to sailboats in meeting:

1. Sailboats on the same tack when approaching each other, the sailboat that is leeward is the stand on vessel and the vessel that is windward is the give way vessel.
2. When sailboats approach from opposite tacks, the sailboat on the starboard tack is the stand on vessel; the sailboat on the port tack is the give way vessel.
3. When a sailboat is overtaking another sailboat, the sailboat that is overtaking becomes the give way vessel; the sailboat being overtaken becomes the stand on vessel.

Anchoring

Your anchoring skill is of great interest to charter companies since most of your Caribbean destinations have anchorages. Arrive early to get a good location and to have plenty of light for checking the anchor. All night anchor watches are a real drag! As you gain experience you will be able to approach and leave an anchorage under sail, though this requires a sharp crew.

Selection of Anchorage: Selection of the spot where you will drop anchor is of primary importance. Best anchorages are away from traffic and have hard sand bottoms; soft sand is second best. Mud, coral, and rock can cause problems and grassy bottoms will decrease the effectiveness of a sandy bottom. Ten feet is the perfect depth assuming that low tide is not more shallow than your boat's draft. Be sure that you have enough room to swing a full circle on your anchor rode (line) without hitting other boats, piers, or the beach. Anchor with the wind from the shore to avoid getting beached if your anchor drags.

Procedure: Start the engine, lower and secure all sails, and brief all crew members. Arriving at your spot, stop the boat, let it begin to drift backward, drop the anchor (don't throw it), pay out the anchor rode, and cleat the rode when the scope is 5 to 1 (ratio of anchor rode to depth at anchorage). For a depth of 10 feet, this scope would result in 50 feet or rode. More anchor rode paid out increases the holding and also increases the swing. With the engine in reverse, apply power (about 1700 RPM) for two or three seconds to bury the anchor. Take some bearings on opposite sides and at right angles to each other and observe for 15 minutes to make sure the anchor is holding the boat.

Securing the Anchor: Make sure the rode is properly tied to a cleat, stow the remaining rode, secure a line to the anchor rode 10 feet from the boat toward the anchor, secure this line to a cleat on the opposite side of the boat thus preventing chafing. At the onset of darkness display the anchor light to alert any oncoming vessels of your position and to help you find your way back to your boat should you dinghy to shore.

Anchoring Used to Solve Problems: The anchor is a useful tool that can be used as a brake, an aid to docking, and to assist freeing the boat when it runs aground.

Docking

The effects of current and wind can make docking a challenge. Practice in different docking situations is the only way to learn what is involved. Some charter companies will provide a pilot captain to help you get in and out of the dock at the home base since most of the stops will involve moorings or anchorages. However, you may have to exercise your docking skills should you need to take on water or fuel. You will practice maneuvering the boat forward and in reverse and practice docking.

Making the Boat Ready to Dock: Lower all sails and secure all halyards and sheets. Make ready all dock lines and fenders. All dock lines should be led under the life lines or through the proper leads before securing to dock. Place the fenders at the most efficient spot for shock absorption, but do not secure them yet. The crew must be prepared with the lines - one on the bow with the bow line, one amidships with a spring-line, one at the stern with the stern-line, and one making ready to set the fenders. All able bodies crew members should be prepared to fend off by hand during the docking procedure.

Wind and Current Effect: Careful consideration of both wind and current should be made. Approach against the wind or current, whichever is stronger. When this is not possible, there are many alternate approaches that will be reviewed. The helmsman brings the boat in slowly and the first line to be secured depends on the approach. When the dock lines are being made secure, one crew member will set the fenders. During the approach, this crew member must be ready to place a fender between dock and boat to absorb any shock.

Navigation

Navigation is the science of direction a vessel from a departure along a known course to a destination.

Nautical Charts: Charts will have latitude (lines parallel to the equator) scales on the sides and longitude (meridians running from north to south poles starting in Greenwich, England) scales on the top and bottom. Distance on a chart can be measured on the latitude scale, with one degree of latitude equal to 60 nautical miles or one minute of latitude equal to 1 nautical mile. A chart depicts depth, or soundings, in feet or fathoms (6 feet). The vast amount of information on a chart of both water and land characteristics is characterized by symbols and abbreviations which can be prepared by from the Naval Oceanographic Office and published in the National Ocean Survey, "Chart No. 1," which can be obtained from any nautical supply store.

Plotting a Course: Plotting a course involves a set of parallel rules to measure direction of a desired course and to draw lines; a course protractor to measure a course or bearing from a particular point and to lay off a line in a specific direction from a given point; and, a pair of dividers to determine distance. A course line is drawn on the chart and every few miles a check point should be noted. This checkpoint could be an object in the water such as a buoy or the crossing of two bearings from two prominent objects on the coast.

Knots

There are seven useful knots in sailing and we suggest that you practice them early (perhaps on the flight):

Advanced Sailing Courses

The advanced sailing courses will further prepare you to skipper a sailing yacht and are offered in the Chesapeake Bay and in Rockland, Maine.

Vacation Cruises

Every year during Thanksgiving week we plan to sail awesome and incredible Caribbean islands such as St. Martin, St. Barts, Antigua, Guadaloupe, Marie Galante, Isle des Saints, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. Other exotic cruising adventures include the South Pacific, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, and the Scandanavian countries.

Skippering Opportunities

Each newly certified skipper may act as second-in-command providing they have completed their ASA certification and logged a minimum of 17 days at sea acting as crew. Each captain must have a minimum of 30 days at sea acting as crew. Nine days must be as captain of a vessel whose length is equal to or greater than the boat to be chartered. Each captain is responsible for the safety and welfare of their crew and ship as governed by the USCG regulations.

Basic Sailing Checklist

Pack the following equipment in a single soft duffel bag or a day pack.

To sign up, complete the secure form or contact 908-512-9039.  The total cost covers the boat, skipper, and flight from Newark, NJ (cost will be adjusted for other departure points). Food is very reasonably priced as we eat aboard about every other night.