A day of around 21 degrees with a reasonably strong 16 knot SE breeze with a little stronger gusts presented conditions a little too strong for some of the learn to sail kids.
This week we had 3 of the newer learn to sail kids and 7 other 2nd season or more skyrider and/or manly junior sailors, these numbers boosted due to the Manly junior kids being away and some who didn’t go away trying their hand on the skyriders.
We spoke about picking the right weather conditions for sailing. Even the seniors don’t go out if the wind is greater than 25 knots on average. We spoke about sailing in stronger winds and key things to focus on. Balance using body position/ hiking, sail mainsheet tension. Plan was to sail between 2 marks across the wind working on tacking avoiding gybing in the stronger wind conditions.
The stronger wind conditions highlighted the need to point the nose of the boat into the wind to make setting up the skyriders much easier. After discussion with the kids and it was decided to test the conditions and those less confident did not have to take to the water on their craft.
Four (4) skyriders went out on the water most except one doubling up to help stabilise the small craft. The stiffer wind conditions did not seem to bother the young sailors who were not fazed. In between sailing back and forth practising their capsize drills. This kept Justin Brewer and Bob Porter jnr busy in the small rubber ducky.
The breeze swung around a little more eastward during the session and challenged the young sailors awareness of sailing too close to the breeze.
For those who capsized it was a good opportunity to practice righting their craft in stronger winds. One lesson learned was the need to swing the nose of the boat facing the wind in stronger conditions so it doesn’t tip over the other way when righting. Overall the more experienced learn to sail kids revelled in the stronger wind conditions not bothered by an occasional capsize.
Hopefully the wind conditions are a little lighter next lesson.
Reminder: No learn to sail next week due to Kembla Klassic regatta. Learn to sail occurs the following week. See you then.
Regards Hugh Lewis
This week we had 3 of the newer learn to sail kids and 7 other 2nd season or more skyrider and/or manly junior sailors, these numbers boosted due to the Manly junior kids being away and some who didn’t go away trying their hand on the skyriders.
We spoke about picking the right weather conditions for sailing. Even the seniors don’t go out if the wind is greater than 25 knots on average. We spoke about sailing in stronger winds and key things to focus on. Balance using body position/ hiking, sail mainsheet tension. Plan was to sail between 2 marks across the wind working on tacking avoiding gybing in the stronger wind conditions.
The stronger wind conditions highlighted the need to point the nose of the boat into the wind to make setting up the skyriders much easier. After discussion with the kids and it was decided to test the conditions and those less confident did not have to take to the water on their craft.
Four (4) skyriders went out on the water most except one doubling up to help stabilise the small craft. The stiffer wind conditions did not seem to bother the young sailors who were not fazed. In between sailing back and forth practising their capsize drills. This kept Justin Brewer and Bob Porter jnr busy in the small rubber ducky.
The breeze swung around a little more eastward during the session and challenged the young sailors awareness of sailing too close to the breeze.
For those who capsized it was a good opportunity to practice righting their craft in stronger winds. One lesson learned was the need to swing the nose of the boat facing the wind in stronger conditions so it doesn’t tip over the other way when righting. Overall the more experienced learn to sail kids revelled in the stronger wind conditions not bothered by an occasional capsize.
Hopefully the wind conditions are a little lighter next lesson.
Reminder: No learn to sail next week due to Kembla Klassic regatta. Learn to sail occurs the following week. See you then.
Regards Hugh Lewis
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