nolatom
Super Anarchist
Sailing. I've taught it off and on over the years, or done lessons on the water, and on land.
Presently I'm helping out occasionally at the new Community Sailing program here in "Nola". Gig tomorrow for "adult introduction to sailing (keelboats)", 2 hours. It'll be on land for the first session, parts of the boat and sails, how it works on various points of sail, diagrams to give out on both.
Keelboats are Freedom 21, a bunch of 420s, couple of Lasers, and one small 26-foot overnighter. Very nice facility. And the marina location means frequent tacks or jibes, it has historically been a "sailing marina", not just a marina with some (auxiliary) sailboats. Getting from dock to "outside" Lake means sailing west, then north, then east. Which makes for good boathandling experience in tight quarters, borne of necessity.
So--Tell them how it works reaching, running, beating, the "push" versus the "pull" aspect of wind and sails. Bernoulli's principle if any aviators or engineers in the (small) crowd. If time, rig up a 420, and breeze permitting, rotate it around on the dolly to illustrate the points of sail and trim on an actual boat.
Enough blabbing from me. Any particular tips or ideas or phrases for the beginner on-shore class that you've learned or used and might suggest, in keeping interest and attention alive for the students? And in not laying too much on them in the first session? Or too little? thanks for any wisdom or insight.
Presently I'm helping out occasionally at the new Community Sailing program here in "Nola". Gig tomorrow for "adult introduction to sailing (keelboats)", 2 hours. It'll be on land for the first session, parts of the boat and sails, how it works on various points of sail, diagrams to give out on both.
Keelboats are Freedom 21, a bunch of 420s, couple of Lasers, and one small 26-foot overnighter. Very nice facility. And the marina location means frequent tacks or jibes, it has historically been a "sailing marina", not just a marina with some (auxiliary) sailboats. Getting from dock to "outside" Lake means sailing west, then north, then east. Which makes for good boathandling experience in tight quarters, borne of necessity.
So--Tell them how it works reaching, running, beating, the "push" versus the "pull" aspect of wind and sails. Bernoulli's principle if any aviators or engineers in the (small) crowd. If time, rig up a 420, and breeze permitting, rotate it around on the dolly to illustrate the points of sail and trim on an actual boat.
Enough blabbing from me. Any particular tips or ideas or phrases for the beginner on-shore class that you've learned or used and might suggest, in keeping interest and attention alive for the students? And in not laying too much on them in the first session? Or too little? thanks for any wisdom or insight.
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