Instructor on the Water Notes - American Sailing Institute



Instructor on the Water Notes

ASI Level 2 Water Classes

Student Documentation Forms

Because ASI is committed to a well-rounded program for the Level 2 instruction program, the Student Documentation Form was developed. The form is a useful guide for the instructor and student to check the student’s progress and weakness. All items on the form must be checked off and/or signed by the instructor for the student to pass the class. If a student is deficient in any areas, write below what they are so that mentoring instructors can assist the student. Give students equal time on the tiller and have all students perform deck task. Treat all students equally.

Navigation

Navigation Prep: Assign, each class, a student to prepare navigation for that day. This way the navigation will be ready and no one will be left out of the lesson. In every class, assign a student to be the navigator.

Navigation practice: The student will layout courses, to and from the marina to the selected practice area, give eta's, start a basic DR Plot, take bearings for fixes, danger bearings and keep a basic log. Students are expected to plot a running fix and bow and beam bearings to establish fixes; GPS should not be use for these exercises except to prove positions and courses. A good time to do navigation practice is when the wind is light.

Line of position (LOP), TVMDC- Correcting and Uncorrecting the compass, and two or three position fix should be practice a mile west of the South Buoy (G1 Fl G 4s). At that location there are many objects to work with. Have students work in pairs, a student takes the bearings and another corrects and plots the bearings. Practice while the boat is not underway

Dead reckoning: Since distances are short on Lake St Clair, do DRs every half hour. The best opportunity to do DRs is Water Class #4, the trip to Metro Beach and return to JBM.

Running fix: do this problem during the trip to and/or from Metro Beach. Review the problem with the students before you leave the dock. It is recommended that these exercises use bearings on the St Clair Light.

Docking

Students should be introduced to the following equipment and skills before they begin their docking exercise. The engine should be warmed up ten minutes.

Engine: Demonstrate starting and stopping the engine and have each student do this.

The wheel: demonstrate the wheel drag operation. Demonstrate where the center of the wheel is and how many turns are there from stop to stop. Have each student operate the wheel.

The throttle and shifter: familiarize students with the operation of the throttle and the transmission shifter. Advise students how high speed (RPM) shifting will damage the transmission. With the engine running, have each students operate the transmission shifter and the throttle.

Propeller walk: demonstrate this to the students and have each student but the transmission in reverse and rev up the engine.

Speed: keep docking speeds low. However, explain to students that going too slow will cause the boat to lose steerage.

Safety: Never put any body parts between the boat and the dock or piling. The crew should not jump off the boat until the boat is stopped and the boat is reasonable close to the dock.

Stopping: keep in mind that the helmsperson has the real stopping control of the boat and fending off by the crew is only for slow speeds.

Traffic rules: Boats in the channel have the right of way, look before you back up. Boats in the main channel have the right of way over boats in the side channels. Speed in the channels is no wake speed.

The wind will be your most important factor. The wind will determine how slow you will be able to go before you lose steerage. When turning away from the wind, your turn tightens. When turning toward the wind, your turning arc is enlarged. See below.

Fenders: the fenders are great for protecting the boats topsides however, fenders left hanging while entering and leaving the slip frequently snag on the dock or pilings and could easily damage the stanchions. We recommend that fenders be taken out before leaving the dock and put in after returning to the slip.

Boat hooks keep the boat centered in the slip, for picking up lines and light fending off. Protect hands and arms by using boat hooks.

On the water class

Water Class #1 (3 1/2 hours)

Weather: All students listen to the NOA weather on VHF radio. The student who is to be assigned to do the check off should also log the weather. Do these tasks every water class.

Safety: Remind the students that lifejackets must be worn at all times. Show the students the use of the safety harness and lanyards. Introduce students in the use of jack lines. Locate and show the use of the emergency steering gear.

Crew roles (captain, navigator and crew): ASI almost lost a boat on a rocky reef, because all hands were busy reducing sail, no one was navigating and the captain was not in command of the boat. We want students to understand the concepts and their responsibilities and to avoid dangerous situation as mention above. We want to promote the captain, navigator and crew concept throughout the course and in all subjects covered every day of the water classes. These roles are to be assigned and rotated so that each of your students will benefit from the experience. Review the concept of captain, navigator and crew for operation of the boat, see below.

Orientation to boat systems: The goal is to have the students become familiar with the boat system and check for problems. Have students go through the boats check off forms. Each day assign a student to do this task. Orientate students to the boats motor controls, steering and proper engine warm up.

Discuss rules of the road for powerboats: Remind students the importance of having a lookout at all times. Review the rules of the road for sailing.

Motoring practice in the marina with beginning docking: It is very important that a student’s first docking experience be a positive one, your patience and thorough demonstrations will assure this. Necessary docking skills to know and understand are:

• Organizing a crew (dock lines etc.) and giving commands,

• Starting engine and steering wheel operation.

• Understanding the relation that boat speed and windage influence steering and control.

• The boat’s coasting length to a stop from cruising speed.

• Always shift forward or reverse at low RPM.

• Emergency stopping without transmission damage.

• Understanding prop walk (In reverse stern will go to port).

• The effects of the wind while entering and leaving a slip (go to slow and the boat could lose steerage).

• Over steering due to a keel boats slow reaction time.

• The boats turning circle away from and into the wind.(away = smaller turn, see below)

Docking should be done at slow speed.

Demonstrate leaving and entering the slip and boat operation in the marina. Have students operate the boat in the marina fairways until they get a “feel’ for steering and operating the shifter and throttle. The student should be comfortable working with the boat in the marina before being allowed to do a docking.

After docking practice, if there is time, take the boat out into the lake to the “G1” buoy.

Securing the boat: The ASI boats have been damaged at the slip because of improper tying of lines. Instruct students in the proper way of securing the boat lines, lines should not be too tight or loose with standard knots and hitches. Have your students secure the boat with proper bow, stern and spring lines to make sure the boat is centered in the slip and that no part of the boat touches the dock before leaving.

Water Class #2 (9 hours) If the wind is good do MOB and sailing. If there is no wind, do navigation and reefing exercises. Always do docking.

Motoring drills, including docking and leaving the slip: Continuation of the practice from Class #1. We want the students to get a variety of experiences, therefore have students practice in different slips and docks to obtain different wind conditions, especially the fuel dock. You must not interfere with fuel dock operation if practicing docking there, it is best to get their permission before doing docking practice at the fuel dock.

Docking drill: tell your students that you have received “directions” from the dock master to go to a certain dock and slip. Have the student captain of the day make preparations for and execute an actual docking at that location.

Pump out and refueling: It is important that students have an understanding of these procedures. Cover the procedures at the slip and then have the students complete them at the gas dock.

Depowering and shorting sail (Reefing): Demonstrate depowering (ease traveler, flatten sail, increase sail twist) the sails and reefing at the slip before practice on the water. Our students should understand that we depower and shorten sail to control excessive weather helm and heeling. Reefing must be done in a reasonable length of time (3 minutes), We do not want sails flogging in the wind unnecessarily. All students must reef correctly within 3 minutes without assistance. You can do this at the dock if winds permit.

Raising of sails, Sailing on all points of sail and Figure 8 sailing drills in Lake St. Clair: Students need to understand:

• Where to raise sails, east of the “G1” buoy is a good location.

• Basic organizing of the crew: position crew for raising sails and for tacking.

• Safe operation of winches: protect fingers and eliminate over raps.

• Adjusting genoa leads: proper placement so foresail tell tails all work together.

• Use of the traveler: de-powers mainsail and controls twist when sailing to windward.

• Operation of genoa furling gear. One crew at furling line another at the leeward sheet.

Students are expected to be able to sail but they need to become familiar with the keelboat. Sailing in figure 8s is a useful exercise and will help the student get the feel of the keelboat. If a student has problems with basic sailing, assign homework sailing on the Interlakes. Avoid teaching basic sailing.

Man overboard practice (Figure 8 and Quick Stop): The US Sailing Basic Cruising text is a useful guide for teaching MOB. See below.

Navigation: Line of position (LOP), TVMDC- Correcting and Uncorrecting the compass, and two or three position fix should be practice a mile west of the South Buoy (G1 Fl G 4s). At that location there are many objects to work with. Have students work in pairs, a student takes the bearings and another corrects and plots the bearings.

Water Class #3 (3 1/2 hours)

Boat rotation: Instructors will need to orientate students to the “new” boat.

Motoring drills: Continuation of the practice.

Anchoring procedures: Anchor types, hand signals, using charts to selecting a spot, dealing with other anchored boats, laying out the rode and setting the anchor, checking for a dragging anchor. Review the procedures at the dock.

Knot Test: For bowline, clove hitch, half hitch, figure 8, square knot and sheet bend. Teach the students the rolling hitch.

Navigation: continuation of navigation practice.

Water Class #4 (13 hours)

Navigation: Set a course with DRs for Metro Beach. If not already completed this is a good time to do the running fix and bow and beam problems. You will want to make use of Recreational Chart 14853 page 22 to enter the Black Creek. The range (297°) is difficult to see without binoculars. A waypoint might be helpful when entering the creek.

Motoring in heavy traffic at Metro Beach: Go slow, have air horn ready, keep to the right, and no bow riding. Prepare the students at the dock for this interesting experience. Keep off the foredeck when motoring.

Anchoring: Anchoring practice in Black Creek lagoon. Review the procedures discussed in Water Class #2.

Threatening weather drill option: Tell students that you just heard a weather warning over the radio, that thunderstorms are over Ann Arbor and that the storms will be over lake Saint Clair in 30 minutes. Have the crew make the boat ready for this weather with: Life jackets (should already be on), safety harness on, all sails down, start engine, companionway boards ready, all hatches secured and jack lines in place. Review the procedures with the students first at the dock.

Water Class #5 (3 1/2 hours)

Navigation practice.

Additional motoring and/or docking practice.

Additional man overboard practice.

Complete the student evaluation form. Passing students must send the form with their Level 2 fees to the sail secretary to obtain their Level 2 rating. Students who do not pass must sign up for mentoring and retesting or repeat the class if the student is seriously deficient in many areas.

Boat Orientation reminders:

The electrical system: including batteries, the “perko” switch (never switch while engine is running). Start the engine with the switch on all. The electrical panel: all switches off before leaving the boat. Proper hook up of a 30-amp cord to shore power (connect cord to boat first then to dock power, reverse for disconnecting and never disconnect power under load).

The sanitary system: open the intake valve to flush the marine sanitation devise (MSD) and close after use. Put only things you eat and a small amount of marine toilet paper in the MSD. The holding tank is located under the V-berth. After pump out add chemical to the head. Use the potable water hose only for filling fresh water system.

Engine operation: start the engine by using the glow plugs. After engine starts water must be coming out of the exhaust for the Interlude, for Overture wait about 10 minutes for water flow. The gauge temperature should be around 160°F after warm up. Always shift transmission at low speed. The propeller walk in reverse will move the stern to port on the O’Days. Maintenance doesn’t want us to operate the engine at continuous high RPM. Keep engine rpm at 2500 or speed at 5 KT. Interlude has a handle on the IP to stop the engine. Stop the Overture engine by backing all the way on the throttle.

The sailing rig: Winches for the halyards are located on the mast on the Interlude. The Overture has winches on the mast and the coach top which can be operated from the cockpit.

Operating the Boat, Captain, Navigator and Crew

The Captain

• The captain is responsible for the well being of the crew and the boat.

• The captain is responsible for ensuring that the boat is seaworthy and that all required safety equipment is on board and in good working order.

• The captain ensures that the ASI Liability form is signed by all crew and that the check off form is filled out.

• Direct the crew in piloting and navigating the boat

• The navigator charts the agreed upon course and monitors the boat's progress along that course.

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The Navigator

• The navigator may be asked by the captain to prepare alternative courses based on changing circumstances and conditions.

• A good navigator will be able to anticipate these requests.

• The navigator may also be asked by the captain to monitor weather conditions and radio broadcast reports and suggest changes in course to the captain based on this information.

• The navigator also provides information to the captain & helmsperson such as things to look for on the shore when making an approach and the location and numbers of buoys along the route.

The Crew, Helmsperson

• The helmsperson steers the boat according to the course provided by the captain.

• The helmsperson is responsible for keeping to the course as closely as possible. If conditions or wind direction changes affect the helmsperson's ability to steer the boat to the desired course, the helmsperson with the captain’s permission may direct the deck hands to adjust the sail set and trim.

• Sometimes a captain may delegate responsibility for sail changes to the helmsperson.

• When altering course, the helmsperson is responsible for announcing the change in course to the crew.

The Crew, Deckhands

• As the name implies they handle most of the work on deck which includes sail handling, tending the dock lines, assisting the helmsperson during docking maneuvers and tending to the anchor.

• The deckhands are responsible for seeing that the deck is clean and shipshape.

• The sail handlers are responsible for bending on and off the sails, raising and lowering sails and trimming the foresail.

• They also will reef the mainsail and adjust the boomvang and Cunningham on the mainsail, if required.

• Sail handlers use the roller furling equipment, winches and winch handles and jib sheets while underway.

• The sail handlers are usually responsible for monitoring the standing and working rigging. This includes making sure lines and sheets are not frayed, forestays, backstays and shrouds are secure, and deck fittings are in good repair and operating order.

• Sail handlers are usually the docking tenders and anchorperson, since the sails are not normally used while anchoring or during docking maneuvers.

• In docking, lookouts need to be placed around the deck to be ready to fend the boat off of the dock, pilings or other boats.

• Hands need to be ready to pick up and secure dock lines once the boat is in the slip.

• If approaching a foreign dock, dock lines need to be prepared in advance and secured to the boat and the dock.

• Two hands are usually used to drop or raise an anchor. One can usually handle the anchor while the other is a lookout and communicates with the helmsperson.

Note: ASI Captains and crews tend to be pretty relaxed with rules and it isn’t our intention to take all the fun out of sailing and create the ASI Navy. We don’t want you to be a Captain Bligh but to keep a positive friendly attitude when directing you crew.

2009. lane rev. April 2010

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Interlude

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Overture has no stop handle

Interlude Mast

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Running Fix

Anchor Here

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