Sail in Stunning Northumberland

KWSC News Articles

(Article from December 2003)

This edition's top article - a'Pome' by Dulcie Pettigrew

Seamanship Skills Course at Kielder, Sept/Oct 2003

I would highly recommend this course to all sailors, racing and cruising types alike, and especially to anyone who, like me, last undertook training years ago and only half-remembers skills such as anchoring (on Kielder, all boats over 3 metres should carry an anchor) and reefing afloat. Rather than joining the Sunday racing, we prefer to sail as a family at quiet times, which means that there would not be a patrol boat around to help out if we were to get into difficulties. In these circumstances it is essential for us to have adequate skills, and Dave Drewery and Steve Gibbon expertly led us through them. I do hope that they will be able to repeat Seamanship Skills next year (for those who missed it this time around), and if possible also take us through another relevant RYA course, perhaps Day Sailing. The ages of the trainees ranged from teenagers to wrinklies, and all enjoyed it. I hope the following will give you a flavour of the fun it was.

Dulcie Pettigrew

Dulcie's ABC of Seamanship Skills

A is for Anchoring - a new skill to learn.

B is Backwards Sailing - just push on that Boom.

C is - oh dear! - a Capsize -

So stand on the Centreboard and make the boat rise.

 

D is Dave Drewery, our trainer in chief.

E's for an Exhausting, Exhilarating, Entertaining two days.

F is for Figure of Eight - is that a knot or a course?

G is for Gibbon (that's trainer Steve) - it's also for Gybe.

 

H is for Heave to when the going gets rough,

So put the Helm over and watch the jib back.

I's for Inversion - the mast's pointing down!

J is for Jetty - just come alongside.

 

K stands for Kielder and the Knots that we tied.

L is for Lee Shore, it's tricky to Land

M So down with your Mainsail, but let your jib stand.

N's the No Go Zone - you're pinching again!

 

Oh help! - the crew's Overboard, keep your eye on him do and

P Put the helm over, close reach to his side

(The Patrol boat's on hand if you do something wrong).

Q is for Questions set for our homework,

Then come back next week and try

R Reefing afloat in the freshening wind.

 

S is the Sheet that helps you to Steer

(It's true - when the rudder has broken that's what you do!)

T stands first for Tea that Steve has just made,

So pour out a cup before Trailing or Towing.

 

U's for Understanding what's Under the water -

U must know that before dropping the anchor.

V is for Veering or Varnish or Vang

W shows us how hard it can be

To sail Without rudder in Winds that are strong.

 

X But still, it's Xciting and Xcellent fun, and

Y Yippee it's lunchtime, so let's eat up our grub

Z while the sun's at its Zenith and the Zephyrs are light.

 

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