Difference between revisions of "Rhodes 19s"
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
strongly). If someone really does not know these things, encourage | strongly). If someone really does not know these things, encourage | ||
them to sail more on a Dinghy first. | them to sail more on a Dinghy first. | ||
| − | + | <blockquote> | |
| − | <blockquote> | + | |
At this point I tell them something like: | At this point I tell them something like: | ||
* Now we're going to fully rig an R19, sail it, bring it back to | * Now we're going to fully rig an R19, sail it, bring it back to | ||
| Line 34: | Line 33: | ||
that needs to be done. | that needs to be done. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| − | |||
# Go to the boats<br> | # Go to the boats<br> | ||
| − | + | Tell them to be nice to the boat driver by not jumping off the skiffs | |
| − | + | ||
# Have them rig the boat by following your instructions | # Have them rig the boat by following your instructions | ||
| − | |||
# If the wind makes it easy, show them how to leave the mooring by | # If the wind makes it easy, show them how to leave the mooring by | ||
back-winding the gib; you have one of them handle the tiller and you | back-winding the gib; you have one of them handle the tiller and you | ||
do the jib at this point. | do the jib at this point. | ||
| − | |||
# Get to a position to show them up-wind, especially closed-hull. | # Get to a position to show them up-wind, especially closed-hull. | ||
Talk about how you trim the jib and then the main. Show them how to | Talk about how you trim the jib and then the main. Show them how to | ||
use the jib tell tales. Talk about the *slow* tacking. | use the jib tell tales. Talk about the *slow* tacking. | ||
| − | |||
# When you get "all the way up" (to a point you choose), you take | # When you get "all the way up" (to a point you choose), you take | ||
the tiller and stall the wind pointing straight into the wind, then | the tiller and stall the wind pointing straight into the wind, then | ||
| Line 53: | Line 47: | ||
force the boat to be stalled, so that they really feel how the jib | force the boat to be stalled, so that they really feel how the jib | ||
can turn the boat. | can turn the boat. | ||
| − | + | # Go downwind, show a slow jibe and have them try it; go wing-on-wing.<br> | |
| − | # Go downwind, show a slow jibe and have them try it; go wing-on-wing. | + | Usually I try to go upwind and downwind once with each student |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
(all try upwind/downwind) | (all try upwind/downwind) | ||
| − | |||
# Land at the mooring (stress to always land with the jib rolled, | # Land at the mooring (stress to always land with the jib rolled, | ||
especially when they are beginners). | especially when they are beginners). | ||
| − | |||
# Put the boat away. So that Wally does not get angry at me I | # Put the boat away. So that Wally does not get angry at me I | ||
remember to stress to tie down at least one of the jib sheets. (Aside | remember to stress to tie down at least one of the jib sheets. (Aside | ||
from everything else, of course :-) | from everything else, of course :-) | ||
| − | + | The intro class should NOT give out an R19 rating, they have to show | |
| − | + | they can do all that on their own to get the rating. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | out an R19 rating, they have to show they can do all that on their | + | |
| − | own to get the rating. | + | |
=== A few FAQ points === | === A few FAQ points === | ||
| Line 81: | Line 67: | ||
'''Talk about the *slow* tacking.''' | '''Talk about the *slow* tacking.''' | ||
| − | + | *the sweet point on the edge, how to stay there in puffs | |
| − | + | *planning where you'll point when the tack is done, e.g. 90 degrees | |
| − | + | *communication with the crew and guests: "ready about?", "helm's alee", why it's more important on the bigger boat | |
| − | + | *jobs and timing: main generally stays put, ready to let out; freeing | |
| − | + | *the jib; trimming the jib; moving people | |
| − | + | *slow tack vs. faster, confident tack, encourage toward confident, never push the tiller to the extreme | |
| − | + | *don't "roll tack" an boat with a keel | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | Tack 'slowly' (compared to the dinghy) by letting it turn in a wide radius, just never stop turning. There is no "confident fast tack" on a R19. There is a nice "smooth" tack which does not "overshoot", and a bad long/fast tack that overshoots. | |
---- | ---- | ||
All this is, of course, our thoughts (Alvar & Grem). | All this is, of course, our thoughts (Alvar & Grem). | ||
Revision as of 21:57, 11 August 2009
Teaching the "Intro to R19" Class
This is a "syllabus" for the "Intro to R19" class that has been taught since 2007. It is a work in progress... and likely to become an "Intro to Catboat" in the next year or two.
The information is a compilation from Alvar's notes (Alvar began the class in 2007) and of Grem Marton, who helped Alvar out during 2008 when Alvar could not make it. Hopefully others will add/edit as necessary.
The timeline for the class is as follows:
- - 15 minute review in the classroom of general sailing, to make
sure they have at least a clue of the most important terms:
- upwind / downwind
- talk about close hull, reaching, running, wing-on-wing
- tacking / jibing
- tiller extension
- "pushing/pulling" tiller (how it makes the boat turn)
Its not really telling them what happens, but rather confirming that they know it (not all people with a Provisional have the concepts so strongly). If someone really does not know these things, encourage them to sail more on a Dinghy first.
At this point I tell them something like:
- Now we're going to fully rig an R19, sail it, bring it back to
the mooring, and put it away. You are not going to get an R19 rating out of these two hours, you are going to be introduced to everything you need to know in order to get it. To get an R19 rating you're going to have to do all this basically by yourself: a MITNA staff will go with you to "help", but you have to tell them *everything* that needs to be done.
- Go to the boats
Tell them to be nice to the boat driver by not jumping off the skiffs
- Have them rig the boat by following your instructions
- If the wind makes it easy, show them how to leave the mooring by
back-winding the gib; you have one of them handle the tiller and you do the jib at this point.
- Get to a position to show them up-wind, especially closed-hull.
Talk about how you trim the jib and then the main. Show them how to use the jib tell tales. Talk about the *slow* tacking.
- When you get "all the way up" (to a point you choose), you take
the tiller and stall the wind pointing straight into the wind, then have them practice back-winding the jib. You take the tiller to force the boat to be stalled, so that they really feel how the jib can turn the boat.
- Go downwind, show a slow jibe and have them try it; go wing-on-wing.
Usually I try to go upwind and downwind once with each student (all try upwind/downwind)
- Land at the mooring (stress to always land with the jib rolled,
especially when they are beginners).
- Put the boat away. So that Wally does not get angry at me I
remember to stress to tie down at least one of the jib sheets. (Aside from everything else, of course :-)
The intro class should NOT give out an R19 rating, they have to show they can do all that on their own to get the rating.
A few FAQ points
What does the R19 exam entail?
The R19 test is, IMHO, that the person taking the test can "teach" everything we do in the class to a staff member / volunteer who behaves like they know nothing. They have to show good tacks/jibes (I don't think there's a number), plus do a man-overboard like you say. The wind has to be reasonable (~12-15) to take the test, but it does not have to be "helmsmann" wind. The Rhodes test can be given out by any staff member or by volunteers with the helmsmann rating.
Talk about the *slow* tacking.
- the sweet point on the edge, how to stay there in puffs
- planning where you'll point when the tack is done, e.g. 90 degrees
- communication with the crew and guests: "ready about?", "helm's alee", why it's more important on the bigger boat
- jobs and timing: main generally stays put, ready to let out; freeing
- the jib; trimming the jib; moving people
- slow tack vs. faster, confident tack, encourage toward confident, never push the tiller to the extreme
- don't "roll tack" an boat with a keel
Tack 'slowly' (compared to the dinghy) by letting it turn in a wide radius, just never stop turning. There is no "confident fast tack" on a R19. There is a nice "smooth" tack which does not "overshoot", and a bad long/fast tack that overshoots.
All this is, of course, our thoughts (Alvar & Grem).
