Apr. 20, 2011 - Issue #809: Great Outdoors

Ducking the boom

Skills get drilled into the head at sailing school

There are two common ways to get into sailing in Alberta: either you learn your basic nautical skills in Cadets or it's a long-standing family tradition. Then there is the third way, which is what brought me and half-a-dozen other people to Northern Alberta Sailing College for a weekend of sailing lessons: you stumble on it by accident.

Because none of Alberta's big cities are located on large bodies of water, Albertans are rarely exposed to any sailing action. It is only when they go on weekend getaways that they might see some ads or some sailing event taking place that gets them thinking, "Maybe I could do that."
"Sailing is Alberta's best-kept secret," says sailing instructor Alison Rayner. "Luckily for me, it runs in my family, so I always knew I had no choice but to be a sailor."

The first thing we learn during our two-day course is how to rig our own boats. There's a kind of satisfaction that comes with being able to tie all the knots—such as the figure eight, the bowline and the reef knot—and raise the sails on your 420 dinghy (so named because they are exactly 420 centimetres long).

When it comes to sailing, Rayner gives two important pieces of advice, which seem contradictory at first. Before we go out on the water, she tells us there is no need to force things by playing tug-of-war with the wind. "We don't trap the wind," she says, "we harness it."

On the other hand, she later tells us we have to remember that we are in charge of the boat. Only when I get on the water do I understand how both of them apply. The wind can blow strongly or change direction in a sudden gust, in which case there is no use fighting it because, let's face it, Mother Nature is stronger than the average human. The trick is to know how to use the wind and still go in the direction you want.

On the first day, there is a light wind, perfect for beginners on a first attempt at sailing. Even with the relatively gentle wind and mirror-smooth water however, it is difficult to master one of the most important concepts of dinghy sailing: not getting hit on the head with the boom.
By the end of the afternoon I'm thinking that these 420 dinghies were obviously designed by a sadist. The boom is located exactly at head level for a person sitting on the gunwale, which is where one is supposed to be in order to steer and balance the boat. But with a bit of practice, knowing when to duck becomes second nature.

On the second day of sailing, we experience the range of weather conditions on Lake Wabamun. At first there is a light rain, but not enough to prevent us from going on the water. Aside from the slight drizzle, the weather is perfect for learning with only a very slight wind. We are finally able to sort out the steering and taking in of the sail.
In the afternoon, the wind picks up, and our little dinghies pick up speed. We have to return to shore—it's too soon for us to sail in such high winds—but at least we get a taste of how exciting sailing can be.

Lake Wabamun is probably the ideal place for beginners. The winds are light and one does not have to worry about tides and waves. Although there are some hot days in the summer when the boats are completely becalmed, there are usually enough windy days to allow for some quality sailing time.
Despite there being relatively few places for non-boat owners to learn to sail, there is a widespread sailing and racing culture in Alberta. "The racing culture is relaxed but definitely alive," Rayner remarks. "There are wor ld-class regattas run on this lake for dinghy sailing."

I've got a long way to go before being ready to attempt the fine sail adjustments required to race in a regatta. Still, with the basics down, it was an amazing rush to tighten the mainsail and feel the boat pick up speed. Harnessing the wind to its full potential is definitely something to look forward to, once you know when to duck. V

On the web
northernalbertasailingcollege.com

 

 

 

 

Basic Sailing Skills

1) Steering in a straight line
Harder than it sounds. It's best to pick a point out in the distance to steer towards, not forgetting to make little adjustments with the rudder.

2) Sheeting in and sheeting out (deciding when to pull in or let out the sail)
When going downwind, you can get more speed out of your boat by letting the sails out. When going upwind, pulling the sails in will have the same effect.

3) Knowing capsizing procedures
Once you have capsized, it is important to hang on to the boat, otherwise you might get swept away, especially if there is a strong wind. Once you are in the water, one person points the bow into the wind, while the other flips the boat right side up.

4) Using various clues (like flags) to determine wind direction

5) Knowing that you're in control
You can decide whether to tack or not to tack, no matter what the wind is doing. V vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus