Shallow Thought by Honez
 
As sailors, we learn some special knowledge and gain some special skills that are essential to allow us to sail our boats safely and competently.  There are the rules of the road of course, leeward boat is the stand on vessel when on the same tack, starboard tack boat is the stand on vessel when boats approach on opposite tacks and so on.  Always pee to leeward and while peeing remember, one hand for the boat and one hand for yourself.  (In the old days of sail leeward was pronounced loo'ard.  Now you know why Brit's want to know where the loo is when they have drunk too much beer. )
 
You would think that all this sailing knowledge would turn you into a nautical nerd on dry land.   However, over the years I have found that my sailing knowledge and skills have not only made me handy to have around but attractive to the opposite sex as well.
 
Take for instance a couple of years ago when my son graduated from UGA and needed my help to move from Athens to his new place in Atlanta.  My years of packing away enough beer, food and toilet paper (which you can take but not use) for a three-day cruise allowed me to cram everything he owned in the back of a Toyota pick up truck.  My keen sense of weather and a quick check of weatherunderground.com told me that rain was imminent.  So using my skill at rigging and knot tying I put a bowline in each of the cringles of a tarp, secured them to the truck with two round turns and half hitch.  I then used an alpine butterfly to tighten everything up.  On the boat, the alpine butterfly can be used as a preventer to keep the boom in place on a run.  In this case, it prevented the tarp from blowing away for the run down 316 and 85 to Mitch Paradise's new homeport.  
 
If you ever need to tie a horse to hitching post, you will want to use bowline if it is important to you that the big ugly beastie be there when you return. Cowboys and cowgirls use this knot all the time.  One thing I learned about knots from horses that applies to boats is keep your thumbs and fingers out of the loops while you are tying them.  If the line comes under tension (horse backing up, boat moving, etc) while you are tying it, the loop can close up and do a number on your digit.  While nicknames are cool, nobody wants to be known as Nine-Fingered Flanigan.  (Turns out it wasn't horses or boats that got Young Flanigan but a bowling mishap.)
 
As a practical matter, all sailors are neat and clean.  You are neat because you want to make sure that everything is stowed away.  In a seaway, a can of pork and beans can become a bean ball that is guaranteed to leave a mark if it is launched across the cabin.  After a couple of knocks to the noggin, even the most hardheaded of us learn to put stuff away.   Halyards, sheets and lines must be kept in order and neat so they will run free when you need them.   You don't want to learn the meaning of broach because the main sheet is in a fur ball.  Sailors are clean simply because six bodies crammed into a 40 to 50 foot boat for a week or so will result in someone swimming back if personal hygiene is not attended to. In the old days of sail, sailors tended to be healthier than their shore bound brothers mainly because they tended to keep things cleaner.  You would be amazed how many of the opposite gender find it attractive that you brush your teeth on a semi-regular basis, tend to pick up after yourself, and are smart enough not to pee into the wind.
 
So dust off those navigation skills and plot a course to the lake where you can soak up some more nautical know how.  Eventually it will come in handy in that other life that you live Monday through Friday.  It might even get you a date.

 

Saturday, March 14th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Have you thought about joining our regattas but felt you needed more knowledge prior to your first race ??  Here's your chance to become race ready using our proven methods that include both classroom and on the water training.

 

The price is FREE to our club members, please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.

 

2009 Spring & Summer Regatta Series     

Break open your new 2009 calendars and circle these dates !!  The warm weather is just around the corner and the Spring & Summer Regatta Series will be here before you know it !  Come to one or all of the races/cookouts ... whatever your schedule/family will allow.

 

Race 1 --- Saturday March 21

               (Trophy awards for Fall '08 Series)

Race 2 --- Sunday March 29

Race 3 --- Saturday April 18

Race 4 --- Sunday April 26

 

Race 1 --- Saturday May 16

Race 2 --- Sunday May 31

Race 3 --- Saturday June 20

Race 4 --- Sunday June 28

 

Please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.  Food & soft drink fee of $20  BYOB

 

 

Capri 22 Match Racing

Sunday, March 22 --  2:00 pm til 6:00 pm

Sunday, April 19 -- 2:00 pm til 6:00 pm

Sunday, May 17 -- 3:00 pm til 8:00 pm

Sunday, June 21 -- 3:00 pm til 8:00 pm

 

 

Docking Clinic

 

Please join Michael Blanchard for a three hour adventure into the Art of Flying a Spinnaker.  We will review the tools and techniques necessary to use a spinnaker safely, followed by a test drive. 

 

Beware, this clinic is rated WTMF (way too much fun !) and is meant for the crazy at heart !!

 

The price is FREE to our club members.  Please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.

 

 

Friday Night Overnight / Camp Out

Look for These Future Clinics
Understanding the Weather
Bareboat Management Tips

Anchoring

Sail Making & Repairs

Celestial Navigation

 

Lanier Sailing Academy and The Passport Sailing Club has organized a six day fantasy sailing trip onboard the 135 year old schooner "Stephen Tabor".  We'll be sailing from our homeport of Rockland exploring the picturesque coast of Maine and participating in the Rockland Windjammer Parade.

  

Where: The Coast of Maine

When: July 12 thru 18

Cost:

  Boat and meals: $937; typical airfare: $350

Extras: The Rockland Windjammer Parade, experience old style sailing, participate as crew or just hang out, gourmet food, sight seeing ashore, cool summer evenings and a few surprises.  

 

To discuss the details or register, please call Cindy or Matt at(770) 945-8810.  Also, feel free to log onto the schooner Stephen Tabor's website: www.stephentaber.com for more dream material.

 

Just another fun activity from The Passport Sailing Club.