Work Parties

Every Thursday

5:30-7:30 at the WAC

 

All members are required to attend at least one work party per quarter. And remember its not just work, it’s a great place to meet fellow members and to learn basic sailing maintenance skills.

 

No Previous Experience Necessary

                 Have you ever taken a look at the official boat list for the WYC? There are many fun boats outside the common Lasers and FJ’s that everyone gets their ratings on. For the first two quarters of my membership the only boats I knew or even had an interest in sailing where the Laser’s and Laser II’s. Then a fellow member told me that with my Intermediate double hand rating I could take out the Pearson Ensign, otherwise known as the Auklet.

                 A couple weeks went by before I decided to walk the creaky planks of the outer keelboat dock and visit this “Auklet.” At first glance it looked much bigger than anything I thought I could handle with a simple DH intermediate. After pulling back the cover I was pleasantly surprised with the beautifully finished teak decks and the fact that I could fit at least 6 friends inside.

                 So I stymied up the courage and walked back to the locker to find the jib for the Auklet and hopefully a willing chief to show me how to rig it. I found the Jib and the Genoa and the spinnaker, as well as a couple club members that gladly offered some tips on how to sail and rig the boat. Andy Sacks was happy to show me where the main halyard was as well as the authentic winch handle. He supervised me hoisting the main and the jib and to my surprise encouraged me to take it out for a quick jaunt around the bay, as the wind was barely 2-3 knots and I would get a feel for how to handle the boat in the keelboat channel as well as properly dock. Since the wind was so light and I had already rigged the boat I decided that it wouldn't hurt to take this gently giant out for a spin. In the end I used the oars more than the sails since the wind died completely and it began to drizzle.

                 Since that day I have become enamored with the Auklet. I’ve taken out at least 20 different people on the boat at different times, sailed in light winds and even managed to get the boat on a 35 degree heel cruising in 25 knot gusts. The best part of my experience with the Auklet was taking out friends on sunny days and anchoring in the bay to go for a swim. However the bay had gotten familiar and all my friends wanted to see what was beyond the “point.” So I decided to go for my DH Skipper and if it wasn’t for the pleasant memories sailing

pole the Hobie 21 due to its menacing size. Although I have managed to fly a hull for 30 or so seconds about 4-5 feet off the water. I had never experience real speed sailing until I accidentally flew a hull on a broad reach, spray coming up through the trampoline and the shrouds humming. I know that soon enough I will capsize the Hobie 21 and then I will have tamed the beast; although I will never loose respect for these boats that sometimes refuse to right regardless of the crews skill. I remember taking out the a smaller Hobie 16 and trying four times to right it then when it seemed hopeless a gust caught the tramp and righted the boat all by itself. I can only imagine how hard it will be for me and my crew to right the Hobie 21.

                 The club has no shortage of boats to sail. As long as your willing to learn to rig a new boat you too can find the perfect boat for your sailing style. Whether you like to push it to the limit with catamarans, the 505 or the I14. Or enjoy a nice family cruise on the lake in the Auklet or the Flying Scot. Then again you may find that one of the other boats suits your needs better. I encourage everyone to try a boat they have never sailed before, as a chief or a fellow member to show you how to rig it and if you have the rating go and enjoy the wind.

pearsoninfo.net

the Auklet I would have given up after my 3rd try at the skipper written test.

                 After finally getting my skipper rating I took out the Auklet on the lake and it seems like it will take me many years to see all the sights and find all the secrets on the lake. That’s why the Auklet is the best lake cruiser at the club, its both fast and stable, just what you need when taking out a group of friends for a sunny day on the lake.

                 About the same time I started sailing the Auklet I signed up for a catamaran class. On the first day of class a fellow member was trying to get their intermediate cat rating and instead of learning the basics of the cat on the dock I volunteered to be his crew. We took out the Hobie 18 and from the first hull we flew I knew that I would be back on the cats to try and push the envelope.

                 Since then I have pushed the cats to the limit and even managed to get my card suspended. There is nothing quite like flying a hull nearly perpendicular to the water and then somehow managing not to capsize. Or planning on a  broad reach and “accidentally” pitch-poling, then doing that 3 more times just to test the limits of the Hobie 16’s stability. Ever since the Hobie 21 has been added to the sail worthy list I have been dying to take it out. I have been afraid to capsize or pitch

Different boats for different folks

http://www.gwg.com.ar/rota-barcos.htm

~Mike Klaczynski