INTRO CURRICULUM


    • 2-session Intro to cruising (2 x 5hrs = 10hrs)
    • Mentors demonstrate


  1. DAY 1: Essential Knowledge and basic boat operations
    • Intro to cruising program: Council and Committees, Boat managers
    • Importance of Volunteerism
    • Opportunities to Learn: Member sails, events, seminars, practice sessions, work parties
    • Practice session tracks: How to become a skipper
    • Policy information: Weather, lightning, smoking, pets, alcohol, etc.
    • Keeping a personal sailing log
    • Intro to the Fleet
    • Briefly introduce concepts in how a sailboat works
    • Limited terminology on key boat parts and procedures
    • Our Boats: Walk thru
    • Electrical systems
    • VHF radio
    • Water, head, galley
    • Docklines girth hitch (aka cow hitch), cleat hitch, sail ties slipped half hitch, 
    • Hanging fenders (clove hitch or round turn and two half hitches)
    • Preventer soft shackle
    • Line handling, safety, using the marine head etc...
    • How to coil and hang the docklines, girth hitch
    • Making a log entry in the ship's log
    • Lifesling, bowline
    • Roller furler, do NOT winch...
    • Under power boat operations intro
    • Safely getting off/on the boat
    • Rig inspection
    • Unlock the wheel and center it
    • How to start/stop the engine
      • Battery switch operation, 
      • Ignition key storage locations
      • Start engine, check water flow
      • Engine controls, spin down prop between shifts...
      • Docking practice, Pivot Turn
      • Anchoring
      • Correct shutdown procedure


  1. DAY 2: Boat Operations under sail
    • Rules of the Road basics:
      1. Keep a good lookout at all times, especially behind the genoa
      2. Don’t assume the other boat’s operator knows the RoR at all
      3. Make an early and substantial course change to make it obvious to the other vessel which way you will go
      4. Avoid commercial traffic including water taxis, big ships have to stay in the channel, don't try to cross in front of a moving ship
      5. Don’t let the hull of the boat hit anything, bottom, other boats, buoys, dock etc.


    • How to prepare and deploy the sails
    • Use the preventer when sailing downwind
    • Winch handle usage and safety tips
    • Roller furling system
    • Putting away sails
    • Emergency situations discussion
    • Reefing, square knot
    • POB practice (modified Quick Stop)