Beginning Sailing Learning Units

Unit A.0- Let’s Get Started

Unit A.1- Parts of a Sailboat including Blades

Unit A.2- Lines and Parts of a Sail including Spars

Unit A.3- Wind and Points of Sail

Unit A.4- Forces on a Sailboat

Unit A.5- Sail Trim and Hiking

Unit A.6- Steering a Sailboat

Unit A.7- Rules of the Road

Unit A.8- Safety

Unit A.9- Capsize Recovery

Unit A.10- Boat Maintenance

Unit A.11- Leaving and Returning to a Dock

Unit A.12- Person in the Water (PIW) Recovery

The content of the introduction to sailing course is linked to readings in Learning Sailing Right- Beginning Sailing, United Sailing Association, Second Edition, 2008.. Integrated with the content related to sailboats and sailing are STEM topics such as forces, mechanical advantage, apparent wind vs true wind, and wind velocity and direction. Practical instruction is provided in tying knots, rigging and derigging a sailboat, capsize recovery, trimming a sail, leaving and returning to a dock, and steering a sailboat. Emphasis will be on safe shore and sailing practices including a clear understanding of the rules of the road.

To chart their progress, participants will be provided with the US Sailing Small Boat Beginner Sailor Certification Record Book that they will use to chart their skills and knowledge development. The Record Book is based on the American Development Model created to “help Americans realize their full athletic potential and utilize sport as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle.” The development model encompasses:

Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Physical Development

Using the Record Book as a guide, instructors and volunteers from the Pelican Yacht Club will engage with campers as mentors by encouraging questions, reinforcing good performance, and guiding needed improvements.

To promote interactions and teamwork among the campers, they will organized into pairs. In this way, the campers can support and learn from one another. As they grow and hopefully sail in larger boats, understanding the importance of teamwork and executing their particular role on the crew will be vital.