Proper tacking form is key to boat handling and performance. The roll tack technique is the most performant and “coolest” way to make it through a tack in light wind conditions, and even in moderate conditions it helps you exit the tack without stalling.
Essential sailing knots
Five essential sailing knots required for Optimist sailors and 420 sailors Square knot Half hitch Stopper knot Cleat hitch Bowline Knot combinations you should know: Dock pole 2 wraps and 2 half hitches Two half hitches and stopper knot Video instruction for the 5 essential knots:
Optimist Class Sailboats
Why does Hatteras Sailing sail the Optimist Class? The Optimist Class sailboat has been the standard for youth and junior sailing programs for decades. The class was launched in 1947, and has a long history as the training boat on which the world’s best sailors learn the basics. The boat was designed and first built […]
Sailing Gear – team spirit, safety, and competition
Parents have asked about sailing specific gear. Here are some images, etc. Phillips BoatWorks (pHB) is a supplier for the leading manufacturer of dinghy sailing gear. If the club wants to put together an order, we can get some gear at competitive pricing. We can put together pricing as we get an order… PFD (life […]
Advanced Sailors – Week 3
Practice is July 4, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for Advanced Sailors Time is passing fast so its time to dial it in, so you can get the most out of the Summer Session! Here is what we have in store for 4th of July Weekend. Don’t forget to try and get your own digital […]
Basic Race Course Starting Knowledge
STARTS are challenging and fun! If you are new to the sailboat racing world, it can really seem intimidating. Thats alright, dont let it intimidate you, because once you get it wired you will love the STARTS! In order not to overwhelm, we will begin with some rudimentary basics. More advanced starting topics and techniques […]
Intermediate Program – Week 1 Boat Parts
Boat Parts Rigging the boat, learning the parts of the boat. Chalk talk/hands on.Some of this will be information we have previously covered, but we will dive deeper. This should be the transition from coaches rigging the boats up to the students doing. Each week after, the kids will need to be “rigged and ready” […]
Intermediate Program – Week 2 Capsize Recovery
Capsize Recovery The goal here is to take the fear out of capsizing, we want every aspect of sailing to be fun, so we get everyone comfortable in the water, and righting their boat. Then it’s all just a game! We’ll involve some treasure to make it even more fun!
Intermediate Program – Week 3 Sail Trim
Sail Trim This week we will focus on getting the most out of our sails. We want the sailors to understand where the sail needs to be positioned for each point of sail.
Intermediate Program – Week 4 Upwind Sailing
Upwind Sailing We’ll do a short chalk talk then try it on the water. One of the hardest skills to learn is to sail into the direction of the wind, but it is one of the most important. If home is in the direction of the wind, you have to be able to get there.
Intermediate Program – Week 5 Buoy Course Sailing
Buoy Course Sailing This practice will work on our ability to make the boat go where we want it to go regardless of the wind direction – practical upwind and downwind sailing. This will also be our intro into racing, the kids will begin to learn how to make their way around a racecourse.
Intermediate Program – Week 6 Sail to beach
Fun, Fun, Fun We’ve got to have a little fun in the middle of all our hard work, so we’ll do some sailing and exploring and maybe some sweet treats. Big boats and Optis Stiletto and Optis sail to the island beach for fun and practical sailing in our local environment.
Intermediate Program – Week 7 Island Party & Race
Let’s put it all together and have a race. Followed by Island Party with the other club members and sailors. We will take all of the skills we have learned over the session and hit the racecourse. Everyone will have a chance to show off the skills they have learned. End of season awards ceremony […]
Invitational Program Plan (advanced)
Summer 2021 Every Weekly Class begins with chalk talk, a video lesson on form or tactics, or a guest coach speaking with the kiddos about advanced competitive sailing topics. Gear Advanced Sailors will likely sail in almost any weather that is safe to sail in. Please do not let the cost of the gear frighten […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 1 Island Party
Welcome Party – big boat sailing All kids, parents, siblings are invited Let’s have a party to kick off the Summer Fun! Plan is to sail two Stilettos and take the powerboats out to the graveyard island for a swimming party with snacks and fun games.
Beginner’s Program – Week 2 Pool Party
Swimming Pool Fun Chalk Talk Why is swimming important to sailing? Did you know that being a confident swimmer is part of sailing? Did you know that little sailboats can capsize and be righted? Get in the water swimming practice evaluation referrals to swim lessons between sailing sessions Parents & Members Parents: Kids need to […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 3 Lagoon pirates capture the flag
Boat Parts Chalk Talk 1. Play Game: Swabee, Get to work The captain draws an opti on chalk board, and asks the swabee to “mop” the deck, etc as a fun game to learn the boat parts Point to parts of boat and Kids point to them on it by asking them to do boat […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 4 Bubble Boats & Hidden treasures
Wind Direction and Speed Chalk Talk What is the wind? can we see the wind? How? How can we talk about wind direction? learning cardinal directions: North South East West If we say a “north” wind, which direction would that be? Upwind vs. downwind Get in the water 1. Play boat game: Bubble Boats This […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 5 Treasure hunters sail for gold
Boat Handling Chalk Talk Boat part review Wind review How the boat parts and wind work together What happens when we pull mainsheet, push tiller, how can we avoid the boom? Mainsheet Tiller Boom Get in the water Treasure Hunters Sailing Game Kids in boats with sails in light wind (no sails in heavy winds). […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 6 Lagoon sailing capture the flag
Boat Handling Part 2 Chalk Talk – review Engage kids in discussion of last weeks sailing and what they learned in action while handling their own boats. Review boat parts and handling. Introduce the idea of sail trim based on upwind vs downwind. How were you able to get the boat where you wanted it […]
Beginner’s Program – Week 7 Island Party
We’ve learned so much and come so far. Let’s celebrate! Big boat & Opti sailing All kids, parents, siblings are invited. Sailors who feel comfortable can pair up and sail behind the big boats is the weather is appropriate. Power chase boats will be there to help encourage the sailors along the way. Award Ceremony […]
Instructor Certifications
Hatteras Community Sailing will need as many certified small boat instructors as we can get! US Sailing offers hybrid training and certification programs, in which the knowledge portion can be done digitally. Then there is normally some time required with an Instructor Certifier to verify the skills requirements to gain the certification. At the age […]
Knots! Also known as Marlinspike Seamanship
Sailboat are held together and controlled by lines or ropes. In sailing we like to use the word lines and the word “ROPE” will get you tossed from the snobby circles of the yachty community! To be able to rig your boat and get the most out of it you MUST practice and become very […]
Sailing Upwind and Tacking
It is very easy on a sailboat, windsurfer, or even a kiteboard to be taken downwind so far that you have a miserable experience trying to get back to where you started. Once you learn how to sail upwind correctly and efficiently, sailing becomes much more enjoyable, if for no other reason, you can feel […]
Opti Boat Parts and Terminology
For our youth to understand anything the coaches are saying on the water, they need to understand what the parts of the boat are named. Sailing has its own language and terminology for really good reasons… so instead of our coaches blasting on the megaphone across the water on a windy day, “Pull the string […]