GENERAL INFO
Instructional Guidelines
for
Teaching in Lido 14's
PHASE VI - Advanced Maneuvers
The following maneuvers are for students obviously proficient at the basic maneuvers (tacking, jibing, person-overboards).
A. ANCHORING
1. Reasons to anchor. The anchor on the Lido is predominantly used to prevent the boat from drifting onto the rocks along the lee shore. This can occur due to equipment failure (broken shroud, etc.) or the inability to right a capsized boat (due to water-filled buoyancy tanks or lack of experience). Anchoring is also the preferable way to reef the mainsail.
2. Sailing backwards. Assuming the boat is sailable, one method is to anchor while sailing backwards. First, make sure the anchor rode (rope) is tied to the boat, and is clear and not knotted up or caught on anything. Then, the student will bring the boat into irons, steering the boat directly into the wind until the boat stops and begins to drift straight backwards. It is important to have the crew evenly distributed to keep the boat level, and have all sheets loose.
3. Heaving to. You may also anchor the boat from a hove-to position. Simply have the student heave the boat to, then proceed with anchoring.
4. Dropping anchor. As the boat is steered backwards (or is hove to), one of the crew will take the anchor and pass it under the jib sheets between the mast and the shroud, and drop it over the side. The crewperson will assure the anchor has taken hold by pulling on the rode and feeling whether there is tension and no vibrations. If it is not holding, pull up the anchor to check if it is clogged with seaweed or other debris. Once anchored, lower your jib to prevent damage to the sail from flogging in the wind.
5. Pulling up anchor. When done anchoring, the foredeck crewperson will pull in the anchor. In large waves, pull in the anchor after the crest of the wave passes, as the boat slides into the trough, not as the boat rides up the crest of the next wave, to make the pulling easier. Because there is a lot of mud in this area, the crewperson should dunk the anchor up and down in the water when s/he gets it to the surface, to wash off the mud. The jib can then be backwinded as appropriate to help the bow to fall off and start sailing.
B. SAILING IN CIRCLES
Have the student sail the boat in circles as close as possible to a buoy (or use a person-overboard). It may help to have the student begin by sailing larger circles, not around a buoy, to get used to continuously tacking and jibing. It helps to have the student pull in the mainsheet from between the traveler and the boom (if tacking and jibing looking backwards) or from between the cleat and boom (if looking forwards) instead of through the cleat, to save time and tighten up the circles. This maneuver works best if the crew is skilled in handling the jib sheets. The instructor may want to handle both jib sheets if the remaining crew is inexperienced.
C. CAPSIZING
The procedures for righting a capsized boat are fully covered in the blue CSC manual. Students should be encouraged to practice capsizes, but only with a willing and prepared crew. Use of wetsuits is highly recommended, so several capsizes can be accomplished at one time without risking hypothermia. Be sure to advise the Dayleader of your intention to practice capsizes.
