Sloop/Sonars has always had a goal a little less specific than the more advanced class. These kids have a whole career of sailing ahead of them, during which time they can refine skills and sharpen talents. What sloops does, and what Ryan has been doing, is making sure the kids get to that point. Half of sailing is the relationship you develop with the sea, and the wind and the delicate string that holds them together (the mainsheet, if you want to get technical). What did Sloops do this week? We built that relationship. Week well spent.
The weather deities were not kind to Intro to Junior Sailing this week. But fun prevailed, as it always does with Liam at the helm. First they tried to sail to the infamous Brown's Island for some Good Times, but got thundered out. When they tried again on Thursday, the lack of wind was their foil but, then again, there was some confirmed learning at around 2:15, 3:00 and 3:54, so all was not lost.
Opti I sailed to Riverhead, out of the harbor and back, without wind, with everyone in their own boat. Later they spent some time on the "Box Drill," in which they, well, it's a bit hard to explain without a diagram or wild hand gestures, so ask your kids what they thought of it! Thursday they went to Crocker and played capture the flag.
In Opti II, most everyone is sailing by themselves. This week, they sailed out to Children's Island and back single-handedly while working on the sailor's position in the boat. The intensive study of up-wind sailing continued, "as did the intensive study of swimming."
Opti III got a little crazy by sailing 420s through and out of the harbor, even dangling out on the trapeze for a while while Tucker and I took pictures (keep an eye out for them on the end of year slide show!) After hitting Brown's Island, the class took a dive into Roll-Jybes, which the kids took to wonderfully. See you next week!
By the by, Tuesday Night Movie was a smashing success, and will be held every Tuesday until the end of the session! Price is 15$ per kid with a maximum charge of $25 per family!
