We are all individuals with the same passion for sailing. It's up to you how active you like to participate.
Sailing is being one with the elements around you, Current, waves, wind, weather, your crew, the difference in day and night.
I will teach you how to read the elements and how to quickly adapt to make sure you are ready for what is about to come. There are books to support us during the week but you will learn most behind the wheel being one with the environment around you.
Seamanship is in everything we do on board. From adjusting your sails well in advance when the wind speed is about to increase, Preparing fenders and mooring lines before you dock, planning your route correctly and know what to expect during your upcoming voyage leg, making sure all crew members on board know what is currently happening and what is about to happen(situational awareness), To have a plan B in the back of your mind when things might not go as you expect them to go.
Learning to have your sails and anchor ready when approaching a dock just in case the engine might fail, or keeping everyone involved at all times this will ensure a motivated crew and full situational awareness, you might miss something but when keeping a good lookout together you can tackle a problem before it becomes one...
Knowing how to navigate reef and anchor by yourself so your partner can continue to sleep. Learning how to buy yourself time when things go south to give you enough time to solve the challenge before it becomes a problem.
The knowledge you gain during the course will ensure you can not only navigate the Hallberg Rassy perfectly but any boat you will sail in the future it might be your own or a rental yacht in Greece the basic principles will always be the same
I will teach you seamanship by experiencing it. From the start of the course until the last leg I will give you my best to make it your second nature,
The weather is about to change, What should we do to prepare us for the changing environment around us? Lots of items will be an open discussion where we will together find the "right" answer. I won't be teaching you the whole trip we will sail Juliet together as one crew and by doing so we will all learn without having to listen to a "instructor"
4 hours to our next destination and wind is expected to increase, sun is about to set. Main sail reef 1 is in Genua can be reefed any time, Navigation lights are on warm sweaters and hot coffee on standby. One more round over deck to make sure all secured and we are ready for the night.
Crossing the Maasgeul, AIS tells us the cpa, we verify this with a visual bearing. Communication and a good understanding of the rules will make it exiting without scare.
During the course all participants will have their own tablet, this tablet is connected via wifi to an AIS/gps transmitter. This way we plan, execute, monitor, record and evaluate our route. All charts used are up to date to the latest correction. It might take you a day or 2 to get fully familiarized with the software but once you get the hang of it, you will be able to plan a route for our next leg in about 15-20 minutes. Paper charts will be available and on request I will teach paper chart work.
Current atlas available on all tablets. Current is a big factor during our voyage plan. How long is our voyage what time can we expect the current against what time will she give us that nice push?
A more detailed chart for when we approach land.
Crossing the Maasgeul, a chart with a lot of info with regards to mandatory VHF radio calling points, were to cross the traffic lane. all these points and more are evaluated during the voyage plan phase.
Crossing the lane goes in good communication with shore side VTS this will sometimes mean going off course to facilitate a quick and safe passage
All available AIS data can be reviewed on the tablet. This includes CPA calculations. The best feature of AIS is knowing you are well visible on all commercial ships radar/ecdis systems, during the night or poor weather conditions.
Tablets are equipped with weather software. Weather updates can be received via on board wifi. The current and approaching weather systems are a vital part of our voyage planning.
After a couple of hours of having had the current against us its time to take off. A picture taken on our way to Scheveningen. Going for dinner after 10 hours at sea always feels a bit more special. Like you've really earned it.
Almost home. By motor on the "IJ Kanaal" Amsterdam
Chart tells you 1.2 depth... Sometimes it's worth at try at very low speed..
A part of teaching is knowing when it's been enough for the day. Time to relax!
Maneuvering lessons are part of the course.
Turning around when backing up... A very useful instinct :)
Cruising the Dutch coast line single handed averaging speeds of over 8 knots.
Time for another jacket, a hot coffee, and the Webasto hot air heating.
