basic lesson objectives
This is the first in a series of five lessons that will help you understand the Celtic Song Sailing Project. During this session, you will:
- Meet the captain and some of the crew
- Tour Celtic Song and learn of her systems and capabilities
- Discuss your sailing background and the reasons why you are interested in this project
- Work through some of the items on the boat's checklist (below)
- Take your first sail on Celtic Song
learning the basics
The Basic Lesson is about getting to know the boat, some of Celtic Song’s sailing community, the goals of our sailing project and an understanding of the commitment you’re making for the adventures that lie ahead.
This is not a learn-to-sail course. We expect that you already know how to sail. Here’s a short list of what we assume you know, and what we’ll discuss:
Nor will you likely be able to grasp all these procedures during the Basic Lesson. It’s just a good opportunity for you to meet us and for us to meet you. Knowledge and skills are important assets, but so are a willingness to learn and the collaboration necessary to be part of happy and functioning crew.
You should know by the end of the day whether you’re ready to sign up for the other four lessons listed in this section.
To give you a sense of how we help the crew familiarize themselves with the boat, here’s the checklist we expect every crew member to understand and go through:
Celtic Song
Pre-Sail Check List 113016
(Check off and Initial each item when completed)
Date:
Below Deck
Log Book (Dated and in Ink)
_____ Name and Emergency Contact number and contact name of each POB
_____ Weather: Wind speed & direction, wave height and intervals, weather forecast, any alerts?
_____ Engine: oil level, alternator belt (1/2”deflection or less) hoses, clamps, pad under engine
_____ Safety Equipment: Flares, horn, life jackets, bilge pump handles, fire extinguishers (#)
_____ Radio check and operation: Hail Tow Boat US on 16 and switch to 72, request radio check for San Diego Harbor (or current location)
_____ Bilge: Note counter number and test operational, water level and cleanliness; circuit breaker on auto
Boat Registration
_____ Location of Vessel Documentation Notebook, check current registration
Bilge & Pumpsv
_____ Operate Manual bilge pump
_____ Operate emergency tiller
_____ Locate all seacocks
Engine & Electrical
_____ Oil pressure -- gauge at cockpit engine panel; engine must be running
_____ Raw Water intake valve open (it is ALWAYS open)
_____ Check Fuel level(s) __________ (GAUGE IS BEHIND NAV STATION -- KEY MUST BE ON)
_____ Record engine hours _________ (GAUGE IS BEHIND NAV STATION)
_____ Locate Battery switches
_____ Check battery voltage
Electronic Operation
_____ Locate Depth Sounder transducer
_____ Clean knot meter impeller and installed
_____ Electrical panel turn on radar/charter plotter switch (bottom two yellow dots)
_____ Get a fix on master chart plotter. (Press FIND SHIP for current lat and long).
_____ Turn on ST2000 top two yellow dot switches on electric panel
_____ Turn on slave, near companionway, starboard (Press FIND SHIP for current lat and long)
_____ All items stowed
Safety Equipment
_____ Locate and Count life jackets (Number:________(IN HEAD AND UNDER NAV STATION)
_____ Attach Life-Sling with bowline
_____ Locate first-aid kit
_____ Flares – current? How many?
_____ Safety flare light – operational?
_____ Bell
_____ Horn in cockpit
_____ Attach Horseshoe buoy on stern with clovehitch
_____ Radar reflector
Other Boat Systems
_____ Head operational -- understand holding tank operation vs. overboard
_____ Stove operational
_____ Fridge temperature _______ Freezer temperature______(look inside for thermostat)
Above Deck
Checking the Rigging
_____ Check Topsides port & starboard
_____ Bow and Stern pulpits
_____ Attach Halyard shackle
_____ Flake mainsheet down companionway -- bitter end first
_____ Fenders (how many & where?)
_____ Remove all canvas and store in port locker
_____ Center traveller
_____ Open Clutches for reef lines and boom vang
Other Equipment
_____ Check and secure Bow Anchor (attached?)
_____ Windlass operational?
_____ Winch handles in coaming box
_____ VHF Radio in cockpit
_____ Boathook
Engine Start Procedure
_____ Unplug electric cord and turn off power at dock
_____ Key in ignition
_____ Start Engine
_____ Check water discharge after turning engine on
_____ Center helm
_____ Check gears – forward, neutral and reverse
_____ Bow thrusters on and operational
NOTES & MAINTENANCE ITEMS:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Print name and Date:
This is not a learn-to-sail course. We expect that you already know how to sail. Here’s a short list of what we assume you know, and what we’ll discuss:
- Sailing terms
- Points of sail
- Proper handling of dock lines
- Removing and storing fenders
- Difference between true and apparent wind
- Knots — bowline, clove hitch, slippery hitch, sheet bend, square knot, cleat hitch, rolling hitch, round turn and two half hitches
- How a sailboat sails
- Use of tell tails
- Raising the mainsail: Keep a good distance from lee shore; open all “red tape” clutches (reefing lines and vang), make sure all reefing lines are able to run free, head into irons, take off sail ties front to back, when everyone is in the cockpit, release and ease the main sheet.
- Using the electric halyard winch: Make sure all lines are clear of the halyard. Slowly raise the main halyard, watching and listening for any obstruction of lines or sail, pause occasionally. When the sail is one foot from the top, insert winch handle in halyard winch and complete process.
- Lowering the main: Hoist the lazy jacks, head into the wind and release the halyard. Flake the sail by pulling aft on the leach. Tie off with slippery hitches.
- Unfurling the genoa: Position the vessel off the wind, make sure the furling line is ready to run free. Always keep tension on the furling line as it unfurls.
- Furling the genoa: Position the vessel downwind on a broad reach, ease the mainsheet, and begin pulling the furling line in as the jib sheet is eased.
- How to use the head
- Dangers of a lee shore
- Preparing the boat for departure
- Returning to the dock and stowing the gear
- Use of the VHF radio
- Basic navigation
- Rules of the road
- Safe practices at sea
Nor will you likely be able to grasp all these procedures during the Basic Lesson. It’s just a good opportunity for you to meet us and for us to meet you. Knowledge and skills are important assets, but so are a willingness to learn and the collaboration necessary to be part of happy and functioning crew.
You should know by the end of the day whether you’re ready to sign up for the other four lessons listed in this section.
To give you a sense of how we help the crew familiarize themselves with the boat, here’s the checklist we expect every crew member to understand and go through:
Celtic Song
Pre-Sail Check List 113016
(Check off and Initial each item when completed)
Date:
Below Deck
Log Book (Dated and in Ink)
_____ Name and Emergency Contact number and contact name of each POB
_____ Weather: Wind speed & direction, wave height and intervals, weather forecast, any alerts?
_____ Engine: oil level, alternator belt (1/2”deflection or less) hoses, clamps, pad under engine
_____ Safety Equipment: Flares, horn, life jackets, bilge pump handles, fire extinguishers (#)
_____ Radio check and operation: Hail Tow Boat US on 16 and switch to 72, request radio check for San Diego Harbor (or current location)
_____ Bilge: Note counter number and test operational, water level and cleanliness; circuit breaker on auto
Boat Registration
_____ Location of Vessel Documentation Notebook, check current registration
Bilge & Pumpsv
_____ Operate Manual bilge pump
_____ Operate emergency tiller
_____ Locate all seacocks
Engine & Electrical
_____ Oil pressure -- gauge at cockpit engine panel; engine must be running
_____ Raw Water intake valve open (it is ALWAYS open)
_____ Check Fuel level(s) __________ (GAUGE IS BEHIND NAV STATION -- KEY MUST BE ON)
_____ Record engine hours _________ (GAUGE IS BEHIND NAV STATION)
_____ Locate Battery switches
_____ Check battery voltage
Electronic Operation
_____ Locate Depth Sounder transducer
_____ Clean knot meter impeller and installed
_____ Electrical panel turn on radar/charter plotter switch (bottom two yellow dots)
_____ Get a fix on master chart plotter. (Press FIND SHIP for current lat and long).
_____ Turn on ST2000 top two yellow dot switches on electric panel
_____ Turn on slave, near companionway, starboard (Press FIND SHIP for current lat and long)
_____ All items stowed
Safety Equipment
_____ Locate and Count life jackets (Number:________(IN HEAD AND UNDER NAV STATION)
_____ Attach Life-Sling with bowline
_____ Locate first-aid kit
_____ Flares – current? How many?
_____ Safety flare light – operational?
_____ Bell
_____ Horn in cockpit
_____ Attach Horseshoe buoy on stern with clovehitch
_____ Radar reflector
Other Boat Systems
_____ Head operational -- understand holding tank operation vs. overboard
_____ Stove operational
_____ Fridge temperature _______ Freezer temperature______(look inside for thermostat)
Above Deck
Checking the Rigging
_____ Check Topsides port & starboard
_____ Bow and Stern pulpits
_____ Attach Halyard shackle
_____ Flake mainsheet down companionway -- bitter end first
_____ Fenders (how many & where?)
_____ Remove all canvas and store in port locker
_____ Center traveller
_____ Open Clutches for reef lines and boom vang
Other Equipment
_____ Check and secure Bow Anchor (attached?)
_____ Windlass operational?
_____ Winch handles in coaming box
_____ VHF Radio in cockpit
_____ Boathook
Engine Start Procedure
_____ Unplug electric cord and turn off power at dock
_____ Key in ignition
_____ Start Engine
_____ Check water discharge after turning engine on
_____ Center helm
_____ Check gears – forward, neutral and reverse
_____ Bow thrusters on and operational
NOTES & MAINTENANCE ITEMS:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Print name and Date: