DaySail Training Objectives...
Although we all aim to be the very best in cruising ability, we all started with basic sailing lessons and experience. Overtime and with persistence we began to develop our skills, muscle memory, and tenacity in sailing through classes on Celtic Song or other passages. Before a crew member can undertake a passage with Celtic Song they are required to take 5 classes that build a foundation for more advanced cruising knowledge: Basics, Docking, MOB, Anchoring, and Reefing.
Many of us took the classes multiple times and continue to strengthen our understanding of these foundations in teaching the classes. You as a crew member are expected to make an effort in learning the procedures, safety precautions, and methods for each of the lessons taught. As our crew grow increasingly experienced we expect them to teach and instruct the next generation of blue-water cruisers.
We measure our own abilities and learning in a skills sheet, where we have our names, the skill, and the date in which we are ready to teach the skill to others. Skills to be learned are listed under each lesson, where the current full skill list can be found here.
Many of us took the classes multiple times and continue to strengthen our understanding of these foundations in teaching the classes. You as a crew member are expected to make an effort in learning the procedures, safety precautions, and methods for each of the lessons taught. As our crew grow increasingly experienced we expect them to teach and instruct the next generation of blue-water cruisers.
We measure our own abilities and learning in a skills sheet, where we have our names, the skill, and the date in which we are ready to teach the skill to others. Skills to be learned are listed under each lesson, where the current full skill list can be found here.
General DaySail Training Structure...
Our daysail trainings generally occur in three parts: preparation of Celtic Song to Depart, discussing maneuvers and procedures to practice, leaving the slip and practicing. Preparation of the boat is taught in detail during the Basic Class and follows the DaySail Checklist found here. After leaving the slip (and often the harbor mouth), we will practice reefing, MOB under power or sail, heaving to, raising the staysail, docking, anchoring, and other maneuvers.
When to Arrive...
Please arrive promptly at 9:50 AM to Celtic Song's Slip on Harbor Island. Most classes end at 3-5pm and time for lunch made during the class.
What to Bring...
- Boat Shoes (non-marking, no-slip)
- A Quality Rigging Knife
- Sailing Gloves
- Lunch
What To Know...
Before attending a lesson or undertaking a passage there are a few things preparatory things you should do.
- Review the lesson outline, understand the procedures to be taken, skills to be tested, and tasks to be completed. All lessons can be found here.
- Review necessary knots (Bowline, Rolling Hitch, Round-Turn & Two Half Hitch), points of sail, rules of the road, and lines in the cockpit.
- Know your basic nautical terminology! (Starboard & port, windward & leeward, standing rigging vocabulary, running rigging vocabulary)
- Review the Rules of the Road.
- Check the Marine Weather forecast for San Diego Harbor. A button is conveniently placed at the bottom of our website's home page.
- Check the Min and Max Tide points, note the time and speed of the max flow or ebb.
- Check the phase of the Moon and if the tide is a Neap or Spring Tide.
a Final Thought...
Every Crew member & Team Lead on Celtic Song was (and still is) a student. As instructors we will do our best to present sailing concepts, ideas, and procedures so that you the student may learn them and practice them; however, it is not the responsibility of the teacher to have you learn and retain the information. That is your duty to the teacher!
Please take the time to study and review what you are taught. Ask questions when you are confused or are having trouble comprehending a particular lesson or knot. Embrace the agency you have as a student to direct and perfect what you learn!
Please take the time to study and review what you are taught. Ask questions when you are confused or are having trouble comprehending a particular lesson or knot. Embrace the agency you have as a student to direct and perfect what you learn!