Rounded Rectangle: Date:                                        Time:                                       Duration: 2 hours Badge Level:      Sailor                                                            Subject: Introductory Sailing Tasks:                6 – Demonstrate how to follow sailing orders Badge Level:      Helmsman                                                     Tasks:                7 – Take charge of a Scout cutter under sail   REQUIREMENTS COMMENTS Lesson Aims: To introduce youth members to the skills required in sailing and managing a Scout cutter under sail.   Previous Knowledge: Youth members will have completed Lesson Plan 4 – Personal Safety in Boats.   You Will Need: ·         Scout cutter correctly rigged for sailing. ·         Adult leader holding a current Grade E charge certificate. ·         A crew of sailors (preference is to have a minimum crew of at least three sailors). ·         A helmsman (could be the charge certificate holder). ·         PFDs for each participant of an appropriate size. ·         MEC Sailing Orders instruction sheet. It is recommended that this Lesson Plan is undertaken in sheltered, non-tidal waters.   Developing Skills: Teamwork, following instructions, confidence in Scout cutters, sailing technique.   Learning Outcomes: How to effectively work as a crew member in a Scout cutter being sailed. Understand and respond to sailing orders from the helmsman. Improve discipline in small boats.   Method: Safely board the boat wearing PFDs, ship the rudder and tiller. Allocate crew sailing positions. With reference to MEC – Sailing Orders instruction sheet, in slow time, demonstrate the basic sailing orders: ·         Aft sheets. ·         Ease sheets. ·         Lower the centreboard. ·         Raise the centreboard. ·         Lee oh. ·         Gybe oh. Tailor these orders to those commonly used at your Group. Get underway and clear of the boat ramp, wharf, jetty or beach. If there are any Helmsman candidates present, have them take charge of getting the cutter underway and assess their competence in this task. Encourage the Helmsman to use confident and clear sailing orders and develop boat handling skills while sailing. If there are any Sailor candidates present, have them assist the helmsman in management of the cutter particularly in the mainsheet position. Sail on any course to suit the location and conditions. Tack or Gybe as required and demonstrate the use of the running backstays. Demonstrate trimming the boat by moving youth member’s weight from side to side. If necessary, have them sit on the gunwales. Rotate the crew into new sailing positions throughout the lesson to enable the crew to determine preferred sailing positions. When rotating the crew through sailing positions, consider rotating them through the helmsman and mainsheet hand positions to enable them to experience all sailing tasks. If the youth members are inexperienced, it is recommended that the adult leader remains at either the helm or mainsheet position. During quiet periods, use some of the time to improve boat knowledge by testing crew members on correct names for parts of the hull and rigging (See Lesson Plan 1 – Parts of a Cutter (Hull), Lesson Plan 2 – Parts of a Cutter (Rigging) and Lesson Plan 3 – Parts of a Cutter (Sails). Encourage the Helmsman to use confident and clear sailing orders and develop skills in boat control using the rudder (See Lesson Plan 13 – Theory of Sailing and Lesson Plan 14 – Sailing Manoeuvring) Follow Up Activities: Repeat this lesson to fully develop the participant’s understanding of sailing technique along with familiarisation of correct sailing orders. Evaluation: On completion of each session, question the Helmsman and crew members on their performance and the general performance of the crew. Question the crew on their preferred sailing position. Encourage youth members to maintain a personal training log (Refer to MEC – Training Log).    

Rounded Rectangle:

Marine Education Centre

Te Whare Wānanga o Ngā Matataua a Tangaroa

Scouts NZ - Region 1