Promoting good seamanship and boathandling

[Figment]

During a beerbreak down at the yard this weekend, the conversation drifted to new events that the "yacht" club could sponsor as part of an effort to increase member activity. My favorite idea of the ones that floated was to have a little friendly competition that tests seamanship and boathandling. Ideas for events included...

A "man overboard drill" contest.

A "get on the water" contest... start at the top of the dock and see how long it takes to untie the boat, disconnect shore power, water, etc. fire up engine(s) and stop the clock when you enter the channel.

A "rig for tow" contest, complete with line heaving for distance.

"Beverage chilling" contest... start with a six-pack of beer at room temperature, how cold can you get it in three minutes...

For the sailors... hoist all working sail, tack twice, tuck in a reef, tack twice, shake out the reef, return to starting line and stow all working sail.

For the fishermen... set anchor, rig two rods, drop bait, recover bait, stow all tackle, recover anchor.

There were other things mentioned, but you get the idea. Does anyone here belong to an organization that hosts such a competition? What events do you find are most popular?

[WWheeler]

Atlantic Challenge uses seamanship contests as a vehicle for sail training, youth participation etc. The events are biennial, and involve crews from the US, Canada, England, Wales, etc.

These are the events to be run at the next event in Wales 2004:

Atlantic Challenge 2004 competitions and races
The Atlantic Challenge competitions and races include the following events:

L'Esprit: A cooperative event with mixed crews, sharing knowledge and meeting a challenge together. A variety of skills are tested, including rudderless slalom and man-over-board under sail.

Rowing Race: Race over a 2 nautical mile straight course.

Jackstay Transfer: A sack is transferred from a pier to the gig and then rowed to a destination.

Sail & Oars: Twice around a 3 nautical mile triangular course using sails and oars alternatively.

Captain's Gig: Transfer of a "very important person" from the pier to a vessel. This is a style event and is not judged on speed.

Navigation: This event is based on the water and tests knowledge of compass course, speed, time and distance calculations, plotting, latitude and longitude, dead reckoning and tides.

Towing Race: Under sail and oar featuring pairs of boats and emphasising cooperation between two gigs.

Rowing Slalom: Boat handling contest around buoys without the use of a rudder.

Atlantic Challenge Canada (http://www.atlanticchallenge.ca/index.htm)

[ 04-14-2004, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: WWheeler ]

[mmd]

In the morning have a timed contest to tie a monkey's fist - total of elapsed time plus demerit points for lack of neatness and symmetry wins. In the afternoon, a contest to throw a heaving line complete with said monkey fists through a suspended tire from five fathoms - lowest time wins.

What;s that? Nobody knows how to tie a monkey's fist? You don't use them? Well, where's the fun in that?!! If'n yer gonna play with archaic boats, ya oughtta know archaic boat skills! ;) :D

[Alan D. Hyde]

http://www.courageoussailing.org/kids/images/cool_monkeys.gif

There you go, Michael!

:D

Alan

[ 04-14-2004, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[paladin]

While I wuz in Alaska we used a local BIG swimming pool for "excercises". I asked everyone to bring their dink and we would have a contest on getting in and outta dinks. about thirty people showed up and 5 dinks...two rigid and three soft. I had the first couple get properly attired as they would be in a cold climate, put the boat in the pool and get in....but I stopped them just as the first foot went in...then tipped the dink upside down and made them jump in the water and right the dink and get into it....
NO ONE COULD GET IN THEIR DINK...and a couple of people would have drowned if we had not pulled them out.....a great excercise for offshore sailors..