Craft of Sail for Women – NASKET

This is five-day course ending on Friday

Craft Of Sail is for folks who have some previous sailing experience, whether it comes from a seamanship program or personal involvement with boats. The course is designed for those who want to improve their skills on the water, particularly in the context of a cruising-sized vessel. Subjects include sail theory, hull and rig balance, helmsmanship, piloting in clear weather and fog, approaching and leaving floats and moorings, knots and rigging, man-overboard strategy, handling ground tackle, crew management; and, with those of our vessels that have power plants, maneuvering under power, and the rudiments of auxiliary engines and navigation instruments.

The seaman aspires to the mastery of many subjects, but the essence of the craft of sail is sea sense: the ability to tune in to a boat, the weather, and the crew, and apply good judgment so that all work together. Our instructors understand this, and they will help you to acquire that sense by sharing their own experiences and by encouraging you to think and feel a boat through various real and “what if” situations. With a maximum of five students, there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions and try tricks at the helm. There are numerous sailing schools out there, but few offer experience in cruising/charter-sized vessels like these—and none that we know of offer instruction by such experienced sailors on such lovely yachts.

NASKET is a 37’ cruising ketch designed by Sam Crocker in 1945 and built by Joel White at Brooklin Boat Yard in 1971. A centerboard ketch, she draws 7’ with the board down, but just 4’ with the board up.  NASKET is 43’3” with bowsprit, 37’5” on deck with an 11’3” beam. White modified the design, slightly lengthening the boat. Cedar strip-planked over oak frames, she was built with first-rate materials by skilled craftsmen just a few miles from WoodenBoat School’s campus. Her ketch rig is easy to sail but still offers students plenty of educational experiences.  The cockpit is large, easily accommodating five students plus an instructor. Equipped with a head, galley, and auxiliary propulsion, NASKET is the perfect vessel to learn big-boat sailing, right here in her home waters.