Sea Sense Under Sail
Experience the true joy of sailing with a lifelong sailor.
- On board the 50′ gaff-rigged sloop VELA with
Havilah Hawkins — September 2–8, 9–15
VELA, a 50′ straight-stemmed, gaff sloop, was designed by owner/skipper Havilah Hawkins and built in 1996 by the Wooden Boat Co. in Camden, Maine. Sporting a single headsail and a large mainsail—800 sq ft on a 35′ boom—VELA is a pleasure to sail in all wind conditions. Lazyjacks and lifts enable the huge mainsail to be easily handled by only two people. Comfortable, seaworthy, and well balanced, this beautiful boat provides a perfect classroom for students who will learn how to work with the wind and sea, not against them.
Tuition: $700
Note: Students should be in good physical condition, have good balance and agility and the ability to enter and exit small boats from larger craft, beach or rocky shore.
Havilah “Haddie” Hawkins has been sailing and fooling around in boats throughout his life. His father, Havilah “Buds” Hawkins designed, built, sailed, and skippered boats his entire life and was a well-known fixture in the wooden boat community. It’s no wonder salt water quickly found its way into Haddie’s veins.
WoodenBoat School is excited to offer students a one of a kind opportunity to sail and learn from this master mariner on board the beautiful 50′ gaff sloop of his own design, VELA. This will be a glimpse into the lure of sailing—a week full of seamanship, skills afloat, sound advice, and storytelling under sail. You’ll learn how to control VELA on all points of sailing, how her sails work, their trimming, the forces involved, dealing with wind shifts, picking up moorings, anchoring and laying to. Haddie will also share his thoughts on the practical aspects of running and maintaining a large vessel, and running a safe ship. Students will also learn about navigation, the weather and tides, the visual signs you should watch for, coastal geography and geology, marine life, sea conditions, and using common sense. Above all, this will be a wonderful occasion to enjoy the fun and rewards of sailing.
