YACHT ROUTINE

Traditional yacht care and maintenance, good seamanship practices, and a whole lot more.

Based on the yachting style of an earlier era, lifelong sailor and author, Queene Hooper Foster, presents a fascinating course filled with practical information for boat owners and crew members. Our waters today are busier and more congested than ever before with a wide variety of watercraft. How one handles oneself on the water in these conditions is a true mark of good seamanship and common sense, and comes as a result of experience and constant awareness. If everyone who ventured out in boats had a better understanding of the rules of the road and good manners, our boating environment would be much safer and more enjoyable.

ABIGAIL is a John Alden designed ketch

Using the 39′ Concordia yawl MISTY as her floating classroom, Queene will cover a variety of useful and helpful topics. Daily maintenance chores and the suitable application of knots and whipping, furling sails, coiling and hanging lines, heaving lines, gilguys, pig sticks and burgees, and fenders will be discussed and practiced. While underway under sail and/or motor, students will become proficient with the rules of the road, learn to use common sense at the helm and throttle, and practice sensible anchoring procedures in a busy harbor and under sail. You’ll also learn correct procedures for using a VHF radio and discuss countless scenarios that involve communications and safety on the water.

The skills of traditional navigation will be covered by Queene and charts, dividers, and visual bearings will be put into play on a daily basis.

A skipper and crew’s behavior at sea has a great deal to do with, not only consideration for others, but with boating safety as well. Good boating etiquette deserves the highest level of respect and attention from all mariners. After this week with a very experienced sailor and teacher, each student will come ashore with a new, heightened awareness and lots more confidence to truly enjoy being out on the water.

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.