Day 1 of 4:
June 23, 2023 | 6PM – 9PM
Sailing Ground School
We will teach you the theory of how to sail small sailboats in New York City in the spring safely and prepare you for hands on spring sailing instruction the following day. We will also explain how our collective works and how other free sailing schools can be created. Please bring pen and paper to take notes with and drinking water and a snack if you prefer. There is a small public bathroom and water fountain available there. We will gather wherever seems quiet, usually the tall white tables in the middle. If you cant find us you might be the first person there so make a sign out of pen and paper or ask anyone that looks like a sailor of wanna-bee if they’re there for free sailing school. Please call, text or email me if you need more info. No need to call or text just to rsvp or cancel an rsvp. We usually get about 20 people so its hard to keep track of everyone anyways. Here is my number Tree won tree nin too nin won zeuro sebn fibe
Please study the materials on our ground school handbook if you get a chance.
SPECIAL LECTURE: “Unified Rope Theory”
I will discuss the interconnectedness of everything rope related and the unifying knots in various disciplines from Sailing to Trucker hitches and macrame and everything in between. You will be encouraged to learn the enigmatic bowline knot and other fun knots depending on the interests of the attendees. Some knots that might be covered are: the bowline knot, the springfield bowline, the sheets bend, square knot, the infamous granny knot, how to join two lines properly, trucker hitches, several more different bowline knots and sinches.
We’re run entirely by volunteers that want to make the world a better place so join us and help the cause! Please call me if you can’t find us or if you have any questions anytime 313-929-107five
Location: Charlotte Beach
Day 2 of 4:
June 24, 2023 | 11AM – 9PM
Sailing Practical Training
UPDATE: WE WILL BE REQUIRING EVERYONE TO PROVIDE A FULLY REFUNDABLE $25 EQUIPMENT DEPOSIT TO SAIL FROM NOW ON.
Only those that help with maintenance, or help us organize a sign in sheet and get waivers signed or help grill food or help with social media or support the club in other (agreed upon ways) will get free sailing lessons and everyone else will be advised to give us a $29.95 suggested donation to help us pay for expenses. So if you plan on just showing up and getting a free sailing lesson and then disappearing, please bring a $29.95 suggested donation with you and be up front about your intentions.
If you miss free ground school please study our Handbook.
Once again: As far as the practical sailing school. You will be required to volunteer at least 2 hours or the equivalent before your lessons or help sustain the club in another way.
You will also be required to answer the following questions and sign a waver before we take you out on our beginner boat “The Flushing Meadows Queen” a 12’ O’day Widgeon or our Hobie 14, or one of our Hobie 16’s, or our Prindle 16 for as many lessons as we can cram into one day!
REQUIRED QUIZ BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FREE LESSONS:
1.- What are the two most important directions on a sailboat? And why?
2.- What is the sail configuration for upwind?
3.- What is the sail configuration for downwind?
4.- What is a tack? And how do you tack a hobie cat without a jib? (We dont use jib’s in our school because they make tacking too easy. We want you to be better sailors then everyone else!)
5.- What is a jibe? And how to perform one and what is the danger? And what is the difference between a tack and a jibe?
6.- What is the D.I.Y. Speedometer of the boat and how does it work? (Hint: bubbles) And what is the D.I.Y. apparent wind direction instrument of our boat? (Hint: ears)
7.- What does it mean to be in irons and how do you get out of them on a boat that is difficult to tack? (Beach catamarans without a jib are the hardest boats to tack BTW.)
8.- Be able to draw a diagram of a hobie cat with the following components labled: port, starboard, bow, stern, traveler, main sheet, main blocks, halyard, main sail, downhaul, outhaul, righting line.
The answers to these questions are on my YouTube channel chrisoul7
Or you can ask a volunteer to teach you them to you same day, if you’re nice 😉
We will teach you how to be a competent captain on any boat. As the saying goes you can trust a beach catamaran sailor with a yacht but you can’t trust a yacht sailor with a beach catamaran.
Bring drinking water, 2 pairs of shoes that will dry fast (because you will have to stand in a foot of water or more) and bring gloves and sun hat and 3 zip lock baggies for your phone. And once again sunblock!!! Also avoid wearing any cotton clothing or cotton socks because it acts as a sponge. Polyester, nylon and wool are much better materials for watersports.
If it rains it usually doesn’t last too long and we have dry suits and wet suits and are used to sailing in the winter on rainy days anyways so just tough it out and don’t be a “fair weather sailor”.
Come start your hero’s journey with us!
Location: Ferry Point Park
Day 3 of 4:
June 25, 2023 | 11AM – 9PM
Sailing Practical Training
UPDATE: WE WILL BE REQUIRING EVERYONE TO PROVIDE A FULLY REFUNDABLE $25 EQUIPMENT DEPOSIT TO SAIL FROM NOW ON.
Only those that help with maintenance, or help us organize a sign in sheet and get waivers signed or help grill food or help with social media or support the club in other (agreed upon ways) will get free sailing lessons and everyone else will be advised to give us a $29.95 suggested donation to help us pay for expenses. So if you plan on just showing up and getting a free sailing lesson and then disappearing, please bring a $29.95 suggested donation with you and be up front about your intentions.
If you miss free ground school please study our Handbook.
Once again: As far as the practical sailing school. You will be required to volunteer at least 2 hours or the equivalent before your lessons or help sustain the club in another way.
You will also be required to answer the following questions and sign a waver before we take you out on our beginner boat “The Flushing Meadows Queen” a 12’ O’day Widgeon or our Hobie 14, or one of our Hobie 16’s, or our Prindle 16 for as many lessons as we can cram into one day!
REQUIRED QUIZ BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FREE LESSONS:
1.- What are the two most important directions on a sailboat? And why?
2.- What is the sail configuration for upwind?
3.- What is the sail configuration for downwind?
4.- What is a tack? And how do you tack a hobie cat without a jib? (We dont use jib’s in our school because they make tacking too easy. We want you to be better sailors then everyone else!)
5.- What is a jibe? And how to perform one and what is the danger? And what is the difference between a tack and a jibe?
6.- What is the D.I.Y. Speedometer of the boat and how does it work? (Hint: bubbles) And what is the D.I.Y. apparent wind direction instrument of our boat? (Hint: ears)
7.- What does it mean to be in irons and how do you get out of them on a boat that is difficult to tack? (Beach catamarans without a jib are the hardest boats to tack BTW.)
8.- Be able to draw a diagram of a hobie cat with the following components labled: port, starboard, bow, stern, traveler, main sheet, main blocks, halyard, main sail, downhaul, outhaul, righting line.
The answers to these questions are on my YouTube channel chrisoul7
Or you can ask a volunteer to teach you them to you same day, if you’re nice 😉
We will teach you how to be a competent captain on any boat. As the saying goes you can trust a beach catamaran sailor with a yacht but you can’t trust a yacht sailor with a beach catamaran.
Bring drinking water, 2 pairs of shoes that will dry fast (because you will have to stand in a foot of water or more) and bring gloves and sun hat and 3 zip lock baggies for your phone. And once again sunblock!!! Also avoid wearing any cotton clothing or cotton socks because it acts as a sponge. Polyester, nylon and wool are much better materials for watersports.
If it rains it usually doesn’t last too long and we have dry suits and wet suits and are used to sailing in the winter on rainy days anyways so just tough it out and don’t be a “fair weather sailor”.
Come start your hero’s journey with us!
Location: Ferry Point Park
our next events in meetup.com/nycfss/
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Day 4 of 4:
July 5, 2023 | 4PM – 6PM
Yoga 4 Saileurs #Freegan
The event will be at the McCarren pool in north Williamsburg, Brooklyn. At the public olympic pool.
We will have a yoga skill share focusing on useful yoga practices for sailing and a saileur lifestyle this will be the first two hours then we will have our swimming skillshare the last two hours. Through supportive group practice and fun, let’s improve our swimming confidence. I will also share with you some freediving tips and discuss water safety. I will bring a bunch of extra equipment including wetsuits, fins, goggles and snorkels. We will have a female helping me to organize this event in case you prefer to skillshare with a female. Bring your speedos, bikinis and/or birkas (birkas are the traditional Muslim robe and mask that cover your entire body except your eyes) and join Day 4 of April free sailing 4 day seminar. Also try to read the book “Deep” about freediving if you want to discuss it in the group. If you do then we can call our club a book club too!
Location: McCarren Park Pool