Night Sailing Course May 25th

It is definitely a different feel out on the water after the sun has set. There is a calmness that you cannot achieve amidst the sounds and turbulence of motoring traffic during the bright light of day. In the darkness of the night, I found a feeling of solitude, even with five of us on board.

Heading out into the night at sunset

Vern was again our instructor, and this time we were sailing on a Pearson 31. As Vern pointed out all the buoys, beacons and other navigational aids along our route to Spectacle Island, we quickly learned that the low beam flashlight that we brought from home could not begin to help us identify these markings within a safe range. A new flashlight was added to our list of items needed.       

Collin and Vern

Once at Spectacle, the four of us (Ramon and I, and fellow students, Collin and Carl) each took turns docking. It was a great exercise, talking through who needed to do what and trying different approaches and departures. The currents and wind inside of Spectacle’s docks can be challenging. On a couple of our approaches to the dock, no matter how hard the wheel was turned to move the bow starboard, it just wouldn’t go. For two of the departures, we backed the boat out from the dock to the entrance of the Island. The other two departures, we turned the bow 180 degrees at the dock so we were facing out and then pushed off. We safely moored back at BHSC by 12:30am.

                                                                                                                      Ready to Set Sail