*** REMINDER: SAILORS MUST WEAR CLOSED TOED SHOES AND SUNSCREEN, AND BRING WATER BOTTLES AND EXTRA SUNSCREEN TO CAMP***
We care a lot about each of our sailors and do not want any of them ending up getting sunburned, dehydrated, or injured.
Please make sure that you apply a large amount on your sailor before they come and allow it to dry on their skin for maximum effectiveness. This is super important in the Florida heat while on the water. I like to apply it immediately after I take a shower to allow it time to set. I also recommend that sailors are given a small sunscreen bottle or face stick to keep in their life jacket so that they are able to reapply on the water and after pool time. Also very important: close toed shores are MANDATORY in order to sail. Flip flops do not protect feet well, so we prefer water shoes or sneakers.
Thank you and safe sailing!!!
——————————————————————————————————————–
Hi there, I’m Dae, the head Mercury Mentor coach. Today the Merc Mentors and I had tons of fun as we spent the morning sailing for our first time! We learned all the parts of the boat and what their role in the boat is. Since today was pretty windy, the campers got accustomed to the heeling (the slight sideways tipping) of the boat. Since it was extremely hot today, we split into three groups, each taking turns sailing and staying on land to play the game “Drip Drip Drop.” This game is just like Duck Duck Goose, but you drip water on the players head. And the goose gets a whole bailer dumped on their head!
Beginner Opti’s spent their first day in the boats learning how to steer. Coach Chase did this by creating two lines of opti’s connected to each other and then tying them to the back of his coach boat. The last boat in each line was given a tennis ball. The goal was to get that tennis ball from the back of the line to the coach boat by steering correctly and tossing the ball into the opti in front of them. The winners got candy! But win or lose, the game is an all-time favorite to the sailors in camp.
Coach Sophia led he Green Fleeters in a boathandling-focused day on the water. She set an upwind/downwind course with the purpose of the sailors focusing on their handswitches during their tacks. Each sailor improved on their behind-the-back hand switches and control coming out of the tacks and mark roundings. Another focus point of the day was to practice on their proper mainsheet trimming techniques.
Arthur took the other Green Fleeters to the ocean today. Arthur called the capsize and self recovery test a huge success! The sailors learned exactly what to do when you are in the ocean and your boat capsizes.
The 420 Sailors also practiced their steering abilities. In the morning, Coach John set a figure 8 course to help sailors practice their reaches and gybes. In the afternoon, Coach John set a triangle course, which allows the sailors to practice their jib and mainsail trimming, steering, tacks, and gybes. It also helped the sailors to learn the angles of the boat in comparison to the wind. Bruno did an amazing job, improving the most out of the group in his skippering. Coach Dan hopped in the boat with Bruno to give him some one-on-one training. As the breeze picked up later in the day, most sailors also got to practice their hiking skills.
