I spent all week sailing at Nashville Sail Camp!
I never knew sailing could be so fun and challenging at the same time! I loved spending every day outdoors (and on the water) at Nashville Sail Camp. I’m so glad Leadership Academy & Percy Priest Yacht Club put on this awesome program. Hamilton Creek Marina is really cool, and being on the lake is so peaceful.
Before going to Camp, I had been sailing a few times with my family. But my parents did most of the work. Of course I love to be able to relax on the sailboat, but sailing will be so much more exciting now that I’ve practiced some new boating skills.
Here are some of the most important things I learned at Nashville Sail Camp:
- Water Safety: Before we started sailing at Camp, we learned important water safety tips like how to properly wear and secure a life jacket, what to do to maintain control of the sailboat, and how to remain calm when we encounter challenges on the water. My friends and I made sure to remind each other of what we learned, so we could help each other stay safe and calm, even when something happened that was unexpected. Our counselors did an awesome job of helping us be prepared!
- Rigging the Boat: I learned about all the different wires, ropes and lines that support the rig and control the sails. I can show you how you get the boat ready to sail and how to control the boat while you’re sailing. I used to be a little scared to go on the water, but understanding how the sailbot works helps me to be more confident and makes sailing more fun.
- Finding the Wind: Some sailboats have special instruments that help measure the wind speed and find the direction of the wind, but there are other ways to know where the wind is going and how strong it is. I learned to be creative when finding the wind by watching for waves, and paying attention to which way the flags moved when a breeze came.
- Basic Boat Handling: Do you know how to steer and maneuver the boat when you’re sailing? I can show you thanks to the techniques we learned at camp. My group learned how to turn, speed up, slow down the boat, and avoid obstacles in the water. I even got to sail on my own!
- De-rigging and Boat Care: It’s just as important to know how to take down the rigging when you’re done having fun on the water. We learned how to put all the rigging equipment and parts away properly, and worked as a team to make sure the boats were cleaned and well cared-for. Since we all got to enjoy the boats, we are all responsible for maintaining them so others can enjoy them, too!
Sail Camp was the first time ever gotten to take charge of a sailing trip from start to finish. My counselors knew just what to say when I felt stuck, and helped me see how I could solve problems step-by-step. I met lots of new friends who had a common interest in sailing. We’re going to ask our families to sign us up for another session so we can have even more adventures on the water!
