Intermediate Sailors
Beginner Sailors
Speed-up Learning!
For both beginners and intermediates, please visit our online classroom and learn more. Our time together is so limited together. Parents, please encourage your kid(s) to visit our classroom.
The Siebel Sailors Program S3-Ep4
Intermediate Sailors
Beginner Sailors
Speed-up Learning!
For both beginners and intermediates, please visit our online classroom and learn more. Our time together is so limited together. Parents, please encourage your kid(s) to visit our classroom.
The Siebel Sailors Program S3-Ep3
Intermediate Sailors
Beginner Sailors
Speed-up Learning!
For both beginners and intermediates, please visit our online classroom and learn more. Our time together is so limited together. Parents, please encourage your kid(s) to visit our classroom.
The Siebel Sailors Program S3-Ep2
What’s different this fall session is that our sailors are the same kids each and every Saturday Afternoon. It’s nice to get to know one other better and build comradery. Today we made sure to learn everyone’s nickname (as you can see in the picture). Thirteen kids came sailing with us. Our coaching staff consisted of Marite, Mo, Aryan, Natasha, and yours truly. We used two RS Ventures, and 1 RS Feva, The Castoldi safety boat, and the Boston Whaler coach boat.
The Siebel Sailors Program: S3-Ep1
Welcome to another school year of the Siebel Sailors Program! It marks our third year in the program. Eight Saturdays are scheduled between now and mid-November. Our focus on teaching kids how to sail is the main goal. In order to continue, we expect each and every one who joined to be present every Saturday. During the afternoon beginner class, we will be following US Sailing’s Small Boat Beginner Curriculum, and during the morning intermediate class, we will adhere to US Sailing’s Small Boat Intermediate Curriculum. We will be tracking each sailor’s skills development accordingly. It is not expected that everyone will pass the skill requirements in eight weeks, but we do hope that all skills will be introduced, in progress, and about 30% completed.
The Siebel Sailors Program #19
This was the final Siebel Sailors Program for the 2021-2022 school year. We did not waste any time. The kids rigged five RS Fevas, three with main only and two with both main and jib, for double-handed sailing. It was slow sailing out but with the technique they have learned, it was all possible. Coach Ed and I dropped a couple of markers for a windward-leeward course. Everyone looked good and they sailed well. Their progress has been tracked in the Skill-Up App and all passed the test!
The Siebel Sailors Program #18
SIx kids came to sail this morning. An even number of students works great. We used three RS Fevas and sailed double-handed. Everyone did great! The teams stayed close together, sailing up and down, having a blast. We sailed hard for about 1-1/2 hours and then headed back in. A coaching friend of mine was observing us from his apartment. He said: “I can’t believe that you guys were out there this morning, it was pretty windy. Your kids are fast learners!”
The Siebel Sailors Program #17
Today was about sailing around two marks, upwind and downwind, in the most efficient way. It includes: being able to sail in close proximity to other boats; keeping the boat speed up; and knowing where the next mark is, in order to sail the shortest distance. the breeze eventually faded out and we towed everyone back to por
The Siebel Sailors Program #16
The wind conditions were perfect for continued learning. Not so windy so that everyone would capsize, but windy enough where some do. We had nine students and two coaches, so we decided on double-handed sailing using Four RS Fevas. Teams were established and then send off to prepare the boats. We had a short skippers meeting just before leaving the dock.
The Siebel Sailors Program #15
The Siebel Sailors Program #14
Our regional Siebel Sailors Program coach McKenzie MacGuggin joined our session today. She brought Palm Beach Siebel Coach Jenny with her. It was the perfect timing because we were a bit short-handed. We divided up the teams for two RS Ventures, the Castildo Safety Boat and the Boston Whaler coach boat. The plan was to sail around for a while and then stop at the sandbar. While on our way there, coach McKenzie came on the radio and strongly suggested that we skip the sandbar and head back for a penalty meeting in the classroom.
The Siebel Sailors Program #13
Intermediate Sailors - Morning Session
We had 6-sailors participate in the morning session, so we rigged three RS Fevas with main and jib. Today’s drill was to sail Beam-Reach between two markers, clockwise around. The trick is to stay on a straight line between the marks, keeping the spacing between the boats at 2-3 boat lengths. On a whistle, all boats are to trim in and begin sailing a Close-Hauled course. Does this sound like the beginning of racing? (The pictures below have a frame describing the drill).
The Siebel Sailors Program #12
Looking at the wind and weather forecast too far in advance can sometimes be intimidating, especially when we know that our coaching staff will be short-handed. I may take a peek at the forecast a few days out, but other than that, my final plan comes about the morning of the event. Coaching sailing is not much different than coaching any other team sport. Who is available to play and who are the coaches to assist me?
The Siebel Sailors Program #11
Our Team was almost back at ‘full strength’ today. We used five RS Fevas of which three boats sailed singlehandedly with mainsail only and the other two boats sailed doublehanded with jib. We had perfect wind conditions for what we wanted to accomplish. The day began with a short chalk talk on the Safety Position, continued with a Land Drill, and then hands-on Sailing Practice. In my view, this focus skill is the beginning of racing. The Safety Position is where you slow the boat down, which is perfect for waiting for other boats to catch up so that everyone can Line-Up and sail together, just like when Racing. What’s equally important is to learn how the get started quickly so that other boats do not have to wait for you. Otherwise, it could take all day to Line-Up!
The Siebel Sailors Program #10
All the boats were on the first run when I realized that none of them had a stern plug! Boats started to float lower and lower. Everyone capsized numerous times, and some more than others. I was glad to be in our propeller-less safety boat. I was very close, motivating the kids to keep fighting! Each boat had to be rescued and towed back in, one by one.
The Siebel Sailors Program #9
Today was extra special! The US Sailing’s Siebel Sailors Program Manager, Blair Overman, took part in our afternoon programming. Our Regional Headcoach, MacKenzie McGuggin was also in attendance. They contributed both on and off the water. We always learn from MacKenzie when she coaches visit us. She is the best!
The Siebel Sailors Program #8
Thanks to the Siebel Sailors Program, we have plenty of stuff to do on days when we can’t go sailing. We spend almost 3-hours in the classroom this morning and the kids were focused and engaged the entire time. The classroom lessons are much-needed because we normally do not have a lot of time for this during a 3-hour sailing session.
Our intermediate students are being tested on the beginner level knowledge base to ensure that we all fully understand each other. Our Siebel Coach, MacKenzie McGuggin, has created a series of Jeopardy games which was very well received by the kids. We also handed out a couple of worksheets on Knot Making and Points of Sail. Their scores will be entered into the new app, Skill-Up, by US Sailing. Skill-Up tracks the progression of each student and it contains valuable information with videos and lectures on sailing. The Siebel Sailors Program is Awsome!
THE SIEBEL SAILORS PROGRAM #7
The Siebel Sailors Program #5
The Siebel Sailors Program #4
We observed how the current flows around fixed objects in the water. Then we wanted to prove that the earth is round. The kids were asked if they could see Soldiers Key, which is the first island south of Key Biscayne. The water was flat so we aimed south for about 20-minutes. Sure enough, the island popped up and we hung around for a while catching up on knot-making. Everyone was signed on the important Bowline and Square knots.