Sailing Forum

Hey y'all, My name is Elizabeth Barber. I am an USN officer candidate pre-nursing student at UNF. I have excellent water awareness but just don't know the detailed ropes (pun intended) to sailing. I am eager to learn and love all vessels... from Scots, to Hobie, and more. If you have the patience to teach and inspire, or just need someone at the last minute, I am your perfect crew! text/call me at (813)731-1961.

We will be posting up helpful videos for members to be able to view to help them with launching a boat with the hoist in the event it has been a while since the last time you did so. STEPS 1 Make sure bridle is attached at both ends to the proper place on the Flying Scot. 2 Make sure the mainsheet is tight and the boom is properly in its stand. 3 Make sure boat is empty of water and then install the boat's drain plug. 4 Position the boat ad trailer such the the center of the trailer axel intersects the arc of the white cement parking markers by the hoist. 5 Attach the hoist hook to the bridle and just tension the wires for the final check before lifting. 6 Release the front trailer winch strap from the boat. 7 check that the boat bridle cable is straight and not wrapped around the mainsheet cleat or rear of the center board trunk before lift the boat. 8 Begin lifting the boat and check to see if the boat tries to lean to one side or the other (mainsheet maybe too loose if so), If it leans too much to the front or rear, it may have water in it. 9 Once boat is high enough to clear the trailer, begin to swing it to the dock. 10 Look up and make sure boat is rotating such that the side stay do not hit the hoist boom. 11 if putting boat in on South side of dock the boat can go in facing forward. If putting boat in on North side of dock have boat facing backwards. 12 When lowering boat make sure you pull the boat out enough to clear the bulkhead and hold it away until boat is in the water and released from hoist. 13 Lower boat enough so that the hoist hook is slack enough for you to step onto the boat. 14 Once unhooked move boat to deeper water and return hoist for the next member that might need to use it. 15 Reverse these steps to bring it out of the water.

The Rudder Club has a very good variety of boats for rent by members. The process for renting a boat is simple unless you have never done this before. The Club management has rental agreement in the Race shed (which is unlocked) so that a record can be kept so that we can stay on top of needed possible repairs. This is also good for our risk management responsibilities. Club Flying Scots, Hobie Cats- these are available to members for rent as long as they are not being used in an on going Adult Sail Class. If there is a class, just check with Instructor to see if any boats are available for you to use. The Club assumes any member that rents a boat has either taken an Adult Sail Class or has been checked out by one of the knowledgeable members. We are starting a program now that will issue a Club rental card that will identify you as having been checked out, if you are ever asked by a Club Member. We will identify the boats you are checked out to rent on the card. If you would like to get checked out so that you can rent a Club Boat, just post up here that you would like to be checked out. You can also contact the Club Manager and ask that you be contacted to coordinate a time to complete a check out.