UCI Sailing Program CAPRI 14 Instructional Manual UCI Sailing Program University of California Irvine Department of Campus Recreation Anteater Recreation Center 680 California Ave Irvine, CA 92697-4515 (949) 824-5346 www.campusrec.uci.edu 1 Introduction Welcome to UCI Sailing! Our program introduces you to sailing through the use of our fleet of Capri 14’s. These boats are ideal for learning. They are safe, well built and easy to sail, yet they still offer a challenge to the more experienced sailor and racer. As a participant in the program, you will be responsible for taking proper care of the boat and equipment and for conducting yourself in a safe and sportsmanlike manner at all times. This manual is designed to help you in your initial learning phases and to act as a reference guide as you continue to sail. We hope you will use this as a beginning point. There are many great books and references on sailing that you can use to help increase your knowledge as you progress. Before going sailing you need to be prepared. Wear closed-toed shoes and dress for the weather. It is usually cooler on the water than on campus, so dress appropriately including bringing a jacket. Sunglasses, a hat or visor and sunscreen are a must for sun protection. Remember to bring extra clothing to change into if you get wet. Before You Sail 1. Before heading down to go sailing, check the weather conditions and tides by calling the recorded weather report for Newport Harbor at (949) 675-0503. It is also a good idea to check local Internet sites where you can get real time local weather information and the forecasts. 2. Lifejackets or Personal flotation devices are often called PFD’s. The law required that there is one per person on boats like the Capri’s. For classes and other sponsored events, we provide PFD’s and they must be worn at all times. For personal recreational use of the boats, including UCISA, you are responsible for making sure you have PFD’s for each person. Everyone should always wear a PFD when sailing. 3. For all UCISA (club) use, participants must sign out boats in the Capri log located in the jib box. Check over the boat before you rig it up. The instructor will assist you in classes. If equipment is missing or broken, please note this in the Capri log and rig another boat. 4. UCISA Policies: See appendix 2 3 Getting Started and Terminology These directions are intended to be used as a reminder after you have had your first on-the- water class, or for those with experience, once you have seen the boats. It will seem complicated until you actually do it once. Terminology: Do not worry right now about all the new words and sailing terminology that you will read in this manual or hear in your class. You will need to learn a few terms to get started so that your instructor and fellow students can communicate effectively and clearly. This will help everyone. We also do not want you to get overwhelmed with terminology at the beginning. We want to get you out on the water. As you sail more, these terms will be easier to remember. As you progress it is very important to learn the terms so you can communicate with other sailors and your instructor. Rigging While rigging the UCI Capri’s and boats in general, try not to step into a boat while it is resting on the dock. You may need to in order to reach things, but work as much as you can by standing along side the boats. It is hard on the boat as it is not adequately supported on the dock. 4 1. Check the stern drain plug in the back of the boat (on the transom). Unscrew the plug and check for water in the hull. Drain as necessary, replace the plug and tighten completely. If it is not properly tightened, the hull will fill with water. You will then be unable to sail well or get the boat back onto the dock or possibly even sink. Never leave the drain plug unscrewed! Always reinsert before leaving the boat. 2. Check the forward hatch. The hatch in the bow of the boat should always be closed and tightly latched. If it is not securely closed, and you capsize, it will fill with water. It will then be difficult to get the boat back upright, unstable when sailing, and difficult to lift out of the water. The UCI Capri’s hatches have been permanently sealed shut for your safety. STEPS 1 and 2 are REALLY IMPORTANT. 3. Mainsail: UCI has two sizes of mainsails, both with flotation sewn into the top of the sail. The smaller or CUTDOWN sails are great for learning, on windy days or if you are singlehanded sailing. You will generally use them in the first class session. The FULL size mainsail has 3 battens that need to go into the sail. These battens, or stiffening sticks, fit into the pockets that are sewn into the sail. The battens need to fit (there are 3 sizes) and be properly secured. The longest batten is not attached to the sail and in stored on a shelf in the main sail dock box. When you insert the battens, be sure to insert them completely into the slot. 4. Rigging the mainsail: With either mainsail, place it on the seat on the right side of the boat, with the rope edge towards the front of the boat. The top of the sail (with the sewn-in floatation) should be on top making it easy to hoist. The halyard is the line that will hoist up the sail. 5. The Boom is held up while the boats are at the dock with the main halyard attached to the outhaul (a blue line) at the end of the boom. You will need to release the main halyard found cleated off on the right hand side of the boat, and carefully lower the boom into the boat. Take the halyard off the outhaul hook and attach the shackle to the top (head) of the mainsail. Do not let the other end of the halyard go and cleat it off on the starboard (right) side of the mast on the lower cleat. Look up and check that the halyard is free and not twisted or tangled. Be CAREFULL not to pull on a halyard unless the other end is secured, otherwise it will go to the top of the mast. Oops! Do not hoist up the sail at this point. You may insert the first 6-12 inches of the sail bolt rope into the slot on the mast, and raise it about 1 ft. The sails do not get raised until the boats are in the water, and into the wind. 5 6. Un-cleat and ease the outhaul (blue line that runs along the boom), downhaul (red line where the mast and boom meet), boom vang (white line that runs between the boom and mast on a diagonal), and mainsheet (white with red that runs from the boom to a cleat in the center of the boat floor). This is important so the boom is loose enough to allow the sail to be raised. 7. Jibs (the smaller front sails): Beginning classes often will not use the jib, until the 2nd or 3rd week of class. If you are using the jib, unfold it onto the front deck of the boat, with the jib sheets (long lines) at the mast. Attach the lower corner of the sail (where the sail maker insignia or patch is) to the tack fitting, and working from the bottom up, attach the clips (hanks) to the forestay (the front wire). Attach the jib halyard, checking that it is not twisted. Re-cleat the halyard to the cleat on the left side (port) of the mast, but do not raise the sail. The jib sheets are lead, one on each side of the boat, outside of the shrouds (wires that support the mast), then through the jib fairleads. Tie a figure 8 knot with an extra twist in the end of the jib sheet. Your instructor will show you how to tie this knot. (See appendix on knots) 8. Rudders and tillers: Take the rudder and tiller from the rack. Do not put the rudder in until after you get the sails ready. You will need to slide the boat back about 1 foot off the edge of the dock, so you can put the rudder in without having it hit the dock. You can also wait to put the rudder and tiller in, once you have put the boat into the water. The tiller goes under the traveler, the line across the back of the boat. You need to check that both the rudder pins are in the brackets on the stern (back) of the boat. 9. Launching your boat: Check that the centerboard is completely up, before pushing the boat into the water. Hold the bow line, as you slide the boat into the water. Once it is launched, cleat the bow line to a dock cleat. Step into the boat, keeping your weight near the center of the boat. Lower the centerboard, by releasing the control line that is located on the port or left side of the centerboard. Watch that you do not get your fingers in the way, as the board lowers itself.