Captain’s Log: From Powerboats to Sailboats
The Basics
The boat: Speculation, a 44′ Leopard catamaran
Crew: Captain Jalil (instructor)
ASA Students: Michael, Eric and Crystal
Courses Completed: ASA 101 (Basic KeelBoat), ASA 103 (Basic Coastal Cruising), ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising), ASA 114 (Cruising Catamaran)
Day 1: From Powerboats to Sailboats
This crew has no shortage of boating knowledge! Captain Jalil spends the first evening getting to know them and hearing about all their previous boating adventures. Eric operated a powerboat on a lake in Oklahoma for nearly 10 years during his career as a police officer. He has experience rescuing people (man overboard drills will be a breeze for him!) and is comfortable operating under power. Michael was in the Navy and has a Captain’s license. He’s already an accomplished seaman, but is new to sailing.
Day 2: Finding Our Bearings
The first task for the first full day of sailing would be casting off under power and getting to Flamingo Cove! Eric’s powerboat experience came in handy, and he liked the maneuverability of the twin screws. Crystal found the closeness of other boats pretty stressful, but nailed the maneuvers on the first try every time, so she really had nothing to worry about! By mid morning the sails were up but the winds weren’t cooperating so the crew motored over to Buck Island for a snorkel session until the winds picked up. By mid afternoon a seven knot wind out of the SSE gave the crew ample opportunity to raise the sails and practice trimming on different points of sail!
Day 3: Slow-Motion Jibing
The crew went in search of the wind because there wasn’t much near land! Further out they found a nice and light southern breeze to practice tacking in. By afternoon, they had made it back to Buck Island – this time to Shipwreck Cove to snorkel the wreck of the Senora Cartanza! Close to land the wind was still a bit lack-luster so Captain Jalil taught the students some “slow-motion jibing” in three knot winds.
Day 4: Trial By Fire
Eight knot winds from the east made for great tacking and jibing practice in Pillsbury Sound but then— the winds started messing with the crew! “The wind was extremely variable, boxing the compass, gusting, and failing,” Captain Jalil wrote in his Captain’s Log. “It was very challenging – trial by fire!”
Luckily, the crew took it in stride and celebrated their success with Captain Jalil’s famous pasta salad and Water Island Cocktails. A job well done!
Day 5: Speeding Away
Although they ran into a few squalls, the crew found some great wind and Captain Jalil noted it was nice to get some speed on the boat! Michael saw seven knots while he was at the helm. They practice reefing before deciding to hove-to for lunch. In the afternoon, the crew took multiple hand bearings and kept a dead-reckoning log before picking up a mooring at Hawksnest Bay, St. John. Crystal made Instapot chicken, and Captain Jalil made some amazing mushroom risotto and vegetables. It was the first time Eric ever tried leeks, and they were great!
Day 6: A Full Day’s Fun
The wind was great for the crew’s last full day at sea and they practiced jibing through Pillsbury Sound— dodging ferries, reefs, and cays. By early afternoon, at a consistent seven knot clip, they were just north of French Cap Cay. They practiced man overboard drills until the winds died down and then motored over to Flamingo Cove for some anchoring practice. They ended the evening by picking up a mooring at Honeymoon Beach. The sunset was spectacular and the beach was nearly deserted after sunset– a perfect end to the evening!
Day 7: Extracurriculars
Captain Jalil started the morning with a review of the ASA material to make sure the crew was comfortable with all they learned and then they, “nerded out on some extracurricular knots.” Michael wanted to get a chance to try docking, and since the weather was flat calm he had no trouble nudging the big cat up to the fuel dock! They learned a thing or two about passing docklines ashore too. A great win to end the trip!