American 14 Procedures - GULF SHORE SAILING SCHOOL

AMERICAN SAILBOAT PRE-LAUNCH AND END OF THE DAY SECURING

A. Gather necessary safety items from Gulf Shore Sailing facility: Jib, VHF Radio, Paddle, PFD's as necessary (some students and crew may have their own PFD's) A throwable cushion for comfort or flotation device.

B. Inspect all standing rigging forestay, shrouds and cable turn-buckles are properly tensioned and secured to the mast. Inspect the halyards for the main sail and the jib are not tangled around the mast or mast head. Skipper should check bow locker for an anchor and 50 ft of line. Use bailing bucket and sponge if water in cockpit before other crew step a board.

C. Advise someone on shore where you plan to sail and return when there isn't a supervised event. Take a marine radio.

D. Remove the sail cover and stow it in bow locker. Leave sail ties on boom until main sail is ready to deploy. Make sure that there are 3 battens in pockets on main sail and the 4 reef point lines are installed on the main sail. Secure the main sail halyard with a bowline knot, put the head of the mainsail into the mast slot and hoist up the main halyard 6 inches secure the halyard to the mast cleat.

E. Check the jib halyard is not tangled around mast. Attach the tack and hank on the sail hanks. Attach the jib halyard to the head with a bowline knot, ensure the sail hanks are aligned properly. Before hoisting jib ensure that jib halyard is not tangled around other mast rigging. Use a sail tie on the jib secure to boat deck cleat. The American with the ROLLER FURLING- remove jib cover and stow. Insure that the furling spool line is not tangled and spool deployment line is secured and the Jib sheets are cleated .

F. Lower the RED center board line down about 6 inches. GREEN center board line pulls up center board. Lower the rudder with the down line about half way and secure it with the jam cleat. Decide what direction you want the bow pointed depending on wind conditions.

G. Board your remaining crew by stepping into center of cockpit and keep their weight low to balance the boat.

H. Review with the crew how you will depart: paddling, sailing or a tow. If the water is deep enough, lower center board and rudder completely and secure lines in jam cleats. Remove sail ties from jib and main hoist sails.

I. Returning to the dock: First, decide how you will be returning to dock with your crew (being towed, paddling or sailing in). If you decide to be towed in, lower and secure all sails with ties before being towed. If paddling in, decide if sails are needed. If Sailing in, decide what sails you will need to maneuver to dock.

J. Pull up GREEN CENTER BOARD LINE about half way and secure. Pull up rudder about half way and secure the up line to the jam cleat.

K. SECURING AMERICAN SAILBOAT AT DOCK: Leave boat in a shipshape condition. Tie off halyards, raise center board and rudder and secure. Remove jib if non roller furling boat and put jib in sail bag . Roller Furling equipped boat install sail cover and secure cover with line so cover doesn't chafe jib when wind moves cover. Secure main sail ties to boom a install sail cover and secure both ends. Return jib in blue bag, PFD's and other equipment to proper storage areas at GSS - VHF marine radio OFF and put it on charging radio shelf using proper connector.
L. Write up any issues you encountered so they can be repaired.