Guys
I need your advice and feedback please.
As some of you know we have fun a very successful windsurfing course for Venturer Scouts (14-17.5yrs old) in Sydney through the Summer and have 17 new qualified windsurfers.
Next season we plan to run 2 beginner courses (one in Northern Beaches and on in Southern beaches) plus run an intermediate course to consolidate the skills of the 17 we already have and keep them enthused with our awesome sport.
I am planning to run an "introduction to wavesailing" for the intermediate to advanced course at Gerroa and have drafted the course content below.
Wavesailing Development Plan
1. Demonstrate ability to water start in a variety of winds up to 24 knots
2. Understand the safety precautions to be taken when Wavesailing
3. Have a good knowledge of the rules of the waves
4. Demonstrate ability to windsurf out through the wave break and return to the beach in up to 1 meter waves
5. Demonstrate ability to catch a wave and wavesail into the beach to return to the same point of entry
6. Understand wavesailing theory of:
a. Be able to identify a rip and demonstrate ability to get out of a rip
b. Different types of waves and breaks
i. Steep beach = dumping wave
ii. Shallow beach = spilling wave
c. Different wave riding directions in relation to the wind direction
i. Back side riding
ii. Front side riding
d. Difference between a left hand and right hand break
e. Effect of tides on waves
f. Equipment and self preservation techniques
i. Safe zones – clear of waves on beach and outside breaking zone
ii. Mast into wave (when fallen into breaking zone)
iii. Dive under larger waves
iv. Stall on way out to evade larger approaching sets
g. Controlling the board when Wavesailing through white water
Remember we want to keep it simple and safe. Gerroa is a very gentle break and easy to learn spot (most of the time). I taught my own kids wavesailing there.
Many of you are experienced wavesailors and instructors
Can any of you suggest anything you feel should be added or changed? I would really appreciate your input
cheers
Jason Juretic
Looks good Jason.
The only thing that I would consider adding would be something to test surf swimming competency. ie swim out through break and return, utilising waves and conditions to your advantage.
This may however be part of another course you run that underpins this one. Ideally you may want to create a tierd course approach, so do something like a certificate in surf skills first, to teach the basics of the ocean, rips, waves etc, do some surf swimming and maybe some first aid (or that might even be a seperate module). Once your students have completed pre-requisite modules then move onto the wavesailing. That way they need certification in the base modules prior to getting to the wavesailing.
just some i though of for you (probally not to relevent through.
light wind days when you haven't the availability to trim .\but still have enough to wavesail. Gear choice.
Jibing onto a wave Chicken jibing when no safe passage has been established..
correct way to land without snapping boards.
Knowledge of cpr. DR ABC
Composure when drifting back/swimming to shore after gear breakage.
(dicth the sail but never the board (allways go for the board first) -*And now notify the sea rescue as discussed on main forum)
Emergency survival sailing techniques (such as using rope downhaul around base if uj is broken) -although i punctured ahole in the board i still go back saftley.
funny ones (for a laugh)
How to remove blue jelly fish stingers of your face and boom after a waterstart.
Avoiding cray pots at 50 kph
What about carrying your gear including preferred methods for the walk of shame (ie long distances)?
Launching and landing in the wave zone?
Hi Jase
looks like a very thorough approach to me. The kids are in good hands and lucky to have such a keen and competent advisor. couple of thoughts to include if they are not already within your main headings
1. Weather forecasts and terminology (eg beaufort descriptions that BoM use and relation to wind speed eg Fresh is not just a nice word but specifies the wind range). I understand from the inquests that even Syd -Hob sailors didn't understand the full terminology of the words like 'storm' a few years back and the range of wind and swell around the specific ones quoted. ie peaks much higher than quoted values. This would be in terms of knowing what is coming during the day and whetehr to expect to be blown off you feet in an hours time.
2. The internet and where to find useful info and predictions
3. The buddy system for agreeing to look out for each other. I broke a mast at Makaha a few years back and it took me 45mins to swim my gear in, the whole time my 2 mates would come in every few runs gybe round me and check I was still doing OK. If no buddy system letting someone know where you are. Also not specifically wavesailing but mob phone or epirb or sim if doing downwind coast runs.
4. checking your gear (esp universal for wear and tear)and ideas how to set up you board to self rescue if something breaks - reverse the fin if the tab breaks or use harness through footstrap etc (I think you might have some of that already)
have fun
Rob
WOOWWW, great work!!!!
I would add a session on the beach or the cliff with a ground swell coming and make them read the seas. A lot of trouble can be toss by knowing when the bigger sets are coming...or taking the last wave or whatever..but reading of the sea is a major part of the game. With the reading, you know you will catch a wave, you know when to chicken jibe or even predict when the channel could closeout. I know it is just for 1m or less..maybe in a next step class?
Good job again!
Nord
