BBC Day Two and Three

Prepare

As part of the check-out, provision and stow gear for the cruise.

Prepare the boat for sailing, including completion of the Skipper’s Log and Pre-Cruise List.

Class should review all aspects of boat systems covered day one, and explain each system to the instructor prior to departure.

Tides & Currents

Pick a specific location on the bay (for example Richmond Inner Harbor) and have the participants calculate tide and current differences.

  • Discuss Tidal Differences from the Golden Gate
    • High Water
    • Low Water
  • Discuss Current Differences from the Golden Gate
    • Low Slack
    • Flood
    • High Slack
    • Ebb
  • Use the Tidal Current Charts, San Francisco Bay to
    • Estimate the current in a specific location along the planned route of travel to lunch.
    • Discuss the impact of that current on the plotted course
  • Discuss and use the Tidal “Rule of Twelfths” to estimate tidal depths mid tidal range.

The Rule of Twelfths assumes that the rate of flow of a tide increases smoothly to a maximum halfway between high and low tide before smoothly decreasing to zero again and that the interval between low and high tides is approximately six hours. The rule states that in the first hour after low tide the water level will rise by one twelfth of the range, in the second hour two twelfths, and so on according to the sequence – 1:2:3:3:2:1.

The Rule of Twelfths assumes that the rate of flow of a tide increases smoothly to a maximum halfway between high and low tide before smoothly decreasing to zero again and that the interval between low and high tides is approximately six hours.

The rule states that in the first hour after low tide the water level will rise by one twelfth of the range, in the second hour two twelfths, and so on according to the sequence – 1:2:3:3:2:1.

Depth Sounder

Sound the depth at the slip using a sounding line and compare to electronic depth sounder on boat

VHF

VHF communications should have been taught in Basic Coastal Cruising. Verify participant competency with a discussion on

  • Hailing procedures
  • Urgent radio transmissions (mayday/pan pan/securite’)
  • San Francisco area channel assignments:
    • 16 … Distress and hailing
    • 12 … Offshore vessel movements
    • 13 … Bridge to Bridge navigation and safety communications
    • 14 … Vessel Traffic Services … traffic inside the bay
    • 68, 69, 71,72, 77A, 78A … Working channel

Tradewinds Sailing School and Club monitors channel 16. Generally communications will be continued on channel 68 or 69 once contact has been established.

Depart Marina Bay

Days two and three of Bareboat charter include a great deal of choice on the part of the instructor.

At a minimum, the following skills must be covered at some point during the two days.

  • As time allows, conduct a “tour” of the bay, including several points of interest. For example:
    • Pier 1 1/2
    • McCovey Cove
    • Pier 39
    • Sausalito City front
  • Prepare and consume lunch underway
  • Conduct under sail operations in “the slot” to allow experiencing:
    • Heavy weather tacks and jibes
    • Heavy weather heave to
    • Heavy weather reefing under way
  • Set a goal of reaching The Golden Gate Bridge under sail
  • Conduct crew overboard operations in a challenging but safe spot. An example area is in “the slot” east of the ship channel

Depart for overnight anchorage (instructor’s discretion).

Anchor set between 17:00 and 1800.

At Anchor

Dinner

Prepare, consume, and conduct after dinner clean up.

After Dinner

Review test questions

Anchor Watch

Discuss and plan anchor watches for the night.

Test

The test may be taken at a time set by the instructor. Timing examples include:

  • The evening of day two, either before or after dinner
  • The morning of day three, either before or after breakfast
  • Back and Marina Bay at completion of the third day of class.

Day Three

Day three is more of the same as day two. Any skills not covered in day two must be completed as part of day three.

Crew Overboard

There are three different crew overboard maneuvers to complete. Make sure each student successfully completes all three, at least one time. The three methods are:

  • Figure 8
  • Broad reach to close reach
  • Quick stop

Sailing Skills

Heavy weather sailing drills must be completed for:

  • Tacking
  • Jibing
  • Heaving to
  • Reefing

Docking and motoring skills covered must include:

  • Windward sidetie
  • Leeward sidetie
  • Med Moor
  • Upwind and downwind slip docking
  • Fairway turns

Return to Marina Bay with time to

  • Pump out
  • Clean up
  • Take and grade tests (if not done earlier).