USNA Sailboats

Does sail training make a good officer?

  • Definitely

    Votes: 13 56.5%
  • Not really

    Votes: 4 17.4%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I dont know

    Votes: 6 26.1%

  • Total voters
    23
my experience with Straits of Gibralter is passing through late at night, and going up to the catwalk on the edge of the flight deck, and looking at the Morrocan coast with NVG's

and almost dropping the NVGs overboard.....

that would have been an uncomfortable conversation with the Skipper, since said NVGs were locked up and were only to be accessed for scheduled NVG missions
So what you're saying is that these particular Night Vision Goggles were Not Voluntarily Given to you and that you would be Noticed Very Guilty of procuring said NVGs in a Not Very Good way, then?
 
My DS *LOVED* it first block this summer! Even though they neglected to empty the septic tank before heading into the harbor in NY and it was full by the time they anchored in Stamford at 0300...and didn't get off the boat until well after 0800.

GPS did pretty well - sometimes we had 8 hours without a signal, but nothing more than that thankfully. It was like Plebe Summer hunting for Waldo all over again but just hitting the refresh button on Marine Traffic all over again :). They hit a pretty bad storm on the way back - when DS finally was able to communicate, he said he was at the helm when the storm hit and the toe rails were in the water and at one point they saw 56 knot gusts. This mama is glad I found that out after the fact and I was blissfully unaware (on purpose) of the weather! Apparently as soon as they got through the storm, they started blaring the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song. :D
Drew the short straw and got Stamford YC instead of Indian Harbor in Greenwich?
 
The Navy 44s and YPs wreak havoc on the chesapeake. Always nicely in the middle of the channel meeting deep loaded bulkers bound for the capes.
Sir, as much as I don’t want to, I will take responsibility for my A-Nav putting us in the middle of the channel by the time I woke up around 2am. He, I, and the skipper had a talk after I spent an hour or so deconflicting with a couple tugs and a handful of tankers. While less than ideal, we all learned valuable lessons that night.

On that note, I am continuously amazed by the professionalism and competency of the Chesapeake pilots. They know who we are, they recognize our lack of experience (and at times complete incompetence) and they convey the seriousness of their job over the VHF while managing to be incredibly helpful. They certainly demand the respect that all maritime professionals deserve.
 
Sir, as much as I don’t want to, I will take responsibility for my A-Nav putting us in the middle of the channel by the time I woke up around 2am. He, I, and the skipper had a talk after I spent an hour or so deconflicting with a couple tugs and a handful of tankers. While less than ideal, we all learned valuable lessons that night.

On that note, I am continuously amazed by the professionalism and competency of the Chesapeake pilots. They know who we are, they recognize our lack of experience (and at times complete incompetence) and they convey the seriousness of their job over the VHF while managing to be incredibly helpful. They certainly demand the respect that all maritime professionals deserve.
One rule not in the Rules of the Road, is the "law of tonnage". Sometimes, its wise to give way to large vessels...just because... Do they teach the
Fate of Captain O'Day at USNA?
 
One rule not in the Rules of the Road, is the "law of tonnage". Sometimes, its wise to give way to large vessels...just because... Do they teach the
Fate of Captain O'Day at USNA?
That law is similar to the sentiment of the harbor pilot in Morehead City on my first visit there. We were inbound and there was an outbound (with pilot) who was running up the middle of the channel. Our pilot let loose some choice words and then ended with "I'll make that bastard EAT STEEL" which was quite unsettling to my CO (on one side of the pilot) and me (other side). It turned out that "that bastard" was the pilot aboard the other ship who was also his brother.
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Thankfully there was no steel eating that day.
 
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That law is similar to the sentiment of the harbor pilot in Morehead City on my first visit there. We were inbound and there was an outbound (with pilot) who was running up the middle of the channel. Our pilot let loose some choice words and then ended with "I'll make that bastard EAT STEEL" which was quite unsettling to my CO (on one side of the pilot) and me (other side). It turned out that "that bastard" was the pilot aboard the other ship who was also his brother.
.
Thankfully there was no steel eating that day.
What, nepotism in State Pilot Organizations....tell me its not true!
 
Sir, as much as I don’t want to, I will take responsibility for my A-Nav putting us in the middle of the channel by the time I woke up around 2am.

Lolz. Dude, this wasn't directed at anyone in particular. This is an everyday occurrence for the YPs and the 44s in the bay. Hell I watched four of them loose a game of chicken with a set of rocks in front of Kings Point my plebe year. Don't sweat it too much. If you think the 44s and YPs are bad you should see what the carriers and destroyers do at cape henry, because it's far more terrifying.

As a learning experience though, I draw 9 meters up the bay and we regulary depart from the deepwater route, no need to be in the middle if you can give way to someone that does.
 
Sir, as much as I don’t want to, I will take responsibility for my A-Nav putting us in the middle of the channel by the time I woke up around 2am. He, I, and the skipper had a talk after I spent an hour or so deconflicting with a couple tugs and a handful of tankers. While less than ideal, we all learned valuable lessons that night.

As a learning experience though, I draw 9 meters up the bay and we regularly depart from the deepwater route, no need to be in the middle if you can give way to someone that does.
@Skipper07 a review of the ColRegs by the A-Nav is probably in order.. particularly the Steering and Sailing Rules, Rule 9(b)..

I had to chuckle a bit when I saw this picture of a Navy YP.. Looks like the hull is fitted out with some kind of permanent rubber fender/rubbing rail system.. They probably got tired of repairing hull damage that resulted from rookie drivers having allisions with piers..:)

YP707-1.jpg
 
My son and one of his classmates are at our house on Cape Cod (for a few more days). Today we picked up another 2023 MIDN off one of the USNA sail boats that are spending an overnight in Woods Hole. Operation Water Buffalo provides a decent nights sleep and a good shower for some of these MIDN on the 44 ft. boats. Its amazing how these classmates take care of each other-even if they have never met each other. I think I will cook them a good breakfast (with Bacon of course). View attachment 9658Go NAVY!
We live in Falmouth. My mid, hubby and I went down last Sunday night and caught some mids before they left for the night. Next year I'll go earlier to see if anyone needs anything. Today we went around the Vineyard to watch VOST boats. Zaraffa was doing awesome!
 
@Skipper07 a review of the ColRegs by the A-Nav is probably in order.. particularly the Steering and Sailing Rules, Rule 9(b)..

I had to chuckle a bit when I saw this picture of a Navy YP.. Looks like the hull is fitted out with some kind of permanent rubber fender/rubbing rail system.. They probably got tired of repairing hull damage that resulted from rookie drivers having allisions with piers..:)

View attachment 9728
How about those manned models in Grenoble Ship Handling school. Solid rubber bulbous bows-I recall.
 
How about those manned models in Grenoble Ship Handling school. Solid rubber bulbous bows-I recall.
Never made it to Grenoble Ship Handling School.. I wish I would've had the chance to go there. APL did send me to MSI Newport and MSI San Diego a couple of times though.. I also did a couple of reserve stints as an instructor for the Officers Practical Shiphandling Course [the Navy's version of Grenoble] at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, VA.. That was a blast. Here's a picture I took docking one of the models on Lake Bradford.. This was the USS SYLVANIA which was the single screw/low power combination model.. They had me instructing in that model because of my Merchant Marine background.

PICT0226754.JPG
 
I'm curious why Stamford YC would be drawing the short straw? Are they not good hosts to the Mids there?
An attempt at humor. Stamford's snootier YC neighbors in Greenwich (Belle Haven, Indian Harbor, Riverside) have a bit of a superiority complex in terms of their sailing ability and the quality of their facilities.
 
My DS *LOVED* it first block this summer! Even though they neglected to empty the septic tank before heading into the harbor in NY and it was full by the time they anchored in Stamford at 0300...and didn't get off the boat until well after 0800.

GPS did pretty well - sometimes we had 8 hours without a signal, but nothing more than that thankfully. It was like Plebe Summer hunting for Waldo all over again but just hitting the refresh button on Marine Traffic all over again :). They hit a pretty bad storm on the way back - when DS finally was able to communicate, he said he was at the helm when the storm hit and the toe rails were in the water and at one point they saw 56 knot gusts. This mama is glad I found that out after the fact and I was blissfully unaware (on purpose) of the weather! Apparently as soon as they got through the storm, they started blaring the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song. :D
My son had a very similar report - Stamford YC (got a kick out of riding around in the host family's Ferrari), host family four story house, at the helm when the storm hit - they must have been in the same group of boats in first block. I didn't hear any septic tank stories! I don't know if they were instructed to do this but thought it was nice of son to mail the host family a USNA sailing embroidered belt from the Midstore as a thank you gift after he got home on block 2 leave.
 
If one wants to be part of off-shore sailing team at USNA, how competitive is to get a spot? Is it walk on when plebes select a sport?
DS told in one of the letters about his intention to be part of the Intramurals sailing team but was rejected.
 
There are recruited athletes who have spots going in (oldest was one of these), and also walk on opportunities (youngest was this…). Varsity sports have only so many spots obviously. Not sure how intramurals are as far as only allowing so many. It could be that a specific skill set is required? I’m not sure. But I’ve not heard of limited spots for a true intramural activity.
 
If one wants to be part of off-shore sailing team at USNA, how competitive is to get a spot? Is it walk on when plebes select a sport?
DS told in one of the letters about his intention to be part of the Intramurals sailing team but was rejected.
Rejected from Intramurals ? May have been a capacity issue (only so many boats !)
Unless things have changed in 36 years (which of course is quite possible), offshore sailing doesn't recruit, and its largely a homegrown program. I did it Youngster year (raced the then '44 foot Luders Yawls) after my Third Class Sailing cruise. My recollection was that getting on a boat was largely networking (Upperclass Skipper in my Company like me). It may be hard for a Plebe --offshore sailing is a pretty big time committment, but was a lot of fun.
 
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