Constellation
Pond Yachts.
Congratulations on acquiring a
Constellation Pond Yacht! These model boats are completely and lovingly
handmade, in America. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy sailing your boat.
First set up your boat properly;
hook the jib onto the forward staple on the deck. Check and be sure everything
is in its right place. The main and jib sheets,
are lines that control the main and jib sails. The guys, used to adjust these sails should slide freely up and down
the shrouds. (lines that hold up the
mast.)
As with a full sized sailboat, you choose your
body of water and weather for optimum
sailing. You need to be able to retrieve your boat from the shore so small
ponds, pools, lakes and the like are preferable since you can walk around to
the other side and collect your boat when it beaches. This being said, chasing
your boat with a kayak is great fun!
For easy retrieval and sailing with
younger sailors a fishing line with a swivel can be attached to the staple on
the bow (Front of boat). If you want
to change course, just give a light tug on the line and the sailboat will come
about. With this method you do not have to leave a younger, non-swimming sailor
alone to retrieve your boat; when finished just reel the boat to your location.
Use at least 8 pound test line with a proper fishing swivel. Semi-fixed rudders
on our larger boat can be used to certain advantage, but for beginners these
are best set straight until some experience has been obtained.
Beating
to Windward: The sails should be as tight and toward the
center of the boat as needed to maintain the course desired. This should not be
overdone as the boat will travel quicker when the sails are loose. Keep the
sails as slack as you can while maintaining your course.
Beam
and Broad Reach: These two course directions are with the wind
coming off the beam side, or the rear
quarter side of the boat, and are best with both the main and jib as slack as
possible. This position of the sails also allows a boat to right itself more
quickly and easily in heavier winds.
Reefing: If the
amount of wind seems too great for the boat, the Jib sail can be unhooked,
twisted round and round itself, and then re-hooked to support the mast. This is
known as roller reefing on modern
sailboats and helps to reduce the sail area.
We suggest a trip to the
library for books on sailing, model boat sailing and nautical adventures.
Please practice water and boating safety at all times; use adult supervision.
Our boats are not recommended for the bath tub or younger children.
CONSTELLATIONPONDYACHTS@gmail.com
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