Monday, December 9, 2013

Our new sailing instructions


Constellation Pond Yachts.
    Guaranteed to Sail.                                               
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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