2-Hour Cruise Includes: private vessel and service fees, interactive program, tax, soft drinks, and bottled water plus a Schooner Woodwind Participation Patch for each scout
2-hour Sailing cruise departs from Annapolis, Maryland and sails into the Chesapeake Bay.
Goal: To educate the scouts about Small Boat Sailing using an interactive approach while cruising the Chesapeake Bay aboard a 74-foot, classic wooden schooner, Woodwind. – see curriculum below
Availability: All Scout programs will be private events for up to 40 passengers. If you do not have a large troop, this would be a great opportunity to work with other troops to keep costs down per troop.
Badge Requirements
Safety Discussion including:
- Rules of the Road
- Warning signs of inclement weather
- How can weather affect safety and performance?
- What would be in a float plan?
- Proper clothing
- Safety Inspections- what would they include?
- Proper Lookout
- What if Safety Scenarios that can happen aboard any boat:
- What if we started taking on water, went aground, or fire?
- Caring for and maintaining a sailboat
- Review sailing terminology, types of sailboats
Sailing including:
- Identify wind direction using wind indicators
- Proper commands
- Safety: including safety position, safety in “trimming” sails, the safety of using a winch and handle, and safety in tying off lines
- Showing Scouts how to properly set sails for the course that you are going on.
- The Crew will show how to change sails when the course or wind changes.
- Discuss “Points of Sail”, continuously ask what point of sail are we on right now.
- Participate in commands for tacking and/or gybing
Knot Tying including:
- Show how to tie the appropriate knots
- square, clove hitch, two half hitches, bowline, cleat hitch, and figure-eight knot.
- When would you use each one of those knots?
- Discuss the kinds of lines used on sailboats and the types of fibers in their manufacture. Advantages and disadvantages of each.
How We Teach:
During your two-hour cruise aboard the Schooner Woodwind, we take a very interactive approach to educating the scouts about sailing. The crew educates by asking questions. This enables our crew to find out their level of interest and knowledge in a fun and interactive way while sharing fun facts.
- Scouts will be split into smaller groups (around 8 each)
- Each smaller group will work directly with a crew member
- Scouts will cycle through the different learning topics
When they get to the captain’s station, the captain will quiz them on their newfound knowledge.
- When a scout raises their hand and a correct answer is given, they will take a turn helming (steering) the boat.
- It is our intent to offer every scout a turn at the “helm”.
Curriculum
Permission to Board: We will have the scouts ask permission before they come aboard. We will tell them where to stow their belongings and what to expect aboard.
Staying Afloat: We have one of our crew demonstrate to the whole boat how to correctly put on a life jacket and adjust it for their size.
All Hands On Deck: During our safety speech, before we leave the dock, we discuss personal safety, what to do if someone falls overboard, if there is a fire aboard, and how to work the boat systems safely.
“SAFETY AT SEA”
- Rules of the Road
- Weather Warning Signs
- Safety Scenarios & Inspections
- Proper Lookout
- Sailing Terminology/Types of Boats
- Care & Maintenance of a Boat
“SAIL AWAY”
- Identify Wind Direction by Using Different Wind Indicators
- Properly Set Sails for the Course
- Discuss and Show the “Points of Sail”
- Tacking and Gybing
- How to use a Winch and Proper Knots
“AIDS TO NAVIGATION”
- Buoyage System
- Chart Symbols
- Shapes for Buoys
- Beacons and Day Beacons
- Ranges and Range-Markers
- Differences in Intracoastal Waterways, Lakes, and Rivers
“HELM THE BOAT”
- How does the boat steer?
- How do you give commands as captain?
- Every scout will get a chance to “helm” the boat.
There is so much to see as we sail past the United States Naval Academy into the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, we point out the interesting sights to everyone aboard.
Great info to give to the scouts before their arrival: Parts of the Boat, Terms Used by Sailors
What to Wear: Since we sail rain or shine, bring gear, so you are prepared for the conditions that are predicted ON the water – layered clothing and soft-soled shoes.
Plan Your Trip
Sailing Schedule:
Summer: Late May – August & October, Seven Days a Week
11:00 am – 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Spring & Fall: Mid-April – Mid-May & September, Seven Days a Week
10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sailing Rates for Private Cruise:
Sunday through Friday Daytime:
2-20 passengers $1637.24
21-30 passengers $2455.86
31-40 passengers $2865.17
Saturday trips:
All passengers (up to 40) $3240.93
- Rates include private vessel and service fees, interactive program, tax, sodas, and bottled water.
- Each scout will receive a Schooner Woodwind Participation Patch
We sail rain or shine. There are no refunds or exchanges unless the captain cancels the cruise due to unsafe conditions. “Rain Protection” can be added for an additional fee. This would allow you to cancel and reschedule within our guidelines.
According to BSA safety procedures, all scouts, adults, and other children aboard a cruise must be outfitted in life jackets. We have additional Type III life jackets that are more comfortable for non-emergency use.