Practice sails

After completing your Level 1 class, you may take as many practice sails as you like. these sails are fun and and allow you to hone your skills before taking Level 1 rating tests. These practice sails are always conducted with a rated ASI sailor aboard who will help you safely sharpen your skills.

The skippers for practice sails are all experienced sailors who volunteer their time and talents so new students can become proficient sailors. Many of these skippers are also instructors.

The number of practice sails is unlimited for the season. However, students who are not rated within 24 months of their class must re-enroll in the classes.

We ask students to join our Telegram group. The link is also below.

ASI Kent and Stony Lake Practice Sail Group

Join ASI Kent and Stony Lake Practice Sail Group

Skippers:

Be sure that the student does all the sailing and rigging. You act as a resource for the student. Be a coach. Watch what they do and offer encouragement and positive suggestions.e sure that the student does all the sailing and rigging. You act as a resource for the student. Be a coach. Watch what they do and offer encouragement and positive suggestions.
Find something positive about any maneuver that the student executes, and then shape their behavior toward the goal.
Be aware of the skills on the water test. Push the student to try everything, but ask them what skills they want to work on that day.
Don’t forget to practice docking. It may be that on an evening practice sail docking needs to be practiced early, while the wind is still up.
Have Fun!

Students:

Take charge of your experience. Tell your skipper what you want to work on and then do it.
Remember that all rated members skipper practice sails. Their skills may vary. If you need instruction (not just practice), request a practice sail with an instructor.
Take criticism with a grain of salt. We try for consistency, but everyone has his/her own idiosyncratic ways of doing things. Take what you need from the experience. You will find that there is something to learn from everyone with whom you sail.
Be sure that you learn something every time that you sail. Each time is a new experience. We all learn something every time we go out on the water. You should too.
Have Fun!

Kent Lake Practice Sails

We offer Practice Sails at Kent Lake on 4 days a week. Organized practice sales, called Wet’n’Wild Wednesdays, or Sunday Drive, Party Tuesdays and Thundering Thursdays are held all summer long. A student can just come out to Kent Lake during these events and sail with a rated member.

At Kent, rudders should be shipped at the last minute before departure
from the slip. When shipping the rudder, put it over the side of the boat (not under the traveler), hook the safety line to the traveler, then move the
rudder to the stern and ship as usual. Don't use the flotation cushion as a
pad.

Prior to departure from the slip or parking area, all sheets and halyards
should be installed in blocks and ready for use. When raising sails,
remember main up first and down last when returning.

**Kensington Practice Sails**
Description	Time	Contact
Sunday Drive (Pirates Welcome)	10:00 AM	Mark B.
Party Tuesdays	10:30 AM	Warren P
Wet and Wild Wednesdays	6:00 PM	Paul J.
Thundering Thursdays (informal racing)	5:30 PM	Sam D.

Stony Creek Lake Practice Sails

Stony Creek has organized practice sails called Tradewinds Tuesdays and Thrill Thursdays and Saturdays after instructions are over. Look for the announcement posted in the Burgee and Telegram channels.

Sailing at Stony Creek first requires getting the boat into the water, since there are no permanent slips, as at Kensington. The boats are kept in the boat yard on trailers. Consequently, you must have a trailer hitch or make arrangements with your crew for one.

At Stony, boats are rigged on
the trailer and then moved to the launch site. Sails should be furled and tied
down, rudders in up position and all gear aboard before boat leaves the
storage area.

The boats must be towed a short distance to the ramps for launching. It does take a bit more work before you are sailing, but more work doesn’t necessarily mean more time. You don’t have to open dock boxes for things like life vests and sails, because they are kept with the boat. Bailing the boats after rainy days is seldom necessary as it is at Kensington. Another advantage to sailing at Stony Creek is that the hulls are cleaner and do not accumulate algae as at Kensington where the boats are continuously in the water.

Launching at Stony Creek

The detailed procedure for launching the boats at Stony Creek is covered in the Level 1 sailing classes.

At Stony Creek, when pulling a boat out, make sure no lines are tied or fouled with the dock. Otherwise you might find the boat on the ramp after you pull the trailer out of the water.