Educational Sail

Welcome, sailors of all skill levels. Sailing is a sport that will challenge you in all aspects of strength and intelligence. The rewards are great and limitless once you fuse your mind with your strength and become instinctive. Only then will you be proficient enough to sail with more creativity and navigate with greater wisdom.

Captain / Instructor Robert Svoboda

• US Coast Guard certified 50-gross ton captain
• 7000 hours of aggressive sailing experience -Expert anchoring techniques
• Catalina Island, Channel Islands, San Francisco, Washington and the Colombian river
• Extensive knowledge of the vessels’ mechanical and electrical systems

Vessels Qualifications

• Harken roller furling system x 2
• Electric windlass
• Internalized running rigging
• Clutches on all sheets
• Self-tailing winches
• Wheel helm
• Auto Pilot
• 24-mile radar with Plotter
• VHF radio
• GPS Fully functional navigation station
• 85 HP diesel engine
• And all the creature comforts of your home

The sailing vessel Babayaga is a full keel offshore workhorse designed for circumnavigation. She is fast, with her mast topping 65 feet off the water and a 1000-square foot sail plan makes her a joy to sail in all conditions.

All the sailing equipment is top of the line and capable of high performance sailing. We sail with two furlers, one on the jib and the staysail. A cradle and lazy jacks are used on the main sail. Italian clutches on all sheets and self-tailing winches make her very easy to handle.

Storm Sailing is also offered. This is a great way to get a taste of some bigger wind. When this happens the USCG issues a small craft or gale warnings. We sail in the San Diego Bay where we will benefit from the big wind without the big waves. This will allow us to practice in challenging conditions that require efficient skills. Ask Robert for more details.

Also, Babayaga is equipped with a feathering prop, which cuts down on drag at low wind speeds making her maneuverable in winds as low as 5 knots. Keep in mind that we are moving a 25 gross ton object in tight quarters using just 5 knots of wind with no disk brakes. This is extremely challenging when you have boats in the proximity of your exit strategy and not to mention the beach. Maneuvers must be based and executed on knowledge of current weather, tidal information, and navigational confidence.

The educational sail will cover:

• Hoisting main sail under anchor
• Application of power using main from an anchor
• Retrieval of all chain ground tackle under sail
• Close quarters sail manipulation and selection
• Hydrodynamic effects at low and high speed
• The keel and mast love affair
• Executing all points of sail
• Shaping sails (my personal favorite)
• Basic navigation and GPS plotter set up and use
• Approach tactics, limitations & speed under sail
• Effectively deploy ground tackle under sail
• Stopping
• The use of snubbers and storm gear at anchor
• Time compression effect under sail in close quarters
• Wind and Solar energy
• The 12volt system
• Desalination RO system
• Basic Diesel mechanics

You will be able to participate in all the maneuvers listed under guidance. By executing these maneuvers, ALL under sail, you will quickly grasp the physics of wind propulsion. You will be more knowledgeably creative with your troubleshooting senses and above all be increasingly more confident in yourself and your craft.

Offshore Sailing

This is a fun class with extended tacks and experimentation with the sail plan. It will give you an idea of what to expect when you are out at sea.

• Weather
• Navigation
• Standing and running rigging and the Mast
• Load and stress points on a vessel and her rig
• Reefing
• How to conserve your own energy offshore
• Food and preparation. What’s easy to make under way?
• Fun things to do while making long voyages
• Offshore Preventive Maintenance
• Personal performance garment practicalities
• And Yes… Seasick prevention