News and Events

Northeast Florida Womens Sailing Network

Jacksonville, FL

News and Events

            Skippers/Crew Exchange:
Email: Joan at jrogers17@earthlink.net and specifiy if you are a skipper looking for crew or a crew member looking for a boat for the Women's Racing Series. All requests will be on the NFWSN website.

The Women's Sailing Network is a good place to secure a boat or find crew. We are looking to increase participation for the 2010 season. Newcomers are always welcome!

Don't forget to renew for 2010.
Send your $15.00 payable to Joan Rogers and
mail to:
13964 Sea Prairie Lane
Jacksonville, FL 32224

*Must be a member of the NFWSN in order to qualify for the 2010 Women's Racing Series Awards.

Racing Tip:
In a good breeze, some skippers really like to strap in the sails, bury the rail and drive the boat for all it's worth. The sensation of speed and power can be a kick. But it's only a sensation...burying the rail and sailing a boat on its ear with a lot of weather helm is the slow way and the hard way to get from A to B. You might as well be dragging a bucket behind the boat.

Boats like to slip through the water, not bulldoze. And if you are having trouble getting the autopilot to steer or getting the boat into the "groove" where it will almost steer itself, then you may have the sails trimmed wrong.

Racers try to trim the sails so the helm has about 5 degrees of weather helm...just enough to give the wheel some feel but not enough to create a lot of rudder drag. How do you get the boat into the grove? Sail trim.

The trick is to set your course and then trim the headsail so the telltales are streaming aft on both sides of the sail. Next, trim the main until the telltales on the leech (usually at the battens) stand out straight. (The top telltale on older sails or full cut cruising sails may not oblige but that's okay.)

Use the main sheet traveler for fine adjustments, raising and lowering the car to power up or power down the sail. In winds over 18 knots or so, tying in a reef will reduce the main by 30 percent and will instantly relieve a battle with weather helm...and you will go faster and the boat will stand up straighter.

Trial end error will show you just how the boat likes to be trimmed in a range of wind strengths and sea conditions. If you are having trouble finding the groove where the sails and helm are nicely balanced, remember the oldest rule in sail trim: When it doubt, let it out.
*Tip by Cruising Compass- August 10, 2006

Don’t loose your anchor over the little things

By Sarah-rose, UNF Sail Club

I’ve sailed to Cumberland Island about 10 times and each trip there I’ve always been drawn by the island’s mystery and beauty. The last time I sailed there, I sailed with Dave Porter b/c there was no room on the UNF boat. I didn’t mind because Dave knew a lot about sailing and I was eager to learn something new. I sure did learn about cooking recipes on sailboats and songs from the 70’s. Unfortunately for my nautical interests: the motor stayed on the whole time.

Once the Cruiser’s Club gathered together it was all about the normal food and booze and wild stories. Eventually the old men tired of hearing themselves brag and we retired to our boats J. I slept soundly and awoke early to the sounds of men yelling and rushing about. The fog was pretty thick and chilly for Florida, but it was still clear enough to see details of the island’s shore. And what was ashore was the UNF Bristle!!! The anchor had not been set properly and they had drifted ~ 500 yards to the soft sandy shoreline of the island while the three young men aboard slept. It was just a matter of how fast the incoming tide wanted to push them further up the slope of the shoreline. So we waited for the next tide change and the men managed to push the boat back into the water. I guess sleeping in Dave Porter’s galley wasn’t so bad after all J

By Sarah-rose, UNF Sail Club

NFWSN is looking for a sponsors for our website. If interested, email- webmaster@nfwsn.com or contact Joan Rogers at (904) 220-5839.

If you would like to hold a Workshop and Sail on your boat for an upcoming month, please contact Joan Rogers at (904) 220-5839 or send an email to webmaster@nfwsn.com.

Are you looking for a way to keep your crew informed of upcoming racing and cruising events, race results, photo gallery, events calendar for YOUR BOAT- all in one place? Check out this website: http://www.ttsail.com/ . The only cost is purchasing your domain name. You can purchase your domain name via this site, or at http://www.1and1.com/, or even at http://www.godaddy.com/, For a sample website, check out www.whisper41038.com
No programming knowledge needed. It is simple, and easy

Winners for the Women's Sailing Series for 2009

Mixed Cruiser Class:
1st Place:
Linda Jones
Bernoulli

All- Female
Non-Spinnaker Class
1st Place-
Roseanne Vernon
Liberty Call

2nd Place-
Magalie Laniel
Salsa Verde

Women's Sailing Series for 2010:

Waves Regatta
Saturday, May 8th
Navy Jax Yacht Club

Jesse Ball Regatta
Saturday, June 5th
Epping Forest Yacht Club

Hands on the Helm for Hubbard House
Saturday, September 25th

Women on Water
Saturday. November 13th
Rudder Club