Open House Day is Coming! Sunday, July 27th
Isha Mishra
Sunday, July 27th is our next Open House! Learn more about volunteer roles below. Skippers - please read revised guidelines at the end of this email!
The public event runs from 1-4pm, but volunteers should arrive by 12:00-12:30 to check in with the Open House Coordinators, Dennis & Isha, for training and placement. Stay for dinner once all the boats and equipment are put away!
Sign up online here: https://forms.gle/4w9E1qQFSDugRF6g7
Or just show up at 12:00-12:30pm the day of.
Open House roles include:
For the kitchen crew, we will need volunteers throughout the day. Come help with lunch at 10:00am, dinner at 3:00pm, or clean up at 6-7pm.
Kitchen Setup & Lunch (6) : Early bird? Come prepare lunch.
Grocery Runners (2): For the food shopaholics.
Dinner Cooks/Preppers (6): Enjoy a day of comradery while chopping veggies and meats.
Dishwashers (4): Help keep CSC in its pristine condition.
Kitchen Breakdown (4): Latecomer? Still time to earn hours by putting things away.
For everyone else, please check in by 12:00-12:30pm.
Coordinator Trainee (2): Shadow the Open House Coordinator so you can coordinate next time!
PFD Pros (3): Help the public get fitted up in the right PFDs to keep them safe.
Sign in desk (2): Explain and reinforce rules and expectations.
Top of the Dock (2): Communicates with dock angles, coordinates groups of guests onto the dock when skippers are ready.
Line Wrangler (2): Answer questions and explain what to expect, bonus: teach knot tying for fun.
Floater: Can you do many things? Cool. Help out as instructed by the OH coordinator.
Dock Angels (8): Catch boats, cast off boats, help public on and off boats, assist skippers.
Dinghy Skippers (12): Experienced skippers ONLY. If you are a newer junior, let the OH coordinator know, and you can shadow another skipper if available.
De-rigging (3): Put away boats after Open House! Or help get them sold to other dinghy skippers who want to make the most of the afternoon winds!
We're looking forward to seeing you all there. Your help is what makes Open House fun, exciting, and successful! Cal Sailing couldn’t do it without you!
See you on SUNDAY, July 27th!
Isha
Co-Vice Commodore
OPEN HOUSE SKIPPER GUIDELINES
Open House is very different from normal lessons. Open House guests are not there to learn how to sail - yet. Additionally, the public is significantly less knowledgeable than your normal students and often less able to respond to instructions while under sail. They are not reliable to run the jib sheets or to shift their weight as needed.
Regardless of conditions - you run a higher risk of capsize or even a passenger taking a boom to the head. These passengers often create additional challenges after a capsize when they panic and climb on the mast, drift away from the boat and generally freak out.
While we encourage new juniors to participate in Open House. We do not expect you to go immediately from passing your junior test to solo skippering under the challenging conditions of Open House.
Use the instructions below to level up the skills and experience to be able to safely work open house. Individual permissions are granted by the Open House Coordinator on site that day.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW JUNIORS AT OPEN HOUSE
Practice singlehanding the boat you plan to use. Be able to sail and tack with the jib furled. Be able to quickly and efficiently capsize, recover and assist others into the boat.
Practice your dock talk, especially your instructions on capsize (stay with the boat, stay calm, do not climb up the mast)
When you sign in, tell the Open House Coordinator that you are new to Open House. They will partner you with another skipper. After you have more experience at open house and a proven track record, you will be able to get permission. from Open House Coordinator to solo skipper.
You must have a radio. Tell the Open House coordinator if you do not have a radio. We will need to find one for your boat.
Take a little more time if needed. While things feel very “busy” during open house, we would rather you slow down and be safe than push yourself.
A DISCUSSION OF CAPSIZE
While a capsize during lessons can be "no big deal", capsize must be highly avoided during Open House. How can you ensure a lower risk of capsize? Be mindful of conditions. For example, reef early if winds rise during the afternoon. Under heavier wind conditions you may consider staying in the novice area or keeping the jib furled. Staying close to the dock, so you can return easily or be reached by the rescue skiff more quickly. Even if guests ask to capsize - this is not acceptable at Open House (invite them to join the club instead).
Do not skipper if you are scared or uncertain if you can handle the situations which may arise during current conditions.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAPSIZE AT OPEN HOUSE
Radio for help immediately.
Account for all your passengers.
Remind your passengers to be calm and hold on to the boat. Do not let them climb on the mast or the boat may turtle.
After the skiff has rescued your passengers, return to the dock and come find the Open House Organizer to debrief what happened and what you can learn from the experience.
The Open House Organizer will determine if it is appropriate to return you to sailing that day.