MAN OVERBOARD DRILLS ONBOARD S/V TALION - 2 MAY 2008

I don't believe we could have had a more perfect day for sailing and especially for the drills that were achieved out in the bay. A total of 18 women were aboard S/V Talion with Capt Patsy at the helm and Shelley off S/V Eros and Sheila off S/V Timeless as our intructors. After a beautiful sail down the channel and out into the bay with lots of talk on the subject and related experiences shared, we got down to business. In groups of 3 we chose the role of either helmsperson, pointer or picker. Everyone who wanted to had a go at the helm and after 10 or so trials, all under sail, the Sassy women had a much better idea of how to pick up a 'man overboard'. Nothing like practicing on a large orange buoy with attached water container. We really got the jist of what was needed to make a safe and almost complete stop into the wind before picking up our victim. We then stopped for lunch, we all brought our own and during this time the music went up and the sailing went on. Next our very brave and honourable Sassy sister Dana off M/V La Bella Rora volunteered to jump in the refreshing spring waters and have a lifesling thrown to her while the helmsperson turned the vessel around (the wind had died and we were motoring now) and slowly moving, helps the victim claim the rope connected to the lifesling. After accomplishing putting on the lifesling, Dana was hauled back safely to the port side of the boat where we clipped a block and tackle on her and winched her up onto the deck. Dana was all smiles and we sure did appreciate being able to add this significant drill to end our practical lessons. The ride home was hot but exhilarating after spending the day on the water with such a great bunch of enthusiastic women. There was more music, dancing on the stern deck and big whoops and hollars for the boats passing us in the channel on our way back to Marina de La Paz where, an excellent docking excercise took place, all to the sound of cheers.

MAN OVERBOARD DRILLS (THEORY) - 2 MAY 2008

I got wind that Shelly off S/V Eros was back in the bay and well, Shelly just can't help carrying her good reputation around as a superb sailor and teacher and was very responsive to carrying out a two prong workshop on Man Overboard Drills, especially when she heard that Patsy off S/V Talion had offered her boat to do some practical, hands on learning. The meeting had our biggest turnout yet of 17 women and although I was out sailing myself and missed it, I understand first hand that it was an especially good workshop and newcomer Nicky off S/V Bambeleo had been "cruising since Tuesday" and someone told her if she falls in the water, she is going to die. Evidently she was quite a hit with all the humourous Sassy women there and was immediately crowned a Sassy gal. Even with all the laughs, it was acknowledged that this was an all important aspect of safety at sea and the women were strongly encouraged to participate in the practical side the following week onboard S/V Talion.

RULES OF THE ROAD/RADIO PROCEDURES - 25 APRIL 2008

Again Sheila was at the ready (but no Audrey today) and besides covering the basics rules of the road, she covered radio procedures including the different calls ie MAY DAY, PAN PAN and SECURITA and the importance of their different meanings.

BASIC NAVIGATION - 18 APRIL 2008

Shiela off S/V Timeless has from the beginning been a significant figure in helping to launch SASS and so she volunteered as our first tutor. Sassy women ordered their drinks and away we went with our charts open and our dividers ready to learn how to read charts (do you know how much info there is on one chart page?) We had to get some math lessons in and get a grip on distance and time from one way point to another. It was incredibly valuable and stimulating and as always in these meetings, there are lots of laughs. We have a motto in SASS. Their are no stupid questions. Shiela agreed to give another course the following week on.................................

Club Cruceros Bay Fest Seminar - 13 April 2008

What a fabulous weekend this turned out to be. Lots of fun was had by all. On the Sunday afternoon, the chosen five women sat down for an hour to a small but significant audience and with Louise's introduction and vivid account of her sailing experience down from the Channel Islands over to La Paz with husband Bob, it was reiterated by the rest of the panel how the idea of women learning sea skills from their friends and neighbours in the fleet was a realistic and well received idea. This was a perfect venue to help kickstart Sassy women. How could we lose when it was all about learning different aspects of our mutual desire to cruise and to cruise safely and as efficiently as possible.

SASS WAS BORN - 4 APRIL 2008

More introductions from new faces and a few really good ideas for names were given but Cindy off S/V Spirit was unanimously favoured and SASSY women were united. Bay Fest was coming up the next weekend and we were invited to have some seminar time and so Ginny of M/V SeaLark came up with a great idea to hold a panel discussion. It was decided then that Shiela off S/V Timeless and Ginny would head this panel and later both founders Louise and Jo were asked to participate along with the infamous Aggie off S/V Wanderlust.

FIRST MEETING-28 MARCH 2008

Ciao Mollino Restaurant, right across the street from Marina de La Paz was our choice for our first meeting and after having announced it on the La Paz net the previous few days, we were thrilled with the turnout of 13 women. We all had an opportunity to introduce ourselves and share our boating history and relate similar challenges to each other. A bond was quickly developing. We agreed to meet the next Friday, same place and time and everyone was to think of an adequate name for our group that helped describe our goals.