Our Foundation
Why Sail Training?
The ocean is now seen as a common denominator and a dominant social force in our world, and in some respects our tiny island can be seen as a ship upon which all Bermudians perform as crew members. The fate of that ship is in our hands.
Sail training is more than a metaphor. It is tangible, physical and real. Bermudian youth working aboard ship understand this in a very fundamental way. In the unforgiving face of the sea we are all crew learning the same lessons as our Bermudian forefathers have for nearly 400 years.
Sail training instills a number of important lessons in a way that no onshore classroom could ever replicate. It fosters self-discovery of individual talents and learning styles through the simple acts of seeing, hearing and doing. It forces everyone aboard to reflect on the effects of his/her actions and the actions of others.
Student crew aboard ship learn to respect the value of:
1. Order and organization
A thoughtlessly coiled rope may spell the difference between a successful maneuver and an accident. Everything has to be ready and in place.
2. Practiced skill
A knot that has been tied a hundred times begins to tie itself automatically. A compass bearing taken a hundred times begins to take itself. Practice and repeated experience help mariners to avoid mistakes. The sea does not respect knots tied on display boards or skills listed on merit badges.
3. Planning ahead
Mariners are rewarded for anticipating such things as the future effects of wind and tide and are punished if they fail to do so.
4. Looking out for one another
Sailors need all the help they can get because aboard ship the unexpected happens: sudden wind shifts, a jibing boom, the slipped footing and the missed handhold. There is a tremendous feeling of comradeship when you know that your mates are looking out for you.
5. Staying calm in emergencies
When a crisis arises aboard ship, student crew can feel immediately the effects of calm, considered action or the lack of it. It is immediately obvious just how important it is to remain calm.
6. Telling the truth no matter what the consequences.
"I just lost the boat hook over the side." "Sorry, I let us drift off course." We tell the truth immediately, because we know that silence and deception will only lead to greater problems later on.
