Perfecting skills on the sea

Getting into his sailboat, 8-year-old Cody Thomas found himself treading water in the Huntington Harbor after his boat capsized and filled with water.

“It just fell over,” Cody said.

The beginning sailor swam to the side of the dock and climbed up the ladder soaking wet and missing one sandal. He said he wasn’t nervous about falling in — he had practiced for this event at the first day of the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club’s beginning sailing school.

The four- to eight-week classes teach kids the basic skills of sailing and racing, program director Katie Takeshita said. They also learn good sportsmanship and teamwork and are ready to handle a sailboat on their own after only two weeks, Takeshita said.

For Matthew Broadley, 9, this was a chance to try something new.

“I’ve never actually gone sailing,” Matthew said. Matthew and the other beginning seaman spent their days at the camp learning about wind direction and the different points of sail, how to tie knots and rig and drive a boat.

The knots were hard to learn, Matthew said, but he mastered the bowline and figure eight.

The campers spent their first day doing a swimming and capsizing test — a memorable experience for the kids and instructors. In between the dock outside the yacht club, campers had to flip their sailboats over, fall into the water and then right it — something that isn’t easy, Takeshita said.

“The kids are just funny when they are in the water,” she said. “Getting the ship over is quite a skill.”

The kids have since used their new skills throughout their time at the camp, instructors said.

Campers also have the chance to participate in actual races at outside regattas. Matthew recently finished his first race at the Long Beach Yacht Club. The two-and-a-half hour regatta went from Shoreline Village in Long Beach to the yacht club. Matthew said he wasn’t nervous about the race itself, but about what was lurking in the water.

“I did hear some people found a shark,” Matthew said.

Long Beach was just the first race for Matthew, who said he will probably continue sailing after he finishes the program. All the campers become junior members of the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club and can attend events and arrange to use the club’s sailing boats, which they rent during the camp, outside of class.

The sailing program is open to children ages 6 to 16. Tuition runs from $250 to $575. For more information, call (714) 536-5486.

Sailing Terms

Leeward: The ship farthest from the direction the wind is blowing.

Windward: The direction from which the wind is blowing.

Running: Going downwind.

Capsize: To fall into the water.

Boom: A pole that pivots to allow greater control of the sail.

Submarine: When the bow of the ship goes underwater.

Death Roll: When the mast falls into the wind, capsizing and causing the boom to hit the sailor.

Turtle: When a ship capsizes 180 degrees.