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View Sailing VIDEO
June 24, 2011
Register NOW for Next Season
On-the-Water Training In Progress
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
CLUB INFORMATION
NEW
Open House PDFNEW
May Newsletter
2012 CalendarOn-the-Water Instruction Schedule
2011 New Castle TIdes & Currents
RACING RESULTS
2011 Final Club Series Race Resuts
2011 Delripett Results
LINKS
Join NOW for the
2012 Sailing Season
NO EXPERIENCE OR BOAT NECESSARY
New Castle Sailing Club has a limited number of openings for the 2012 sailing season and is currently accepting applications for membership. The club owns a fleet of Thistle, Flying Scot, and Hunter sailboats that are moored in the Delaware River off the New Castle Delaware waterfront and available to all members on a first-come first-serve basis.
Classroom instruction for new members begins in February and continues through April, and on-the-water instruction is offered throughout the sailing season, which runs from early May through October of each year.
Annual Dues are just $300 for the whole family. There is a one-time initiation fee of $500 that can be paid in installments. For more information about the club see our brochure, call 302-328-1570 and leave a message, or contact the Membership Director. To apply for membership, fill out an Application and mail to New Castle Sailing Club, P.O. Box 46, New Castle, DE 19720. Invitations to join will be sent in the order applications are received until all available slots are filled.
For experienced sailors and interested novices alike, the club is by far the most fun, affordable, and convenient way to enjoy sailing in the Wilmington area. Avoid the waiting list, sign up now. Classes begin in early February.
THE BITTER END
Ever wonder where all those words and phases come from and what they mean? Here are some for your reading pleasure.
Port and Starboard
Port and starboard are shipboard terms for left and right, respectively. Confusing those two could cause a ship wreck. In Old England, the starboard was the steering paddle or rudder, and ships were always steered from the right side on the back of the vessel. Larboard referred to the left side, the side on which the ship was loaded. So how did larboard become port? Shouted over the noise of the wind and the waves, larboard and starboard sounded too much alike. The word port means the opening in the "left" side of the ship from which cargo was unloaded. Sailors eventually started using the term to refer to that side of the ship. Use of the term "port" was officially adopted by the U.S. Navy by General Order, 18 February 1846.
As the Crow Flies
When lost or unsure of their position in coastal waters, ships would release a caged crow. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land thus giving the vessel some sort of a navigational fix. The tallest lookout platform on a ship came to be known as the crow's nest.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
The devil seam was the curved seam in the deck planking closest to the side of the ship and next to the scupper gutters. If a sailor slipped on the deck, he could find himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The Devil to Pay
To pay the deck seams meant to seal them with tar. The devil seam was the most difficult to pay because it was curved and intersected with the straight deck planking. Some sources define the "devil" as the below-the-waterline-seam between the keel and the adjoining planking. Paying the Devil was considered to be a most difficult and unpleasant task.
HISTORY OF THE NEW CASTLE SAILING CLUB
In the fall of 1952, Edward A. Taylor, who had been enjoying himself braving the seas and currents off New Castle in a 7-foot sailing dinghy,decided that the time had come to spread the gospel that there was a lot of fun to be had sailing on the Delaware River. There was plenty of opposition. Scoffers pointed out that the river was too dirty; the ship traffic too menacing; the currents too strong. But "Ted" and his first few enthusiastic converts including Newlin Booth, Allen T. Hill and Jack Cooper were not dismayed. They believed that under Incodel , the river was becoming progressively cleaner and that there was plenty of room for both the heavy commercial traffic and small pleasure craft. As for the current, they believed that the "right" sailboat could not only hold its own, but make good way in even a light breeze, and by sailing against the current take advantage of it for a free ride back to port if the wind should die.
The New Castle Sailing Club was organized on a cooperative basis in the fall of 1952 and the first meeting was held in Booth's office. Taylor was selected the first Commodore and subsequent meetings, mixing business with pleasure of course, were held in the homes of the board members and on occasion, at the Old New Castle Club. The first check was forthcoming from Dan Wolcott with others following in rapid succession. Charter members included Richard M. Appleby, Newlin Booth, John J. B. Cooper, James T. Eliason, Jr.,Allen T. Hill, Robert J. Quillen, John C. Roman, Edward A. Taylor, Daniel F.Wolcott, and Robert F. Wright.
The founding fathers began shopping around in November 1952 and earned the gratitude of future club sailors by choosing the Thistle, a 17-foot sloop carrying 175 square feet of sail, as an ideal boat for our purposes for several reasons. She is fast, roomy, responsive and able. To the expected virtues of a comfortable and stiff day sailor, she adds the extra thrill that comes with planning. She is capable of holding her own in moderate breezes against the 2-3 knot river currents. She is unsinkable, although she may be capsized. She is a joy to handle for all; both the avid racing skipper and the leisurely family sailor.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May
9 |
Wed. |
5:00 – 7:00 |
Wednesday Fun Sail |
12 |
Sat. |
9:00 - 1:00 |
RACE CREW TRAINING |
|
|
1:30 – 3:30 |
On the Water Instruction |
13 |
Sun. |
1:30 - 3:30 |
On the Water Instruction |
16 |
Wed. |
5:00 – 7:00 |
Wednesday Fun Sail |
19 |
Sat. |
9:00 - 1:00 |
Race – Spring Series #1 |
|
|
1:30 - 3:30 |
Open House |
20 |
Sun. |
1:30 - 3:30 |
On the Water Instruction |
22 |
Tues. |
5:00 – 7:00 |
New Member Sail |
23 |
Wed. |
5:00 – 7:00 |
Wednesday Fun Sail |
26 |
Sat. |
9:00 - 1:00 1:30 - 3:30 |
Race – E.E. Downing, Jr. Novice Series #1 |
27 |
Sunday |
1:30 - 3:30 |
On the Water Instruction |
28 |
Monday |
9:00 - 3:00 |
HOLIDAY CRUISE |
30 |
Wednesday |
5:00 – 7:00 |
Wednesday Fun Sail |
5/18/12 0:53 AM
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For additional information, interested parties should contact the
Membership Director,
New Castle Sailing Club, P.O. Box 46, New Castle, DE 19720 or call 302-328-1570.
Avoid the waiting list, sign up now. Classes begin in early February.