Sailing
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”
— Louisa May Alcott
In collaboration with the Community Boating Center of New Bedford, our students apply advanced science and design concepts through weekly hands-on, experiential learning planned in close collaboration with our own science and STEAM instructors. They develop not only a deeper appreciation for Buzzards Bay and our local marine heritage but also for each other and their own sense of agency.
Sailing at Our Sisters’ School
I love being on the water because it makes me feel free.
Today we learned how to tack and gybe.
I never thought I could steer a boat by myself, but I tried it, and now I can!
It’s cool to work on the aquaponics and aquaculture project.
This summer I hope to be a Junior Instructor at CBC.
Just like the “sister sailors” of the past for whom our school is named -- bold, brave, ground-breaking women who experienced the world by sea -- OSS Sister Sailors practice skills to last a lifetime. From the technical skills for boat-building and navigation to the communication and decision-making skills needed for team-based leadership, as well as the mindset and content knowledge for marine environmental stewardship, OSS students acquire a great deal from sailing.
The curriculum is carefully designed to challenge students at each stage of development, increasing in complexity and skill level over time. Each course includes two seasonal terms at CBC learning to sail Sonars on the water, and a winter workshop term indoors at OSS.
5th graders begin with the basics of water safety, boat mechanics, knot-tying, and the construction of Bevin’s Skiff models.
6th graders practice steering, tacking, gybing, and rowing. They also learn workshop safety and use power tools for boat-building, as well as explore topics in water quality.
7th graders continue to build stamina, accuracy, and communication skills on sailboats. They try sailing backwards and learn about overboard recovery. Their winter workshop includes constructing two 15-foot Our Sisters’ Skiffs, as well as artisanal refurbishing of oars.
By 8th grade, Sister Sailors are ready to demonstrate proficiency in more advanced sailing skills such as responding to changing winds, navigating backwards, and landing at dock. In the winter they take on coding for autonomous sailboats, underwater exploration with ROV sensors, water-farmed food systems known as aquaponics and aquaculture, or renewable energy design.