Purpose-Value:
- To practice and develop the boat handling skill of using a Williamson Turn (sequence of 90-degree and 270-degree turns) to return on the reciprocal of the original track. A maneuver used to return to a person or object that has fallen overboard and is not visible.
Setting Up the Drill:
- Equipment: tennis ball or other small floatable object on each boat
- Assign each boat a sector in an open area in which to conduct a Williamson Turn.
Conducting the Drill:
- Each boat proceeds at planing speed and drops the floatable object in the water and proceeds out a distance until the object can no longer be seen.
- Each boat executes a Williamson Turn and returns to the object.
Teaching Tips:
- Speed control and a constant rate of turn are critical.
- This drill can easily flow into a PIW retrieval.
- The size of the object is determined by the space available.
Common Errors:
- Turning more sharply in the second turn and winding up inside the object.
References:
- Safety & Rescue Boat Handling On-Water Skill Standard 2.5 and its rubrics
- Safety, Rescue & Support Boat Handling textbook pg. 29
Start Powerboating Right! textbook pg. 142