sailball notes
It’s
not easy to invent a ball game for sailors. You can’t put lines
defining field edges on the water; you can’t stake goals in the grass;
you can’t use a ball which sinks or blows away; contact between players
must be avoided. And what do you do if there is no wind?
But ball games can be really fun.
Sailball is a fast, high scoring game which can be played on any body or water, on light or heavy days or even windless ones. The teams can be composed of whoever shows up that day. It can be played for any length of time. Single- handed or double-handed play is possible. It can be played competitively or just for fun, locally or in leagues. The visiting team does not have to bring boats.
Sailball buoy, 8 inch diameter. Polyform part # WS-1.
Mushroom anchor. 8 pounds, Bass Pro Shops part # 38-510-364-00. Note attached shock cord.
It
is necessary that boats on both teams be easily identified.
Colored T-shirts, life jackets, pinnies or sails can be used.
If possible, the goals should be set so that a line between them is crosswise to the wind.
The game is designed for
continuos play. After a score, the team scored against picks the
ball out of the goal and takes it toward the opponents goal. Often
one team has both balls, but after a score a ball then returns to the
opposite team.
Since the team captains
stay close to their goals and keep score, and all fouls are governed by
the honor system, play continues until the coach ends the game.
Play is only suspended for a capsize.
It is helpful to put buoy
at exactly three boat lengths from the goal so players can assess how
big the three boat length circle is.
