We plan our first day on the high winds and I'm tentative. I see those boats heel over on the bay, and think "Is that fun?" I guess I'm about to find out.
The boat is already rigged so prepping for sailing is minimal and I've got time. I've got time to look around and see all these fellow sailors donning winter-like gear. Waterproof pants, waterproof parka, winter hat, gloves, and boots. It's October. I'm wearing shorts. What am I missing here? The instructor, Jim, comes up and tells us to put on sailing gear. Well okay then.
I put on the bright yellow Long John Silver pants and something's just not working. What is this, gender specific? There's holes here and there that I have no idea what is suppose to poke out of them. I poke and prod and adjust straps and still nothing. Jim looks at me and chuckles. He politely lets me know that I have the pants on backwards and inside out. OOOoohhhh. Well that explains a lot. It all comes together now. Well that's a good start. Now for the wind.
Jim tells us the wind is perfect. It's blowing at 20 knots. Which to the rest of us non-knot folks is around 25 miles/hr. Hmmm. Really. Wow. The highest wind we've ever been in is around 10 knots. Well this should be interesting.
Kenny is at the helm, Carla is the crew and I'm the, the, the ornament. As apprehensive as I feel about the gales, I'm pretty happy to just be the little useless cutie with full winter gear in the cabin. Getting out of the slip is more than a little complicated with the wind attempting to take the boat at every turn. As we come out of the slip, the wind grabs us and turns us around in the opposite direction. So we have to turn the boat 180 degrees in the narrow straight and not hit anything. We are destined for the brink.
It's now time for our crew mate, Carla, to take the helm. She's a good sailor but still fights the sails in the wind and waves. Jim, noting my apprehension gives me a wink and says "This boat can't sink." I think "Right that Titanic fellow said that too." And right then as Carla is attempting to jibe, a bluster takes the sail and whips us around. I mean ALL the way around. But not before we are so far heeled over that the mast hits the water. Yes, the mast! The thingee that holds the sails vertical! I'm holding on for dear life while getting thrown about in the cabin like a ping pong ball. Water is pouring into the cabin and we're being spun 180.....again. Kenny's grabbing onto the lines so he doesn't slide off the deck. Holy sh*t!
The boat is already rigged so prepping for sailing is minimal and I've got time. I've got time to look around and see all these fellow sailors donning winter-like gear. Waterproof pants, waterproof parka, winter hat, gloves, and boots. It's October. I'm wearing shorts. What am I missing here? The instructor, Jim, comes up and tells us to put on sailing gear. Well okay then.
I put on the bright yellow Long John Silver pants and something's just not working. What is this, gender specific? There's holes here and there that I have no idea what is suppose to poke out of them. I poke and prod and adjust straps and still nothing. Jim looks at me and chuckles. He politely lets me know that I have the pants on backwards and inside out. OOOoohhhh. Well that explains a lot. It all comes together now. Well that's a good start. Now for the wind.
Jim tells us the wind is perfect. It's blowing at 20 knots. Which to the rest of us non-knot folks is around 25 miles/hr. Hmmm. Really. Wow. The highest wind we've ever been in is around 10 knots. Well this should be interesting.
Kenny is at the helm, Carla is the crew and I'm the, the, the ornament. As apprehensive as I feel about the gales, I'm pretty happy to just be the little useless cutie with full winter gear in the cabin. Getting out of the slip is more than a little complicated with the wind attempting to take the boat at every turn. As we come out of the slip, the wind grabs us and turns us around in the opposite direction. So we have to turn the boat 180 degrees in the narrow straight and not hit anything. We are destined for the brink.
It's now time for our crew mate, Carla, to take the helm. She's a good sailor but still fights the sails in the wind and waves. Jim, noting my apprehension gives me a wink and says "This boat can't sink." I think "Right that Titanic fellow said that too." And right then as Carla is attempting to jibe, a bluster takes the sail and whips us around. I mean ALL the way around. But not before we are so far heeled over that the mast hits the water. Yes, the mast! The thingee that holds the sails vertical! I'm holding on for dear life while getting thrown about in the cabin like a ping pong ball. Water is pouring into the cabin and we're being spun 180.....again. Kenny's grabbing onto the lines so he doesn't slide off the deck. Holy sh*t!
After getting off the floor, recovering my cap, and popping my head out of the cabin I think "Well shoot, Jim is right, this sucker won't sink." And in a very sick way, I have just gained an incredible amount of helms person sailing confidence. Kenny and I look at each other with the exact same thought "Jim was right."
When Jim asks if I'm ready to take the helm, I estatically respond "I'm ready!" If that didn't sink the boat, nothing will.
Keep 'er upright.
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