COFFEE & BISCUITS

In the Northwestern Sailing Center, they keep a wind record of your sailing or windsurfing days. This is such that you can record your experience, and can prove that you can handle difficult wind situations. Today’s wind is our (my sailing partner and mine’s) personal best. (The yellow and blue flags were hoisted — that means that sail at your own discretion, and if you need to be rescued, then your all the previous record would be erased)

The amazing thing about these sea-wind sports that keeps drawing me to them is this: every time you step into the ocean/lake, you face a different environment.

The ocean/lake is a constantly changing animal. East wind, West wind, North wind, South wind — they all have their unique characteristics. Sometimes, you can have extremely wavy conditions on the water, yet little wind. Sometimes, in reverse. Even as you are in the water, the wind would change direction on you.

That’s why, everytime I enter the water, I always feel in awe of this fickle animal.

For example, today, the water was extremely choppy AND the wind was gusty. We thought the waves would get smaller as we sail deeper into the lake, yet they only grow bigger and bigger. (Not a single motor boat is found in sight….however, there were several windsurfers and sailboats) At some point, there were about 15 ft tall! As we were getting out of the shore, the waves, one after another, smacked at me right in my face. It just kept coming, and coming.

(Let me pause here to note the analogy to my recent life: the wave just keep coming and coming)

At first we thought we might have a moment of peace once we are farther out, but it was only worse. Several accidental jibes (not my fault, I wasn’t the skipper), which caused me to scream at my skipper. They say that in crisis people show their real nature. Well, today in the lake, I think I showed my bossy nature to my friend, who is the skipper. Basically, I was screaming directions and questions at him.

The fortunate thing is that the skipper and I (I just controlled the jib) made a great team.

Okay, this might sound kind of self-congratulatory: but the skipper did compliment on my contribution to our survival (without embarrassing capsiing), and let me just arrogantly say that, I do know I have an above-average seamanship due to all the “experience” I had at sea (all the bruises, crashes and burns are not in vain):

“You are one brave lady.”

“I honestly couldn’t have come back without you on the boat.”

Woohoo!

I love sailing! When I am old, I will sail across the world!