So I learned to sail in Hawaii. One of my earlier posts explains my first introduction to sailing. It was a day that forever changed my life and the way I see things. It drew me to adventure, to the athleticism of small boat sailing, to the mental strategy of the game. I still day dream of those days. Rapid learning, tangible rewards of analyzing my skills or lack thereof, phenomenal instructors and incredible comrade sailors.
Today, I came across some notes that I took after I dropped in on a class taught at a location that resembled lake sailing. I had been sailing for about nine months, mostly practicing my Laser skills.
*******************************************************************************************
"LOVED IT!!!
17-20 KNOTS
4.7 sail - another student opted to take a radial, which proved a challenge.
Gusty!
- I experimented with the outhaul while sailing upwind... definitely more power with it eased, and it sure was tough to bring in after easing while sailing upwind.
- Tight roundings and a couple of great starts! Seven racers
- I came in first for the first race (second place had a tough jibe rounding) and perhaps also first on the second race, but it was too close for me to call.
- Easing the downhaul going downwind seemed to help a bit with stability and control.
- Tightening the vang as I approached the downwind buoy definitely helped provide a tighter rounding up toward the wind. I even managed to round the upwind buoy with having to tack, although I should have because then I would have gotten more speed.
- On the way to the docks, I was smiling and just looking around, listening to the boat "talking" just to me. I got on a beautiful line and loved sailing into the marina!
- It turns out everyone else except one person thought it was a super difficult day... hmmm... I had not idea... I apparently didn't see all the capsized boats (eight times for one of the students!). It makes me want to hang back next time and see if I can tell what their challenge is...
- On the class photo page, today's instructor responded to a comment about our group looking like a great group. "They're dialing up their game for sure." That is high praise coming from him!"
*******************************************************************************************
This was the first point where I realized I truly had learned a lot about handling a Laser. I could face 17-20 knots sustained winds and feel like I had sailed a fun course. I felt the wind and the shifts, saw the puffs and adjusted my sails. “Ease, hike, trim.” I had learned how to adjust the vang, downhaul, and outhaul. It is almost like a formula, changing the controls of the boat provide more control in the boat, but it is a formula that is much more intricate than I realized.
Taking notes like these helped me process what worked and didn’t work. I craved knowledge of this new sport I found. I still crave it.
Life is Sailing 
Leave a comment