Sailing, first impressions

This blog is about adjusting my perspective. I had some romantic notions in my head about sailing. It's funny in hindsight, because my internal, idealistic, romantic vision of sailing and yacht life didn't align with reality. Reality is a little more complex than Hollywood would have us believe.

In my head:

In the moment;

Reality:

I don't intend to make it sound wholly disagreeable, rather that it was unexpected. The reality of sailing is more work than I anticipated, I blame false assumptions and my river floating days. On the river I was posted at the front of the canoe throned on a lounge chair with my cup holder. I enjoyed the ride and my oar sat next to me for decorative purposes only. Sailing is different.

I had never been sailing, never stepped foot on a sailboat, I had zero understanding of sailing basics or concepts, and my sailor vocabulary was limited to swearing. Our boats seaworthy trial was my first sail, and unfortunately the seaworthy trial wasn't a smooth introduction to the hobby of sailing. It was an extremely windy day (>15knots), the lake was white capping, and the sails wouldn't fully raise. Nothing worked, the boat was heeling over, and my feet were braced on the opposite bench. The broker looked at my grinning husband, nodded in my general direction and suggested the following, "we should probably call it, you'll never get her out here again if we head into the channel today."

My introduction to sailing didn't feel fun or relaxing, instead it was stressful. I was ready to back out of the deal, but I saw the joy on my husband’s face, and I said to myself; "what's the worst that can happen? nothing has ever beaten you; you can do this!" We signed the dotted line, we bought our first boat, and we began our sailing journey. I transitioned from river-queen to sailing first-mate and there is nothing "passenger" about that role.

The moral of the story: do your research, understand the hobby realistically, don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t give up. Fake it till you make it!