Day 1 — “I don’t speak Sail yet.”
Arrived at the marina feeling half
tourist, half adventurer. The boats were lined up like elegant sea horses
waiting to be chosen. We met our instructor, Laurel, who is calm, confident, sun-browned,
and clearly someone who trusts the ocean more than land. Morning was classroom
basics: wind direction, sail trim, points of sail, and safety. I learned there is
an actual correct way to coil a rope and that “boom” is not just a sound
effect — it’s a thing you dodge to avoid swimming unexpectedly.
Afternoon: our first sail. I steered!
(Badly.) I trimmed the jib! (Eventually.) We practiced tacking until my brain
translated “pull that line!” into action without panic. Finished tired, salty,
and thrilled.
Day
2 — The Wind Talks, I Attempt to Listen
More theory: right-of-way rules,
sailing terminology, and weather reading. There are so many words for wind angles.
Why? Who invented this? On the water, it
clicked a bit. I learned to “feel” the sail instead of staring at Laurel for clues. Practiced figure-8 crew-overboard drill — we saved the
fender so many times it should start paying us rent. My first good tack. Laurel actually nodded. That nod meant everything.
Day
3 — Reefing, Trimming, and Confidence Rising
Today: reefing practice, points of
sail review, heaving-to, and docking drills. The wheel and I are becoming friends
instead of frenemies. I know who is steering whom. We got real wind in the
afternoon. Learning to flatten the sail, ease the main, and not scream
when the boat heels. Spoiler: leaning = normal. Laurel said, “Trust the
keel.” I’m trying. My stomach is also trying. I can now coil lines neatly. My
pride is disproportionate.
Day
4 — Charting, Navigation & the First Real Sail
Chart work! Bearings, buoys, compass
headings. I plotted a course on paper like an ancient navigator with modern
anxiety. We sailed out farther today. Saw dolphins. The Aegean sparkled like it
was showing off. I trimmed sails without being asked — twice. Practiced
anchoring and learned that dropping anchor is easy; retrieving it gracefully is
another story. Slept like a rock. Dreamed of wind shifts. Woke up excited.
Day
5 — Exam Day (and My Brain Sails Too)
Written test in the morning: sailing
theory, safety, rules of the road. I passed! (Note: reading the night before
while smelling sunscreen counts as studying.) Afternoon: practical test.
Docking without drama, controlled tacks and jibes, person-overboard recovery.
My hands shook at first, but then — muscle memory kicked in. Laurel smiled.
I think I saw her truly relax for the first time.
Day
6 — A Mini Passage
Final big sail — a “student-led”
journey. We planned the route, checked the weather, and prepped the boat. Sailing into
open water felt like graduation day with the wind. We took turns at the helm and
sheets. Confidence felt natural today — boat and body moving together. Ate
lunch at anchor in a turquoise cove. Swam. Laughed. Didn’t want to come back. This is what sailing feels like: freedom,
quiet power, teamwork, confidence.
Day
7 — A Sailor Now
Last breakfast on Poros. Boats
rocked gently as if waving goodbye. We signed our ASA logbooks, took group
photos, and promised to all meet again “somewhere out there on the sea.” I arrived as a guest. I left a sailor. I know how to
read the wind, trim sails, navigate with charts, handle emergencies, and trust
the ocean — and myself. Sailing didn’t just teach me skills. It gave me a new part of my identity.
ASA-certified, sun-kissed,
salty-haired, happily changed forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment