#2 - Sail on the Ocean

Sunfishing on Brant Lake

I grew up sailing Sunfish on Brant Lake, NY, at my beloved Camp Michigania East.  Every year, upon arrival at camp, we change into our swim suits, head down to the water front to take our swim tests, and then walk over to the sail beach to take our skipper tests.  Upon completion, we immediately sail directly to the "castle house" until some poor, new counselor hops into the speed boat, chases us down, and says in a British accent, "You've gone too far!  It's time to come back now!"  And we play dumb and agree.  It's a tradition I treasure.  We also have a song we sing, but I'll keep that between my camp friends and me.  I say this in the present tense because even when I was back a couple years ago, we did a version of this very thing, even as very much full-grown adults.

My classmates on the last day of class

Cold, wet, and sore after the capsize test

Several years back, one of my former staff hooked me and a couple friends with a cheap beginner sailing class through the Northwestern Sailing Center on Lake Michigan in Chicago.  There I finally learned the hows and whats of rigging a boat, including the variety of knots needed for 420's.  It was a bit intimidating sailing a boat with 2 sails into Lake Michigan, but once we did a capsize test, I realized the worst that would happen is a freezing cold dip into the gross lake.  (We wore wetsuits for the capsize test so that we didn't need to get treated for hypothermia after swimming in Lake Michigan in May.)

A friend and I then made friends with some Match Race sailors one evening, who told us to come out and sail with them.  So we biked down to the Chicago Match Race Center for a pleasant afternoon on a boat... or so we thought.  Match Race sailing is... something.  The first time the 2 boats raced full speed towards each other only to do a 90 degree turn at the very last second, so close to the other boat that we could have reached out and touched the other crew, I questioned my judgement for jumping onto a boat with some sailors we met at a dive bar.  However, it turns out they were great sailors and it gave me a much higher tolerance for speed, proximity to other boats, and heeling (when the boat is angled laterally, sometimes more than 45 degrees, for less resistance, maximum wind, and more speed).  

Skippering

Despite having a few different sailing experiences, I was not feeling confident in my sailing abilities, so when I looked at classes at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, I wasn't sure what to take.  Their courses go from beginner to advanced and then offer specific courses for specific types of vessels.  I e-mailed the sailing coordinator and he responded quickly, advising the Advanced Sailing class.  I was a little hesitant because I certainly don't feel "advanced," and I was positive that sailing on the ocean would be infinitely more difficult than any lake, even Lake Michigan.  He seemed sure though, so...

On my first day of class, I was sure I was in the wrong one.  Our awesome instructor Nick reviewed all kinds of terminology that I was sure I had heard at least once before but couldn't iterate any of it.  However, when we each shared our sailing experience levels, I found out that the other 4 students had only ever sailed in their beginning class, so a total of 2-4 days ever.  Then I felt better.

Beautiful Mission Bay

Our first day was a lot of review, which was great.  Since there was an odd number of us, I wound up in a boat with 2 sisters, who were very sweet but got nervous each time we heeled a bit.  The second day we learned a little more technique.  The third class we learned what to do if a crew member fell off the boat and then did our capsize drills.  Righting a holder is WAY more difficult than the Sunfishes and 420 I had righted before.  I ended up bruised and sore but pleased that I knew what to do if we somehow tipped.  The fourth class we sailed right up the channel from the nearly to the open ocean.  It was so pleasant.  Then we sailed back and had a nice little cook out by the bay with the class and Nick.

Yes, you read correctly that I never made it to the open ocean, but since I actually learned to sail a larger boat on the bay, I am counting it for the intention of this item.  (I would have also counted sitting on a sailboat in the ocean.)  

I'm so pumped that I'm all checked off and can rent a boat from the fantastic MBAC whenever I want.  Let's go sailing!

Nick grilling us some burgers to celebrate the end of class.