Are We Sailers Yet?
I'd like to say that I leaped onto the 33' sloop named Conquistador with confidence and certainty. I was certain all right, certain I did not remember where to begin. Which line controls which sail? What do we prep first? Batteries, lights, switches?.… as my brain spun I glanced at Angel, whom appeared seemingly calm, and said "do you remember how to do this?" 2 coffees down, he was still half asleep, yet he leaped into action as if he were at home, replying "yep." It was music to my ears.
At work my girlfriend Tena and I have what we call The 4% Rule. According to statistics your brain only uses 10% at it's peak genius, so if we both are operating at 4%, that's 8% total making us just a scant under the genius percentile. Luckily Angel had 8% piping thru his veins that day.
At work my girlfriend Tena and I have what we call The 4% Rule. According to statistics your brain only uses 10% at it's peak genius, so if we both are operating at 4%, that's 8% total making us just a scant under the genius percentile. Luckily Angel had 8% piping thru his veins that day.
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I steered into the wind (in irons) while Angel raised the sails and suddenly it all came back……ahhh gliding across the water, wind on my face, the smell of the fresh breeze and sea.
In an 8 hour span we encountered
no wind,
moderate wind,
heavy fog,
blinding sunshine,
big barges hogging the way,
jet ski joy riders,
seals saying hello,
fishing traps to dodge,
big open seas,
and to our thrill no one fell over board!
I packed enough provisions to last 7 days lost at sea, one rendezvous I Don't need to experience.
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Since learning to drive a car I always had this thing for steering with my knee in those moments you need both hands. Figured Sailing is no different.
Wonderful to know we can be put to sea. Now for the hard part….. To be continued |
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Growing Sea Legs
Today is the day. It's time to go out by ourselves and practice! Yikes! Pulse is beating, provisions are packed, sunblock on.
We hit the books hard to make sure we didn't forget what to do and when to do it. So if you never see another update, well then, maybe we didn't do so well….. Bah!
Mark Twain said it better;
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in you sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
We hit the books hard to make sure we didn't forget what to do and when to do it. So if you never see another update, well then, maybe we didn't do so well….. Bah!
Mark Twain said it better;
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in you sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
How It all Started
Let me take a well deserved pause, and tell you how this whole thing began.
Angel has a lovely powerboat, that we enjoy often. Yet he would always mention how great the sail boats around us were. “All you need is time, wind is free, and you only hear the sound of the sea vs the loud engines” he would say month after month, year after year. I would glance over my book to see a bunch of ropes to get tangled in, not much lounging room, a lot of work just to take a little ride.
Angel has a lovely powerboat, that we enjoy often. Yet he would always mention how great the sail boats around us were. “All you need is time, wind is free, and you only hear the sound of the sea vs the loud engines” he would say month after month, year after year. I would glance over my book to see a bunch of ropes to get tangled in, not much lounging room, a lot of work just to take a little ride.
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During our Celebration wedding festivities in Puerto Rico, we went along with other travelers multihull sailing (catamaran), swimming, & snorkeling throughout the tiny beautiful islands. It was a moment we both realized how much and how far you can go on a sail boat verses a power boat.....er maybe it was I whom finally realized.
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photo by Malika Cosme
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Backpacking across Spain on a small sabbatical we spent our last day in Barcelona sailing across the Mediterranean Sea. As much passion as we have for all the cultures on land, something exhilarating continues to happen when we are on water.
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For Angel’s birthday I thought it would be nice to hire a sailboat and see the Channel Islands an hour North of Los Angeles, and have lunch on the boat. As it turned out, the Captain whom would be our host teaches couples how to sail, seeing our deep interest he made it a day excursion of learning to sail.
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From the moment we landed his boat he showed us charts, maps, dangers, and safety rules. We then pulled out and he said “Michelle, take the wheel while i show Angel the sails” UH WHAT DA WHAT!?? Wait, you mean ME?... I thought as i tucked away my camera and grabbed the giant wheel pretending to appear and breath normal.
He kept me at the Helm (wheel) the entire 2 hours cruising to Channel Island, stating how I seem to have a knack for it and how most of his students don’t ever catch on that easy their first time. Little did he know I was frozen scared, wondering when the boat would quit “tipping” sideways or maybe tip completely over!
Due the the extreme winds, it was going to be hard to find a place to lie anchor and eat lunch.
He kept me at the Helm (wheel) the entire 2 hours cruising to Channel Island, stating how I seem to have a knack for it and how most of his students don’t ever catch on that easy their first time. Little did he know I was frozen scared, wondering when the boat would quit “tipping” sideways or maybe tip completely over!
Due the the extreme winds, it was going to be hard to find a place to lie anchor and eat lunch.
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Listen here Mr Captain, this girl has gotta eat! Anyone whom knows me well, knows when I need food, noshing is gonna happen if I have to go fishing with his sandal straps. All that stress made me famished.
So the story goes, we found anchor, we ate, and Angel took the Helm all the way back. On our drive home my blood was pumping out of my chest elated with excitement of the most amazing thing i’ve ever done.......SAILING! |
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I began researching, ordering books, reading every free moment I had to figure out this unknown yet remarkable life at the sea. So many questions flooded my mind like "how do you cook in the galley (kitchen) while sideways?" or "what happens when the waves are monstrous?" and "how do you plan a route?" or "how does everyone pay for this?" and more importantly "how exactly to you keep wind in the sails and go towards your destination?"
Suddenly the lines (ropes) looked fascinating. The tight quarters looked snuggly with the vast surroundings of endless views. But it was the charts and maps that really spun my noggin, I couldn’t wait to learn how to sail so i can study maps and discover charting, piloting, seamanship...... I’m a full blown geek, for those whom didn’t know. Sipping coffee every weekend Angel and I discussed how we could make it happen. All at once, he had no choice, we were going to become sailers wether he really meant it all those years or not. Im one determined mutt (with that trickle of Cherokee Indian in my blood), were gonna do this, and it’s gonna be so much fun the people around us will wonder what hit them. Watch Out! |
Sailing 101
photo by Pacific Sailing & Catalina Charters
We had the most amazing 3 day sailing 101 lessons.
Taking 2 classes a day, doing homework till we fell asleep exhausted from the long days of sailing!
At moments it was frightening yet in the same moment exhilarating! I would notice I wasn't breathing, then I would laugh, look at the beautiful water and the awesome vessel carrying me, and take deep breaths.
For Angel, the hard part was re-learning the way of sailing verses a power boat, everything seemed different or opposite. Discovering many automatic responses he had to break.
For myself, whom was just the entertainer on the power boat, I was learning everything from its beginnings. Even how to cleat a line! (tieing the boat to the dock)
We took to the practice & maneuvers very quickly, yet learning all the terminology was taxing on our brains.
The sailing language is so beautiful as it's been used for centuries, and by all cultures, so it's understood worldwide.
Learning the language was as intimately fascinating as learning how to sail.
Captain Jamie from Pacific Sailing had a way of infusing confidence within us, making us believe we could master the moment.
So much more to learn. So excited to explore the unknown.
Taking 2 classes a day, doing homework till we fell asleep exhausted from the long days of sailing!
At moments it was frightening yet in the same moment exhilarating! I would notice I wasn't breathing, then I would laugh, look at the beautiful water and the awesome vessel carrying me, and take deep breaths.
For Angel, the hard part was re-learning the way of sailing verses a power boat, everything seemed different or opposite. Discovering many automatic responses he had to break.
For myself, whom was just the entertainer on the power boat, I was learning everything from its beginnings. Even how to cleat a line! (tieing the boat to the dock)
We took to the practice & maneuvers very quickly, yet learning all the terminology was taxing on our brains.
The sailing language is so beautiful as it's been used for centuries, and by all cultures, so it's understood worldwide.
Learning the language was as intimately fascinating as learning how to sail.
Captain Jamie from Pacific Sailing had a way of infusing confidence within us, making us believe we could master the moment.
So much more to learn. So excited to explore the unknown.
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Nautical Library
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One thing Ive learned the hard way about myself is when I order too many books at one time I don't know which one to read and end up not completing them......my new objective is to not be dismayed by choices.
My sailing library has grown and grown Now 18 nautical books read, filed, and ready for more!! Objective accomplished, check. |
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LET THE SAILING PLANS BEGIN…
Noshing on some tapas we engaged in the details. Such a romantic idea, yet as we all know, what looks good on paper isn't always how it feels.... cooking in a galley, storms at sea, bad hair days.....
Noshing on some tapas we engaged in the details. Such a romantic idea, yet as we all know, what looks good on paper isn't always how it feels.... cooking in a galley, storms at sea, bad hair days.....
