Spencer S 5G

Being Closer to Dad

I was inspired by my dad after he completed this expert sailing class that was offered in our town. I decided during that summer to enroll in S.B.R. Start Boating Right at Longshore Sailing School.  I was going to learn how to sail Bugs first that summer. Bugs are small boats that have a main sail and no jib sheet. At the end we had to take a test. It was hard, but I still passed. It was then time to graduate to a harder class.  We sailed Hunters. They were harder to sail because they had many ropes and more sails to control than the Bugs. I didn’t pass the test the first time. The terms were technical and there were a lot of rules to remember. 

I often reflect on that summer which was two years ago.  Sailing has brought me and my dad closer and has given us more bonding time together. When I’m sailing I take my mind off the world and just sail. I hear the flapping of the sail, the ruffling of the water, the yelling of the captain, the hum of the bottom of the boat hitting the water.  I hear the zip of the ropes gliding across the clip. Sailing stores good memories for me like the time I fell off the boat or the time the boat flipped onto an island. That was a special summer in so many ways.