One of my goals this summer is to make space for things I’ve been wanting to do for a while, those fun “back burner” aspirations. So, when a friend suggested my husband and I take sailing classes with him, we said, “Sure!” It’s one of those things that’s been on the backburner list for ages. What a fun, carefree, summery thing to do.
Except….after our first classroom session, I was ready to call it quits. Knots and wind direction and buoys and tide charts (all presented in the dryest possible way)–this was not how I imagined spending my free time. I was cross-eyed with boredom.
I wanted to wear gold J. Crew boat shoes and striped shirts and effortlessly slice through a calm sea while sipping on a mai tai. I wanted all of the charts and tables and diagrams to enter my brain through osmosis. I wanted sailing to be easy.
Well, I thought, maybe when we get out on the water, things will look a little brighter. I donned my striped shirt and sunglasses and headed over to the dock to find our instructor kitted out in a waterproof suit, rain boots and a warm hat.
Strike two against sailing.
Then it started to pour.
Strike three.
Needless to say, sailing wasn’t as effortless as I hoped it would be. All through June, it rained as I struggled with my reef knots and bowlines and double sheet bends.
I didn’t jump out of bed on sailing day, excited to get out on the water. But little by little, parts of sailing grew on me. You didn’t really need to know every bit of terminology to intuitively sense wind direction and steer your way to a close reach. I didn’t even know what “close reach” meant the first time I did it. I watched the tiny red string as it bounced and blew in the wind, my hand instinctively guiding the tiller to the right while I croaked “Helms Alee?”
I was good at docking. I loved the smell of the sea. And gradually, a feeling of competence overtook my frustration.
As I’ve been learning in so many aspects of life, the easiest things aren’t always the most rewarding. A bit of grit and stick-to-itiveness can reap big rewards.
And so it went with sailing.
Twenty hours of on-the-water training and a three hour exam later, I’m officially a sailor. And, as we bid notoriously rainy June goodbye, the July sunshine brought with it that earlier dream of gorgeous, carefree days on the water. Turns out you really can wear stripes and sunglasses.
Maybe I’ll order those gold boat shoes after all.
Are there any hobbies on your backburner, things you’d like to try your hand at this summer?
Categories: Nitty Gritty Truths, Visual Cake
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Truth and Cake 
Lovely photos, Rian! And I say that even from the point of view of someone who detests water activities except for swimming. And as usual, you’re quite right, i.e., that the things that take the most effort are the things with the largest payoff, possibly just because they require it. Kudos! (Is that the skyline of Vancouver in the background? Also lovely!)
It is the Vancouver skyline :) I’d say swimming is a pretty impressive water activity! I’d love to be a stronger swimmer. Hmm, maybe that should go on the “list”. ;)
Learning something new is never an easy process, but always a rewarding one. Way to go for sticking with it, Rian! Especially for those gorgeous photos.
You always give the best encouragement, Jessica. I’d love to hear what you’re up to this summer! I hear there’s a Color Run in your future… ;)
Beautiful photos! Wow!
Well, you look great, so sailing suits you.
Ahh, thanks :) You should have seen the ones of me in the rain. Not so attractive!
Congrats on learning! Sailing is something I want to learn also, more to teach my future kids who will probably be better at it than I =)
I’ve always wondered about sailing, myself. I wouldn’t say it’s on my list, but it’s been in the back of my mind at least. Kayaking is on my list and near the top also. I want to learn to kayak really well. Not the whitewater-white-knuckle-waterfall jumping river kayaking. I’m not looking for the big thrill but the quiet one. It would be nice to be confident in calmer waters. This was the perfect post for starting the weekend, thanks!
O, and your pics are gorgeous!
Order the gold boat shoes..and a gold camera strap, your photos are gorgeous! I am so glad you really dug in – what a great accomplishment! :)
My husband bought me the prettiest, sparkliest camera strap for Christmas last year, so now I just need the shoes to go with it! And, I mean, with all of your “buy the shoes encouragement,” I kinda have to now, right? ;)
Right! Without hesitation! :) (and what a sweet man!)
Oh! I’m trying not to be really jealous right now! :) Sailing is in my blood and I am as landlocked as landlocked can be. Maybe someday…:D
I feel you…we lived in northern BC for 2.5 years, far from the water. My husband and I have already made an agreement–wherever we end up, it must be near water. Unless, of course it’s Paris. There are exceptions to everything ;)
Great pictures!
Thanks :)
Great pics to go with a grand accomplishment! Thinking about what you’ll name your first boat yet? We love getting out on the water here. On my summer bucket list: build a giant sand castle! The only problem is my toddler likes to demolish more than build…
Haven’t quite made it to boat naming stage, though I love walking along the marina, trying to guess why someone named their boat “Josephina”….a lost love, perhaps? A giant sand castle–that sounds like so much fun! Maybe in a year or two, he’ll be more interested in helping than demolishing :)
The Canadian Riviera, is what it looks like. ;)
I’d really like to get out and try rock climbing (if it’s summer activities you’re talking about). I’ve done indoor bouldering in gyms before…but that’s really no substitute. Just need to find some patient climbing friends to belay me slowly up the cliff…
That definitely sounds like a “Claire activity.” :) I’ve only done outdoor climbing once, ages ago. But it was fun, definitely prettier (and a tad scarier) than climbing at the gym. Hope you get a chance to get out and try it this summer!
Reblogged this on Eyenjiel.
Fabulous photos! Congrats to you for going after something you wanted and succeeding. :)
Wonderful. Lesson on just stick to it! Congratulations.
I wonder if I’m too old for skydiving. LOL
Never! I want to go skydiving so badly, but the older I get, the more terrified I become. Why don’t you go for it and show us all how it’s done? ;)
I love your blogs and your tenacity. You’ve earned the gold boat shows!
Thanks!
I love your photos :)
I wish I could go sailing, nothing more relaxing than being surrounded a large mass of water.
I agree :)
God bless you two crazy kids. I definitely need both hands free for my mai tais at all times.
I’ve been talking about skiiing this winter… it could get ugly.
Oh man, I would love to hear about your skiing adventures, Jules. I hope you go for it! I’ll spare you the details of my one and only season on skis. It wasn’t pretty. I am definitely meant to be on a snowboard. But learning to snowboard has been one of the more challenging and rewarding things I’ve done. I’d definitely recommend giving one or both a try, especially for a nature lover like yourself. Plus, it will no doubt provide you with hilarious blogging material ;)
I am still working on that one called writing.
Scott
Ah, yes. Lots of ropes and knots to work with there ;)
True, very true!
Reminds me of the first time I went camping with lots of pre-conceived notions of what it would be like. Barbecuing steaks (we had tuna helper) soda’s on ice in the cooler (they kept film in there) and sleeping in a spacious, walk in tent (it was a two person one shaped like a banana). I saw beauty I could never have experienced my way, and it was a life changing trip on many levels. Plus I lost 15 pounds with our long day hikes and dinners from cans.
Sounds very cool, Marsella :) Maybe I could give camping a try again if I got over some of my own misconceptions. I just remember being destroyed by bugs as a child and peeing in the woods. But I’m sure it can be absolutely amazing, canned food and all ;) We’ve been talking about doing an Oregon coast trip next summer. Maybe that would be a good trial…
The water looks like churned cream, I felt I had to say that. I also like the ‘punch’ the last sentence had in folding the entire post together.
That 3rd photo pretty much sums it up