As soon as the weather starts to turn warm in the spring, my family and I begin to look forward to a summer of sailing on Cape Cod. We keep a small day sailer at a mooring in Cotuit and sail as many days as we can. Since our boat has a centerboard instead of a fixed keel, we can sail it right up to a beach, drop our anchor, and have a picnic or go for a swim. Sometimes we just sail for as long as we can on Nantucket Sound.
There's a lot to learn about sailing before you head out in the water. Since all the objects on a sailboat have special names, it can be like learning a new language. For example, some things that look like ropes are called "sheets." Each sail has a specific name, too, and a specific purpose. Main sails and jibs are the ones used most often, but there are many others, as well. If you're told to haul in the jib sheet, you have to know what to do. Since boats move through various points on the water, you can't use the words left and right for directions. Instead, you say "port" and "starboard." I can always remember that port is the left side because the words "port" and "left" both have four letters.
When you're on the water, there are "rules of the road," just like there are for cars on land. You need to learn them for safety's sake. For example, boats cross each other in the water, just like cars do at intersections, so it's important to know which boat has the right of way so you don't crash into each other. When you are operating a sailboat, you need to understand wind direction and points of sail, too, otherwise you might tip your boat over. That would be both uncomfortable and embarrassing!
It all sounds very complicated, but it's worth it to experience the joy of sailing. This summer, when you feel a warm breeze blow across your face, close your eyes and try to imagine what it feels like to be powered by that breeze, blowing you across the water. If that feels good to you, you'll understand why I love to spending my summer days sailing. If you find yourself near Nantucket Sound in the next few months, look for my little blue and white sailboat, and give us a big wave.