Sailing blues

So when a chance came by for me to go sailing I decided to jump on it right away. I tend to make slow decisions that usually involved some kind of a weighted matrix that evaluates options in an objective fashion. But here I didn’t consider the fact that it was a weeknight, no sailing experience, a paltry swimmer and possibly crossing international waters illegally. Instead I asked for a place to meet before we dock and I just drove myself to the lake shore.

I was expecting a smaller boat that might have involved me hanging off on the side to keep from capsizing but when I saw the 28 footer “Interlude” floating contently in the dock slip, I knew this was likely to be a much less harrowing experience than I expected. I climbed aboard with my crew of four others and slowly we eased the boat out to the lake with motor power.

As we eased out of the harbor a flurry of activity then ensured. Those who knew what they were doing went about unfurling sails and rotating booms while I relegated to keeping my head low and generally getting out of everyone’s way. Once the jib and the main sail were up the engine was shut off and I found myself traveling on the lake with pure wind power. Our speeds soon approached 6 knots which felt faster than it was. The silence that came with the lack of mechanical engines purring was only punctuated by the choppiness of the waves on the lake and the occasional fluttering of the sail. For a brief while I was at the helm steering in a direction that took us away from the shore. To watch the entire hull of the boat in front of me with big sails glistening in the sunlight and us making our way to nowhere in blue was near perfect.

Soon, as activity settled on the boat we brought out the beer, some fruits and snacks to bite on. We ate, we drank, we talked and we phased out. I found myself a spot on the bow of the boat peering out ahead at the upcoming buoys in the distance and stared at a horizon abundant. Meanwhile the blue ness of the lake and the sky merged indiscriminately in the periphery. The sound of sailing was a soothing soundtrack. And the experience of motion on water with just wind alone was alluring.

There is something delicious about the Michigan summer. Sure there are some days where it is hot and muggy but on most days the evenings tend to cool down to a sublime temperatures while the clear blue skies await patiently being splashed orange by the setting sun. As we turned back a couple of hours in, we started to make our way back to the Detroit shores as the sun dipped in the west. The white sails were now basking in the sunset glory of the greatest artist ever.

It was a fascinating experience this and I can’t wait to do it again. Perhaps it was the rare combination of having a really good first time experience in the best of Michigan summer or perhaps it had to do with the fact that doing something without considering all consequences isn’t always the wrong thing do. Sure I reached home midnight and getting back to work next day was rough, but looking back, I would remember none of that.

Rather, I will peacefully recall me sitting at the bow facing the wind and not letting sail me away with it.