102. Chemo A-Sailing We Will Go

We grew up close to the North Sea, closer to a river ending up in the North Sea, closest to a canal ending up in the river that ends up in the North Sea.  But even though ships of all makes and sizes were all around us, we never actually set foot on one: we were landlubbers.  Even so, sea faring made a lasting impression.  For my sister that meant marrying a maritimer from Nova Scotia; for me that meant taking sailing lessons at age 44, quite some time ago.  

It was a week-long beginners sailing course at Last Mountain Lake, under the tutelage of Harry S., a local teacher and sailing afictionado.  The first and last 2 days are a blur to me, but the Wednesday sticks out like a wet herring.  Monday and Tuesday were spent learning "exhilarating" stuff such as: tying knots and ropes, blowing a whistle, etc.  Wednesday we finally got down to brass tacks and were teamed up, 2 beginners, myself and this other girl in an actual small sail boat!  Oh the excitement!   Now I know what you are thinking:  What were they thinking?, "they" being the instructors.  But we, the beginners did not foresee any problems at all because we were so gung-ho to finally get out onto the lake!  Setting out tacking was no problem, in fact it was heaven!  We felt like old pros.  Piece of cake!  We even congratulated ourselves on managing to turn the boat around.  "High 5!"  But then came a huge gust of wind up from behind and all of a sudden the tide turned so to speak and we were out of control, with sails, ropes, beams, arms and legs all over the place!  You guessed it: we ended up in the water, the boat overturned with the tip of the mast stuck into the silty bottom.  Try as we might the other girl and I could not upright the boat, so we had no choice but to blow our whistles with all our might.  Good thing we had been practicing that for 2 days!  Eventually, and luckily before hypothermia set in, a couple of instructor assistants came to the rescue.  The other girl managed to hoist herself into the boat with the grace of a sea otter.  I: not so much.  With nothing but water underneath my feet I did not have the strength to launch myself and had to be hauled in like a wet oversized cod.  I did stay for the remainder of the course, but the thrill was gone.

On my way home, I stopped to pick up some groceries.  Other shoppers gave me curious looks probably thinking I was a battered wife because I was bruised from neck to toe.

I have not taken any more sailing lessons since.  Mind you, I did buy a paddleboard a few years ago.  No sails to worry about for one.  And I have been trying to make a contraption to enable myself to climb back on should I fall into deep waters. Hmmm...😓 Best not to fall!!! 😎

I waited 2 days in Halifax once for a chance to go sailing on the Bluenose.  I would get up really early every morning so I would not miss out.  After 2 days' waiting for the fog to lift, I gave up.  Oh well!  This week labs for the month are due.  Back when the results are in. Fingers crossed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5CNZwbY9Uo   Abc wals = Dutch sea chanty; link may not work on computer; works on phone though!