Photos & Slideshow: © 2010, Claudia Ward, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Music: "Steam Engine" by Patrick Dyle from soundtrack of Sense & Sensibility
Some of my fondest memories of growing up on Cape Cod center around the water - being on it, in it and near it. Every year, sailing school was part of the "keep-the-kids-busy-and-out-of-trouble" summer curriculum which is now part of my "on it" and "in it" memory bank. As tedious as it was to be sitting on the sandy floor of the one room clubhouse on rainy days looking at a blackboard with pictures of sailboats at different points of sail, it was great fun to be under way, zipping around the harbor, learning to race, and what to do when you capsized. It was guaranteed that you'd be "in it" at least once a summer as there was one class specifically dedicated to intentionally capsizing your boat in the harbor to see if you could right it!
Sailing gives young people an incredible sense of independence and responsibility. Peter and I just happened to be at the Shelter Island Yacht Club (SIYC) recently when the Opti Sailing School launched into the crowded harbor. What memories it brought back and what joy I got from snapping pictures as fast as I could of Splash, Tigger, Speed, Zepher, Max's Odessey, White Fang, Rubber Ducky and, my personal favorite, Sunny Side Up.
The Optimist-Pram is less than 8 feet long and has been designed for "juniors" to learn the basics of sailing. I sailed and raced these "tubs" at sailing camp and had a ball. It was so much fun watching these kids launch, maneuver around the moored boats and each other, and get under way to leave the harbor. Oh to be a kid again!
Your memories brought back my memories. I too remember those "keep the kids out of trouble days". Today I LOVE to sail, but then I remember dreading the capsizing lesson. As I recall, they would not tell us when this was going to happen. I was petrified for that day to come. When it finally did, mine was in pure seaweed. That is a feeling I will never forget. I laugh when I think of this memory on occasion now.
Posted by: Sally | Friday, September 03, 2010 at 08:56 PM
Good timing- nice story ! Funny I didn't do very much sailing in Sag Harbor where I grew up, but did a LOT of "HOBIE catting" in the ocean at Santa Barbara ocean during the 70's. It was the "fad" then I guess.. ah to be able to bend myself around now like I did then !
Thanks for the nice "break" !
Posted by: Cuzzin Robert | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 11:02 PM
This is such a wonderful idea!
Posted by: Barbara | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 12:17 PM
What a gift you gave your son!
Posted by: Claudia | Monday, August 16, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Oh What wonderful memories! For me, thinking about our son at that age and how he grew up with this boat and later the Laser. Thanks for the terrific shots
Carol
Posted by: carol | Monday, August 16, 2010 at 02:07 PM