The Memorial Day sail really started with a simple question on Sunday on the way home from my 13 year old daughter Kaitlin’s softball tournament. The Admiral asked what time I was going sailing on Monday, and I said it depends, Kate do you what to go. I was expecting a “not really” but I got a “yes”. So this would be her first real day sailing. We decided on a 10am departure allowing ample time for teenage sleeping in.

I woke up around 7:30am and did some quick yard work and on to preparing for the days sail. Pack a lunch of PBJ and goldfish & cheese puffs and lots of drinks. We promptly departed at 10am. Upon arrival we loaded up the boat, bent on the sails. Kaitlin learned where to put the jib sheets, put her ipod into the portable speakers that clip to the sliding hatch hasp. I knew for the day to be a success that the learning would just need to be informal and on the fly. So we clamped the trolling motor in place connected to the battery, stored the cooler and gear and were off.

Motoring out of the marina I offered up the tiller but she wasn’t quite ready yet. So we motored out and just enjoyed the hot sun. On the way out there were 10 geese swimming across our bow, when we got too close for them they took off, and it was a neat site that caught Kate’s attention as they flapped their wings and rose up into the sky. As we cleared the mooring field Kate did take the tiller and I did my first smart thing. Instead of going into a big discussion of how the tiller works backwards and all the physics – I simply said push the tiller away – what happened? Pull the tiller toward you what happens? That was all the instruction needed. She got it, not perfect all day but she got the concept.

We got the sails up with kate at the tiller and motored out to where the wind usually picks up. We talked about what to do when other boats are around and who has the right of way, but never trust the other boaters and make sure there is a safe amount of room. She learned quickly that the folks in the rental pontoon boats where to be closely watched. We talked about when tacking it’s important to communicate. “Ready About”, “Ready”, “Helms Alee “ turned into her version – “Ready” – “yes” – “go” works for me. In no time she figure out that when the jib started flapping something needed to happen, and adjust course. I sat and played with the jib set and she pointed us around the lake.


With all the fun sailing the two things that will be most remembered from the day were:
When we were headed into a fleet boats headed our way and Kate said, “Dad aren’t we star bound"

I had to stop for a second and think…. Until she said, “don’t we get to pick which way to go?”. I said you mean on Starboard tack…. We both had a good laugh. But the best laugh came at lunch time. We broke out the PBJ sandwiches. Kate had a few bites then we needed to tack. We completed the maneuver Ready, Yes, Go. She guided us through a slow turn, I handled the jib. Once settled back in Kate asked for her sandwich, after a quick look around she said I was sitting on it. Sure enough, flat as a pancake and PB on my backside.


We had a great time. She just might come out with me again.