Day 1

I have worked for Chicago Sailing for nearly a year and a half. During that time, I've picked up some of the vernacular and learned parts of boats. People are surprised to find out that I don't actually sail. Which isn't to say that I don't get out sailing from time to time. So many people who work at Chicago Sailing know how to sail, you can easily find someone interested in going out.

Chicago Sailing is a very complex organization, last season was taxing enough just learning the business. This season, my only excuse for not getting out early is that I've been busy. Finally one of our new instructors Andrew convinced me to hop into a class he was teaching. Before this week is over, he may come to regret that.

Day 1 was touchy, with fog rolling in and out of the harbor. I figured we'd end up doing a lot of dock work and knots, which is fine. Docking well is very important, especially when you work for Chicago Sailing. As it turned out, the fog lifted enough for us to go out.

I'm comfortable enough out on the water to have been really excited about the sailing aspects of the class. What was really scary to me was the motor. We got lucky. Andrew chose Isis for our first day and that motor was behaving, someone on my boat must have built up good karma. I had visions of my 14 year-old self pulling madly at the lawn mower cord trying to get it started. Ugh. I did not want to be the one person in our boat unable to get the motor started. At some point, I am sure I will not be able to get it to go. Luckily, yesterday was not that day. And now, I at least understand the steps to go through to get the motor started.

1. Open the air vent in the gas tank cap.
2. Push the fuel lever on the side of the motor down (as Andrew said, think about gravity and fuel trickling down into the motor).
3. Check that the kill switch is in.
4. Raise the choke lever up.
5. Make sure that the speed control lever thing (only technical terms are used at Chicago Sailing) is in the start position.
6. Pull the cord.

Voila! At least, we hope.

After docking practice we went out into the lake, joining a few Chicago Sailing boats and some of Chicago Yacht Clubs youth programs. It was a bit choppy out there! My stomach stayed fairly calm, though I was careful at points to find a building or the crib to focus on.

I'm not sure if Andrew makes all of his students do this or due to my presence on the boat he decided to have a little fun, but we returned to dock doing "The Raven." Those on B Dock got to see Isis returning to her slip, with the motor cut off, all the students on board rocking her back and forth and doing our best impressions of Peter Pan's bird call. Thanks Andrew.

Today, Andrew plans to focus on Tacking and Gybing with time spent on knots. I'll remember to bring the camera this time. Hopefully the weather behaves!