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Greg Krouse's avatar

you firmly pushed on a memory button, David. I learn to sail on the Scioto river. I was attending Ohio State University and this was a great way to let off pressure, but it was so much fun. We were sailing small boats as it would be challenging to use anything too large. Lasers and flying juniors. lasers are a blast, well named like rockets. They have the added capability of being righted quickly and easily. Our teacher, who couldn’t swim, showed us how to sink and right a boat the second lesson. Consequently, on those steamy summer afternoons, when it got too hot, we would dump the boats and then ride it again and zip across the river. They’re so good gaining sailor training on the edges of a river, where are the wind shifts in spinning eddies.

Several years later, I was working at UC Irvine and I joined the sailing club. You had to take a class to be able to use the boats to ensure that you knew what you were doing. I went out with a buddy who also sailed. We had an incredible Santa Anna wind day. Unfortunately, we had a newbie in our boat, and when we shot off the pier, both of us hiking, and insisting that our newbie do the same, it was a little too much for him. He didn’t come back. Sad for sure. There’s nothing like the wind. Pulling you along with the sail lofting. even sailing in light winds in a contest is a kick.

Those days on the river in Ohio are vivid in this older mind.

Thanks for the reminder and I know you had a great day on the water.

Greg.

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Paul McCutchen's avatar

I sailed a couple of times with my brother but nothing on the scale that you sail. He learned to sail one summer at a camp on the east coast. I was sent to a dude ranch for four weeks in Arizona because my parents didn't want my sister to go alone. The boat he had was more of a dingy with a sheet, but we would sail it on a small lake near our home.

Sailing reminds me of farming. You are at the mercy of Mother Nature but at the end you are hoping for a win. Too much rain? The crops would flood. Too much sun? The crops would die. Too much wind? Some crops would get blown over. The outcome is a little different but you still at the mercy of the weather.

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