The first time I went sailing I was eight years old. It was such a foreign entity at the time and more work than I was used too. The days spent on the lake with the hot summer sun and high wind where mystical to me. My father, the captain, was always competitive and slightly impatient of my little understanding with the workings of the boat. “Grab the jib sheet!” he would yell, “Not starboard! Port side!” When I was younger it used to startle me seeing the captain side in my dad, today it makes me laugh.
I used to love the easygoing spring breeze, eventually getting the boat to plane, gliding across the lake with grace. Although I do enjoy those beautiful sailing days, my motivation is brought to life most during stormy weather. Where whitecaps are breaching the surface of the lake, the winds are up to fifteen knots, and you’re focus is imperative. The sublime sense of peace that exists when it’s just me, the boat, and the water.
…show more content…
Laura Dekker, a dutch sailor, was the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe alone. In 2012 she completed her goal at the age of sixteen. I like to believe that an ordinary person is capable of anything. My progression towards this goal has lead me to some of my most rewarding experiences in life. From beginning the work of building a 38 foot Ketch sailboat by hand to meeting several sailors from around the country. “It’s not quite as hard as you’d think,” expressed Drew Peerless when giving me advice on my dream. We met by chance over a year ago only to find out that he had too circumnavigated the world solo in the