Come Sail Away

in Blog — 10/19/2011 11:46 pm | 7 comments

It would only be appropriate to begin this post with a bit about impulse purchases. An impulse purchase, as described by Wikipedia, is an unplanned decision to buy a product or service, made just before the purchase. We’ve all done that, right? Everyone can relate to being in a store and seeing a pair of shoes, or shirt, or even a magazine that was not on our original shopping list and for one reason or another, we made the purchase. Sometimes it’s a clever salesperson or a great bargain, but something hooks us and we spend our hard earned money based on an emotional impulse. This blog post today is brought to you thanks to an impulse purchase.

(No, I did not buy a sailboat!)

One morning while checking my email, I noticed a discount promotion for sailing lessons. My interest was immediately piqued as I had never sailed a boat before and it certainly seemed like it could be fun. Upon further examination, the sailing school was located pretty close to where my favorite co-conspirator, Romulus, lives so I figured the universe had given me the green light. After a brief call to Romulus, confirming that he would be willing to sail with me, I clicked on the “Buy My Sailing Lessons” button and we had taken the first step in becoming bona fide seamen.

Admittedly, Romulus and I had not thoroughly read the fine print and therein lies the problem with most impulse purchases: not taking the time to rationally consider every angle of what you’re getting. We figured that the lessons would include some vocabulary, maybe an onboard wine party where everyone would get to steer the sailboat before receiving a complimentary Captain’s hat and calling it a day. Instead, we had signed up for a three-day, fifteen-hour intensive sailing course complete with homework due on the first day of class. There would be a three-hour classroom session at 6 pm on a Monday night followed by two consecutive days on the water (beginning at 8 am!) the following weekend. Rom and I feared that we had accidentally signed up for the British Royal Navy.

On the first night of class, there was a group of about 15 to 20 students, most of us feverishly taking notes while our instructor, Rick, reviewed the homework. Rick’s nautical stories from his adventures sailing around the globe kept the class interesting while he used a model sailboat and dry erase board to prepare us for the subsequent days of class on the water.  We went over terminology, water safety tips, and items we would need to be ready for sailing on that Saturday morning. By the end of that evening, I think the whole class was excited to hit the water that weekend, even with the 8 am start time.

In the classroom on Saturday morning, we were broken down into smaller groups of four sailors before being taken to the boats with an assigned Captain/instructor. My group consisted of me, Romulus, two friends, Maurice and Kristen, and Captain Al. Maurice was pretty solid on his sailing knowledge from doing the homework and Kristen was probably the most ambitious student. We joked with her that she would probably get the highest grade in the history of the sailing school on our certification exam. And then there was that duo of Romulus and Jarrod who were still holding out hope for the onboard wine party.

Over the course of the two days, we practiced setting up the boat and sails, tying different knots, steering, and navigating the boat through the wind. Unfortunately for us that weekend, the wind was weak on the first day and all but dead on the second. Using the power of the motor, we still managed to run through and practice skills necessary for the exam. Each one of us took turns doing all of the jobs on the sailboat from tending to the sails when switching directions to saving the “Man Overboard” on rescue drills. While sailing, we talked with each other about our backgrounds, etc and picked Captain Al’s brain about his sailing experiences. Without the wind, it was perhaps not the best weekend for sailing but wonderfully serene on the water. It was here that I found the allure in sailing for myself. I’m sure that for many people the actual sailing is the draw but being on a boat, in the water, with a few friends and no worries has Jarrod written all over it.

At the conclusion of our second day on the water, we docked the boat as we’d been taught and it was time to take the certification exam. Romulus and I both decided not to take the test, knowing that we would have the option in the future if we decided to do so. We had a great introduction to sailing but our feeling was that if we were on a sailboat again, we’d rather be holding margaritas instead of the tiller (the steering lever). We ended our sailing lessons by thanking all of our instructors and exchanging Facebook information with our crewmates. Had we conquered the seven seas? Certainly not, but we had an enjoyable weekend sailing away in the New York Harbor.

Now YOU try it! : Sailing season is over in the Northeast but if you’re interested in learning how to sail, you can start your search with the American Sailing Association. Rom and I took our lessons at “The Award Winning True North Sailing School” located in Jersey City, NJ but I am certain that a Google search would yield many options for you wherever you are. Good luck if you choose to take up sailing for a weekend or as a lifestyle. Let me know if you do, I’d love to hitch a ride as a first mate.