After a sailing lesson, Hanna Clements-Hart reflects on how she can apply what she learned on dry land.
I recently took a sailing lesson on the San Francisco Bay. It was drizzling when I arrived at the dock. I could already name the parts of the boat and points of sail, tie a few knots and had passed a written test, so I was ready.
My instructor Noah, an experienced sailor who had done multiple ocean crossings but was barely older than my kids, told me, “Sailing is going from point A to point B across the water using the wind, a force we cannot control or see.” This was my first clue that I would learn more than just sailing skills.
The sky was clearing and there was a light breeze as we motored out of South Beach harbor, watching Giants Stadium fall away behind us and Sutro Tower rise in the distance. It’s easy to forget that San Francisco is a port town, and it was a treat to see from this angle.
My first lesson: you see things differently when you change perspective. Once we got to open water, we hoisted the sails and caught the wind heading south. We were on a “close haul,” pointing nearly into the wind, yet still moving.