Sailing

Part of my growing up years was spent learning the ins and outs of sailing. My family were members of the Pymatuning Yacht Club. We went there every weekend during the summertime and sometimes, stayed for the week - in a little trailer (or a tent).

Tim, Anne and I took sailing lessons. The object of the lessons was to be able to be part of the crew during all of the weekend sailboat races. So this was our way to learn the ropes. It was fun, especially since our boats were much smaller than the one our parents' had. We learned the terms starboard (right side), port (left side), coming about, watch out for the boom and beware of shallow ground (because of the tiller and centerboard might hit bottom.)

The sailing lessons came in handy too, when our friends and, we would go out in our little sailfishes and sunfishes. These boats were only for one or two people. Our sailfish had a red and orange striped sail - so we named the boat, "Oh relish". (because the colors on the sale represented ketchup and mustard). Anne started crewing before Tim and I did - so the two of us got to use the sailfish during the races -then she could take it out later. Since Tim was a little older than me - I had to wait my turn. That was fine, cause there was a sand pile near by to build sandcastles in. Sometimes, we would go out together. Our boats only had one sail, a centerboard and a tiller (for steering). We loved to go out on the calm, hot days and just tip over the boat on purpose - so to get wet and cool off. Once you fell into the water, you would swim around to the other side of the boat and step on the centerboard to get it back up. if the boat ever tipped completely over, then you always waiting for someone else to come help.

One year though, the coast guards warned us to stop doing that, cause someone on the other side of the lake drowned doing that. After that, we only capsized on purpose if it was really windy and the coast guard wasn't around.

There was a little island not far from shore called beer can island (must have been cause kids would go there and drink beer!) We liked to use that as a reference point if we were having our own sailboat races. [By the way, we always had a life jacket on.]

It was a fun time. I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn how to sail. Being at the yacht club was great because there were other kids our ages - to hang out with and play with. Besides sailing, we went swimming and fishing together. [We did take swimming lessons too. They started at 8am and no matter what the temp, we had lessons. Some mornings, it was downright early!] Both Tim and Anne completed their Life Saving Course there. I couldn't do all the required swimming to do so.