Alex has been sailing for many years - he went to a summer long sailing camp for a few years in his teens and spent his weekends racing sailboats throughout high school. He even has a few trophies! So when he asked me if I'd like to learn how to sail, I jumped at the opportunity. I love being on the water and I love spending time with Alex so this was the perfect combination. Before we set sail, we took a little trip to the duck pond in Central Park to check out the mini-sailboats.
On our first trip, after a short safety rundown at Alex's country club with our sailing instructor, Queenie, we headed for the dock to take the tender to our boat. We set sail on an Ideal 18, an 18 foot long sailboat. It was a beautiful, sunny day with tons of wind. I learned how to tack, haul the jib, and even got a chance to control the tiller and steer. It was incredible - sailing on the beautiful Long Island Sound with an expert sailor and our awesome instructor.
We've taken clinics and tutorials. I've learned the ropes (literally!) and am learning to love sailing. It's so natural and peaceful. It's a lot of work. It's fun seeing Alex in his element, reawakening a childhood passion. I can see the pride and excitement in his face as he takes on new tasks and teaches me about sailing.
Summer is winding down. After moving to NYC, summer has become my least favorite season of the year - it's hot, the city is crowded, there's so much to do in not enough days. Autumn. In autumn the city is magical - breezy cool air, no more humidity, when that first leaf turns just a little bit orange. Now that's where it's at. My favorite season is approaching and for the first time in a long time, I find myself already missing summer. Next summer, I already have a fun, adventurous new hobby to look forward to!
