Growing up, going to sailing camp slowly became one of my favorite things about my summers. I used to dread being out on the water, simply because I was eight years old and very afraid. Sailing slowly became something I liked and am very grateful for today. Here it is, all the different signs and indications to let you know that you did indeed spend your summers trying to learn how to sail at a yacht club.
1. You had about a million yacht club shirts from different events/regattas.
They were usually white or gray, with a little burgee or sailboat design in the right hand corner, and they usually weren't modeled like this.
2. The start of summer was the most exciting time.
You were able to hang with your sailing friends.
3. You didn’t listen to your instructors.
Who needs them?
4. You feared sailing for about half of the time.
From about age eight to age 11, sailing was quite a dreaded activity for you, but then you realized it was actually fun.
5. You hoped for no wind days so that you could do nothing.
Flipping boats for no reason, going kayaking, making someone jump out and pull the boat with the bow line and getting rides in the motor boat, dead wind days were actually not too bad.
6. Watching storms from the clubhouse was your favorite activity.
Staring out the window with a sweatshirt and blanket while a movie played in the background was always a chill day.
7. The junior clubhouse was your place.
You took pride in the junior yacht club’s space; it was where you hung out, played cards and waited for lunch. Also, no one was this good at cards. It was more of a few intense rounds of spit on a picnic table.
8. You didn’t go to swim practice.
You either didn't go, hid in the bathroom until it was over or went, but you didn't swim too many laps.
9. You always wanted to drive the motorboat.
Sadly, you weren’t allowed.
10. You looked forward to the big regattas.
You either went to all of the regattas or the couple of big ones, and you actually looked forward to them.
11. Every year you forgot how to rig your boat.
Don’t worry; you remembered in the first few days, and this only happened for the first four years, not too bad.
12. You lost pieces to the club boats.
You also had to replace them.
13. This was always a bit of a struggle.
14. You always smelled like sunscreen and salt water.
It was a smell that wouldn’t fully leave you until the first week of September.
15. The sailing dinner was the biggest party of your summer.
This was like the Oscars of sailing camp. Everyone got all dressed up, and everyone’s parents were there. Of course, you got to see who won what award.
16. You looked up to the older kids at camp.
They were cool because they were decent at sailing but also pretended not to care. They usually showed up late with iced coffee, and they were able to help out the instructors. Plus, they were already 16, so they were automatically cool.
17. You learned a skill that you can do your whole life.
I don't want to get too sentimental here, but not only was sailing camp a great part of my summers, it was something that I learned. You can sail when you're nine or when you're 90.
