I'm nearing the end of my Back-Up sailing week. My arms ache, my hands are raw and I've had a fabulous time. After years of not-sailing, I'm finally beginning to understand key principles. Most of my recent sailing has been in day cruising yachts: fun but hard to learn in, partly because mistakes have severe consequences. Here in the Lakes the Windrider has been fairly forgiving in the windy rainy conditions. The weather has been poor to say the least and fun for fast sailing. The Windrider has been racing along at fifteen knots, one hull digging into the water, the other several feet into the air. It's been exhilerating. The novice sailors have been out in Access dinghies, unsinkeable keel boats that are very patient. In a high wind they heel right over, water pours in and yet they stay afloat. I found this out for myself yesterday when three of us went racing and spent much of our time at 80 degrees. I won bronze. Or came last, depending on your perspective. There are four others with spinal cord injury, one a leader, one a tetraplegic with a high break. Despite being able to move nothing below his chin, he still managed to sail an adapted dinghy alone with fantastic enthusiasm and skill. Amazing!
