The Jib and visiting Nature

 ​It was the last day of a high-pressure system, bringing warm weather. We knew the wind would build throughout the day as the high began to break down. My wife managed to join us this time, so she and my son came for the adventure. With an extra crew member, we had the perfect setup: two could sail while one captured our escapades on film.

​Today's grand plan of attending four thrilling races was ditched in favour of a whimsical adventure in amateur sailing. The brave soul leading this escapade was none other than Paul, our intrepid captain. Setting sail on the river of possibilities, we embarked on a journey so novel that even the river itself seemed surprised. Our voyage led us to the legendary S Buoy and its elusive companion, the M Buoy. Alas, just as we congratulated ourselves on our nautical achievements, the call to turn back to reality rang through the winds. 

Having arrived at the sailing club, our first task was to remove the boat from the boat park and load it with all the sailing gear we had packed in the car. Paul and I then pushed and heaved the boat along the bumpy track to the railway crossing. Once it was all clear, we hurried across and found ourselves in front of the river. There was barely a hint of a breeze, and a few other brave sailors began arriving over the next half hour, readying their boats for the race starting at 11:00.

It was too nice to go into the changing rooms, so Paul and I simply removed our trousers to reveal our shorts and rather white legs. We then set about mounting the different cameras on the boat, discovering in the process the various pieces we had left behind. This time, we set up a camera on a tripod to record our escapades from the land.

Out on the River with Philip

​​The other boats gathered on the river, but we were still behind them. We gently launched our boat and waited for the first race to finish before we could join. We hung back at the beginning of the race, and at the sound of the klaxon, the other boats were off. We would have liked to join them immediately, but being a little farther back, we found ourselves in a windless patch of the river. While everyone else sailed off upstream, we stayed fairly stationary outside the clubhouse, waiting for a gust of wind to propel us forward.

Soon enough, a breeze arrived. With Paul at the helm controlling the mainsail and me expertly pulling on all the wrong ropes for the jib, we set off. Paul gave me instructions to try to make the jib look like an aerofoil. With the wind from the southwest, we could easily sail up the river without any tacking, as the wind was nearly at our backs. Once I had set the sail, all I had to do was adjust it as the wind died, learning that I could hold out the sail with my hand to sometimes catch a breeze.

Slowly, we sailed past the first mark. Because we were doing so well, Paul decided we could go for the final M buoy marking the edge of the race. We nearly managed to sail around it, but just as we did, the wind died again.

​Getting close to Nature

We had successfully rounded the mark and then, with our boat pointing towards the bank, the wind decided to take a break. We slowly drifted towards the shore and a looming Willow tree. With no wind and a determined current, we had a slow-motion crash course with the Willow branches, gently nudging them before gracefully running aground in the shallow water. Thanks to some top-notch oarsmanship and a gentle push from the stern, we were quickly back on track. We weren't the only ones on this unintended detour; several boats in the race joined us on the same scenic route.

Racing the other Boats

The atmosphere suddenly shifted as we leisurely approached the buoy, the epicentre of our nautical journey. Out of nowhere, a fleet of racing boats appeared on the horizon, slicing through the water with the precision of Olympic athletes. It was as if we'd stumbled into the middle of an aquatic Formula 1 race, and we were the unexpected obstacle on the track.
Cue the panic. Our leisurely pace quickly felt like a snail’s crawl as these sleek racing machines closed in on us. In that heart-stopping moment, we contemplated renaming our boat "The Obstacle" because we were certainly living up to the title. The racers approached with the speed and ferocity of a pack of wolves, eyes fixed on the mark, and our little boat stood right in their path.

With just inches to spare, the racing boats skilfully manoeuvred around us. It was a sight to behold – a symphony of sails and strategy, with each boat expertly avoiding collision. We held our breath, expecting a nautical version of bumper cars, but these sailors knew their stuff. They rounded the mark with the grace of ballet dancers, leaving us in their wake, both impressed and slightly sheepish.

As the adrenaline subsided, we couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Our serene day turned into a thrilling adventure, reminding us that sailing is as much about the unexpected moments as the planned routes. We may have felt like "The Obstacle," but we also got a front-row seat to some incredible racing skills.

If you ever find yourself pootling along in your sailboat and suddenly surrounded by a fleet of racing boats, just remember to keep calm, enjoy the show, and consider a humorous new name for your vessel. After all, it's all part of the fun in the world of sailing!

Using the Jib

​ As we sailed, each turn brought a new challenge. When the sails shifted, I had to scramble to the opposite side of the boat to balance things out. This meant moving in sync with my son, Paul, a seasoned sailor who made it look effortlessly easy. Let me tell you, finding that rhythm was no small feat. While Paul glided across the deck like a dancer, I was more like a clumsy crab, trying not to topple overboard. But hey, practice makes perfect, right? Today, I was given the grand responsibility of handling the jib. For the uninitiated, that's the smaller sail at the front of the boat. My mission was clear: keep the jib on the same side as the mainsail. Simple enough, I thought. Oh, how naive I was.

​The key to managing the jib is maintaining an aerofoil shape, something I understood. In practice, it felt like trying to shape a cloud. I knew the aerofoil could be large or small, but figuring out the right size and when to adjust it was a whole other story.Then came the cleat, the little device that locks the sail in place. I got the hang of releasing it, but determining just how much to let go was a constantly shifting puzzle. As the wind played its capricious games, all the rules seemed to change in an instant. One moment I thought I had it all figured out, and the next, the wind would laugh and say, "Not today, newbie!"

​It was a dance with nature, requiring patience, quick reflexes, and a sense of humor. By the end of the day, I had a newfound respect for sailors and their ability to read the wind like an open book. My first day out was filled with moments of sheer panic, bursts of laughter, and a lot of learning.

As I packed up for the day, exhausted but exhilarated, I realized that sailing is a beautiful blend of science and art, with a sprinkle of unpredictability. Each outing is a lesson in patience and adaptability, and I can't wait for my next chance to dance with the wind and waves.

Here's to more adventures on the high seas, and to eventually mastering the balance act without resembling a crab on a caffeine rush!