Sally in Charge – A Masterclass from the Dory

 

Sally in Charge – A Masterclass from the Dory

Some sailing lessons don’t happen in a classroom or even on the boat. Sometimes, they come floating in a Dory, delivered with calm precision, decades of experience — and a voice that carries just the right amount of authority across the water.

Yesterday 10 Sept, Paul and I were in the safety boat, patrolling quietly on a training day, while Sally — retired senior instructor, seasoned sailor, and unofficial keeper of calm — took charge of the chase boat duties.

In the water, Kat and Alex were sailing a Wayfarer, practising tacks and gybes, and doing their best to keep the sails full and the boat moving in something like a straight line. Like many early-stage sailors, they had the enthusiasm — they just needed someone to help them feel the wind, read the river, and fine-tune the dance.

Enter Sally.

---

🎓 A Masterclass in the Moment

Though technically “retired,” Sally is very much active. She’s sailed everything from Toppers to Thames Raters, and even the now near-mythical Thames B-Rater — the last known one, no less. (We’re still not convinced she didn’t build it herself.)

But what makes Sally special isn’t just her experience — it’s the way she shares it. No fuss. No shouting. Just clear, practical guidance, usually delivered while casually leaning on the Dory’s side rail with the confidence of someone who could gybe blindfolded.

Over the next hour, we watched from a distance as Kat and Alex transformed:

• Their tacks became smoother

• Their positioning in the boat improved

• They started feeling the wind rather than reacting to it

• And most importantly — they started to go where they wanted to go

The sails stayed fuller, the Wayfarer moved faster, and their confidence grew visibly with every tack.

---

🛟 Mentorship on the Water

There’s something powerful about the right guidance at the right moment. Sally didn’t take over. She didn’t hop into the boat. She gave Kat and Alex the tools — and the trust — to work it out themselves.

By the time they headed back to shore, the smiles said it all. This wasn’t just practice. It was progress.

---

Final Thought

Everyone remembers the first time they felt like they were actually sailing, not just surviving. For Kat and Alex, that moment might well be “the day Sally was in charge.”

And for the rest of us — whether on the water or watching from the safety boat — it was a reminder that great sailing isn’t just about trim and technique. Sometimes, it’s about wisdom, encouragement, and a Dory with a legend at the helm.