h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I went sailing for the first time since I was but a lad.

Ok, some backstory needed here. I work with B, who invited me to a party at his house last weekend. While I was at the party I met his room mate A, and some ladies (S,C,C) who all go to the same church. They invited me to visit the church today, so I went along with B. It was a good service and I will be visiting it again. After the service A mentioned that he was going to go sailing today and he invited S and I along. We both gladly accepted, and we went home to change in to sailing appropriate clothing.

A, S and I piled in to his car and went to Lake Wheeler.
http://www.visitraleigh.com/lake_wheeler.html
A is part of the NC State University sailing club, and an officer of that club, so he can get a boat whenever he likes. We loaded up a 19' Flying Scot sailboat, and launched it in the lake. A walked S and I through all the parts of the boat (mainsail, jib, boom, mast etc.) and what we needed to do. A's brother K was there, and he is also a sailor.

We sailed all around the lake, learning how to read the sails, how to steer the boat, and various other skills. After about an hour S had to go home, so K took her back to her place while A and I went back out. We sailed the opposite direction that we had traveled the first time out, and we had fun trying to keep steady wind in our sails.

We happened upon a family in two canoes, one of which was capsized. After some good sail work by A, we were able to right their canoe, and assist the mother and her two sons in to their boat. The were able to start back toward home, weary from tryign to right the canoe themselves, and from treading water for some time. A short while later a rowboat asked us to retrieve a lost paddle for them. We were able to do so with little problem.

A and I had a brief excitement when the wind really picked up and we were sailing quite rapidly and had to sit back on the rail to keep in the water.

Far too soon, we had to return to shore. It turns out that the Commordore of the Sailing Club was there checking out two club members on launching boats. We helped them for a while, returned the boat to it's storage facility, and stowed all the gear.

All in all it was an amazing day. I had a good time at a new church around people near my own age. I also really really enjoyed sailing today, getting to know A, and basically finding new friends here in North Carolina. I can't wait to go sailing again, and I am quite looking forward to continuing to visit this church.

I chalk today up as a win all the way.

Sounds like fun.

Sailing is extremely cool. Hear that hiss as the hull cuts the water at speed?

There were quite a few boats out at the sailing club we drove past on our way to Sheffield yesterday. Several of them were getting good turns of speed up as the wind whipped across the reservoir.

Good to hear that you're getting into the social swing of things over at your new place Marv

That sounds like great fun, Marv.

It really was Amy. I never really thought much about sailing as I lived in a desert and don't like getting Great Salt Lake water on my often. I want to go sailing again some time, as it was a very exciting way to spend a lovely day.

I am so thrilled to hear that you are meeting people and settling in, also that you've found a church, even if it's just visiting. We'll make a coast dweller out of you yet!!

The sailing was 200 miles inland.

I think it's just fab that you're making friends at the sailing club. Give my regards to Muffy and Spence, won't you?

Hehehe. Sure BTM, I will tell them howdi hoo for you!

Blatherskite, you ~do~ know that sports like riding and sailing don't have class associations in the US, don't you?

Polo and yachting are another story.

Everyone I met involved in this sailing thing are the furthest things from Muffy and Vince that I can think of.

Very laid back, and remember, this is a university club. It's a bunch of very old (but well maintained) boats.

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I try not to let reality get in the way of a good gibe... and that's what Marv is asking for, after all. Just look at the thread title, but forgive his typo.

Anyway, all I know about sailing and the people associated with it comes from bad 80's movies.

http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~sailing/UHHSailingSite%20folder/UHHSailingSite/Glossary/JibeHo.html

It's all that nautical terminology. And what about your time in the Blue Machine? I figgered that you would be all up on the naval terminology out there.

What typo? Jibe is a legitimate alternative spelling of 'gybe' which means 'to swing a sail over from one side to another.' Gibe being a completely different word meaning to scoff or jeer.

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I know that you, as someone who has lived in landlocked Utah for most of his life, haven't had any opportunities to be exposed to much naval lore beyond "Master and Commander," so let me be the first to let you know that we actually don't use sails in the navy anymore. Which is pretty cool, actually.

No, I didn't know what a jibe was, having never jibed myself, but I also doubt very much that your sailing buddies are familiar with VERTREP, material condition circle-william, or trusty shellbacks.

True enough BTS. However, in the naval academy (yes I know you were enlisted and did not go to Canoe U) they still teach sailing. I thought that perhaps they would give you some naval history as well. I guess when you work for a living they teach you how to work.

They teach some naval history in boot, but it's not in any kind of depth. They teach you about a handful of famous naval engagements, and some cool quotes, and that's it. It's all trivia. Then they test you on it to see how well you retain dry information under duress (since you're not sleeping and under all kinds of other strains between classes).

That's really the purpose of boot... push people physically and psychologically, and see which ones break. Send the rest of them to their schools or the fleet, where the *real* learning begins.

luff -- another nautical term.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/L/Lu/Luff.htm