Does This Marina Slip Make My Stern Look Fat?

Before Casstaway, the total of my time behind the wheel of a sailboat was during our ASA sailing classes (where I was constantly freaking out) and about three minutes during one of our charter vacations when I quickly decided I liked my sailing buddies much better when they weren’t yelling directions at me, and promptly relinquished the helm in favor of more forgiving duties like making sandwiches (people will eat anything on a boat – but that’s another story). So, when Todd and I discussed division of crew duties, I was amazed to find myself volunteering to be the helmsperson – getting Casstaway in and out of the marina, and backing her into the slip. What was I thinking?! Prior to boat life I could barely back out of my own driveway with any finesse, and parallel parking was a complete comedy of errors. But I had quickly realized that with only two of us, whoever was not steering would be responsible for handling all the lines. And only one experience watching Todd leap merrily over a deck-top dingy to retrieve a forgotten line convinced me that my balance and agility deficits would make that challenge something akin to Olympic level gymnastics. Not to mention that my sailing instructor nearly busted a gut laughing at my futile attempts to lasso a piling.

So, with fierce determination I have taken on the task of learning to “man the helm”. After three trips out and back, I can honestly say I am starting to get the hang of it – sort of. I have backed her in thrice with only one small “do-over”. And while I am somewhat prideful when it comes to not wanting to use it, our bow thruster once turned a sure hit of a neighbor’s floating dingy into a beautifully smooth exit. In the meantime, Todd has become master at handling all the lines while simultaneously cheering me on and biting his tongue (stitches come out next week, he says facetiously).

My next challenge is to bring the boat into, and away from, the marina gas dock, which is best accomplished with a rather complicated maneuver very similar to parallel parking. Saving that one for a very calm day…