December 2015.
It was a generic resort in Punta Cana. The hobie cats laid on the beach begging to go on the
water. I approached the desk each morning asking for a lesson. "No amigo, mucho viento." Each morning it wouldn't be. I sat on the beach reading my
ASA books day after day, staring at the cats that glided by. The day before our departure I finally walked to the desk again and heard "Hoy Si!".
His name was Raul. Likely not older than 19. "I'll have you sailing in no time" he said. I sat on the cat while he pushed it off the shore and into the waves. Suddenly he turned it sideways, the
sails filled, he jumped on, and we took off. He never touched the
sheets or the tiller. I was sailing for the very first time. Before I felt I knew what I was doing he asked me to take the cat close to shore. He jumped off. "you'll be fine. have fun". And then it was just me, a cat, and the
wind.
Two days latter I cleared the snow off my car before leaving to
work. I sat at the office again looking at pictures of
liveaboard cats and plotting routes on openseamap, then my wife posted this:
Linear Mode
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