The Big Boom “Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” Aldous L. Huxley, an English writer, novelist, and philosopher wrote this quote. After this day, I learned to never take anything or anyone for granted again. Two summers ago, I was training for the Junior Olympics in sailing. The teams coaches, Alex and Anika towed us out to the ocean to sail downwind. It was a perfect day at Del Rey Yacht Club with no clouds in the sky. You could even see all the way to the Santa Monica Pier! The breeze was around 14 miles per hour which is a lot in a small boat like an Opti.
After what felt like we were traveling miles into the ocean, Alex finally stopped and let the race team off of the tow line. Alex was from New Zealand so when he talked he had that thick, New Zealander accent.
“Alright guys, you are going to start heading downwind!” he yelled. “When I blow my whistle, jibe!” Jibing is when you switch the side of the sail while still heading …show more content…
“I guess,” I said. The boom is a metal pole at the bottom of the sail.
The coaches helped me into the coach boat. Alex took my mast and sail out of my boat and set it in the coach boat. He then took out my centerboard, the board that keeps my boat from drifting, and put my rutter in its place. As Alex was doing this, Anika had me drink some of her water to try and help the dizziness. She then started to speed the coach boat back to the yacht club with my boat sputtering behind. As all of this was going on, the coaches screamed to the rest of the race team to meet another group that is inside the harbor.
After a boat ride that felt like decades, we finally got back to Del Rey Yacht Club. I was greeted by a lifeguard who helped me out of the coach boat. I was shaking and the lifeguard told me to sit by the pool and drink some water when she went to go get ice for my head. I drank some water and then the pain in my stomach took
After what felt like we were traveling miles into the ocean, Alex finally stopped and let the race team off of the tow line. Alex was from New Zealand so when he talked he had that thick, New Zealander accent.
“Alright guys, you are going to start heading downwind!” he yelled. “When I blow my whistle, jibe!” Jibing is when you switch the side of the sail while still heading …show more content…
“I guess,” I said. The boom is a metal pole at the bottom of the sail.
The coaches helped me into the coach boat. Alex took my mast and sail out of my boat and set it in the coach boat. He then took out my centerboard, the board that keeps my boat from drifting, and put my rutter in its place. As Alex was doing this, Anika had me drink some of her water to try and help the dizziness. She then started to speed the coach boat back to the yacht club with my boat sputtering behind. As all of this was going on, the coaches screamed to the rest of the race team to meet another group that is inside the harbor.
After a boat ride that felt like decades, we finally got back to Del Rey Yacht Club. I was greeted by a lifeguard who helped me out of the coach boat. I was shaking and the lifeguard told me to sit by the pool and drink some water when she went to go get ice for my head. I drank some water and then the pain in my stomach took