Gotta love boats... no, really, you do... or at least racing them... -- The Middle of Nowhere

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Date Posted: 10:38:52 03/03/02 Sun
Author: Humans
Subject: Gotta love boats... no, really, you do... or at least racing them...

"Yo-Jay-watch-out!" I yelled, swerving my own skiff to dodge the rock. Jay, right ahead of me, missed it by about an inch. I heard a scraping sound and realized that I had veered onto a very high volcanic cone, its top probably only ten or so feet below the surface.

Jay yelled back at me, "Keep going! Only about twenty more feet!" My keep rumbling, I unleashed a small sail. It caught wind and shoved me forwards, off the top.

I threw Jay a rope and yelled, "Hang onto this! I'm gonna check my keel!" He caught the rope easily and nodded. I flung off my boots and leapt overboard. Forcing my eyes open, despite the sting of saltwater, I managed to reach the keel. Feeling my way down the length of the skiff, I discovered the keel was relatively undamaged. I let go and swam up quickly. Gulping for air as I reached the surface, I hauled myself back up.

Jay laughed at my soaking wet form and threw me my rope. I recoiled it and turned to my controls. Just as I reached the bow, the wind blew in from the east and both our skiffs swung out hard, Jay's nearly capsizing. I quickly and carefully closed the keel and lowered my sails. My onward rush slowed slightly. I grimaced and prepared to lower my main sail. But before I could, the wind slowed to a gentle sea-breeze.

Jay swung up alongside me. With a grin, he saluted me and opened sail - a signal that there were the rest of the racers in sight. Indeed, I could now hear their motors, laboring to catch our two skiffs. I laughed and released my banner number and the stern sail. The sail caught the now nor'westerly wind and shoved me forward. I opened my keel to compensate and flung the streaks wide open. My bow was at least a foot above the frothy waves.

Such a beautiful day, I thought to myself mildly, letting my speed-wind blow back my hair. Especially when Jay and I come blowing into port a full day ahead of the others. I laughed again.

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