by Deborah Rogers –
I’ve been out in boats before and always find myself feeling anxious about my total lack of control! So an adult beginner lesson was just what I needed to show me that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and that sailing a boat under wind is a truly exhilarating experience.
Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club (SNSYC) is hidden at the very end of Marina Way; you have to know it’s there to find it. The attractive white clubhouse was originally a private residence, but since 1981 has been the home of SNSYC with a bar, restaurant and member facilities such as a workshop and meeting rooms. It provides a social hub alongside the amenities, giving members access to reciprocal privileges at 95 other Clubs in the Pacific Northwest and an extensive range of events and activities like talks, parties and games nights. There’s also a racing program, two annual regattas and a very popular cruising section.
Crucially, SNSYC has a dock at the marina where they house a small fleet of club boats ranging in size from small dinghies that the junior sailing programs use, to two 25-foot keelboats – one set up for racing and the other for day or weekend sailing. Members have access to these boats once they are qualified to sail. And to sailing instructors, which is where I come into the story.
I was fortunate to be in the good hands of Thomas Bennett, who has extensive experience sailing and racing. He’s only 18, but exuded the confidence of someone much older, putting me at ease that I wasn’t going to end up in the water! Thomas had a junior volunteer – Hugh – with him too, so as we got the Martin 242 ready to leave the dock there wasn’t too much for me to do.
Once outside the harbour’s safe waters we got the sails up, and then things got interesting. There was a whole lot of hauling and fastening and (alarming) flapping as the mainsail was set and I was talked through the principals of wind moving over the sheet and how to make all the small adjustments that add up to big efficiencies of movement. With even just a moderate wind, we were soon making brisk progress towards Sidney Spit. Let’s not kid ourselves: safe sailing requires more than a few hours of instruction, but I was able to participate as we performed some tacks. With guidance I controlled the jib, pulling and releasing ropes as we changed direction. Thomas tested my resolve by taking us into quite a heel at one point – that’s where I found myself on the interesting edge between excited and scared, with the wind whipping my hair and the water surprisingly close to the cockpit’s lip.
As is often the way, the wind died down, and we made slow progress getting back to the marina. It was time to relax into the feel of being on the water: listen to the gentle sounds of wave and wind and birds, and admire some of the other boats out there. I was exhausted after my lesson, even though I felt I hadn’t done much myself. The fresh air, adrenaline and concentration had affected me. I think sailing has to become an instinct, like driving a car: you wouldn’t expect to be able to do that with just one lesson, but I enjoyed the experience and can imagine the pleasure of mastering the skill, using the elements to move rather than an engine.
I can also imagine myself taking to the yacht club lifestyle! It is extraordinarily beautiful to sit in the clubhouse (once cleaned up from a day on the water) and take in the view over a drink. With a new chef, Robert Mountfort, at the helm, the SNSYC restaurant is a great place to eat. Trained under Chef Pierre at the Deep Cove Chalet, Rob has brought a classic French cuisine to the club with an Asian twist and lots of fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients. The setting, the food and the friendly staff combined to create a very special experience: the crème caramel that I finished with took me right back to childhood trips to France and stood out in a meal full of standout dishes. It was a magical finish to a day that started so anxiously.
For more info, visit www.snsyc.ca.
What do you want to see Deb do next? Send your ideas or invitations to news@seasidemagazine.ca.
