feel of tipping motion. After just a few flips they developed an innate sense and feel of the forces involved; and how to move with them. As the breeze came up, they would heel to the edge of stability and hold it before whatever whim had them tip over or not. Pure fun: Flipping the
dinghy became pure fun for the boys; how odd, considering that moments before the first flip it was a “kinda scary” thought. If I demanded they flip, the negative tone would have retained a fear association. It just happened as they were talking about it so the perceived outcome was fresh as they went over. I had told them it would be fun, but they couldn’t imagine it until it happened. Fear is real but it can taint reality.
After we flipped our tender on the west coast of Baja, Mairen, our middle child, was terrified of being in it unless going slow in calm conditions. This after countless dinghy trips before, was a problem for a family on a long term cruise. Logic didn’t work. It took months of very slowly building back
weekend boating because of what basically comes down to fear. Pushing someone too hard to move past their fears doesn’t help; rather it’s likely to have the opposite effect and end in a clipped attempt at recreational boating. It brings back memories of my mother being so worried while sailing and my father being very patient. In time it worked out. Patience was, and is, the key. It’s okay to be nervous or
In the dinghy at “double medium” speed.
her confidence to go just medium speed. When she was very comfortable going medium, I asked Mairen if we could go “double medium”. She hesitated for a moment and then agreed. After a few white knuckle seconds, she yelled, “Yeah, let’s go!” To this day, full throttle on the dinghy is still referred to as double medium. In truth, the complexity of fear
makes this a tough topic to approach in such a short space. Yet we keep meeting couples and families that write-off a cruising dream or even
scared onboard. Take small steps. With time, fear doesn’t really go away but takes on a softer, wiser tone much like the voice that tells you to slow down on a slippery road. With time you learn that even the old fisherman shows fear. It’s when he says he has too much respect for the sea to go out. Nervous Newbies may never
embrace skipping over big waves 1,000 miles from shore. But with patience, respect and understanding, finding the perfect anchorage closer to home is still pure fun.
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48° NORTH, JUNE 2011 PAGE 45 5/10/11 4:44 PM
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