Water Girl

I could not discern if the moisture was falling under its own weight, or if we were simply interrupting its suspended state as we stood waiting. Water spouts had been spotted in the area we were planning to sail. One woman described pulling her car over to let a squall pass so she could see the road to the marina. This was not the weather we had hoped for.

Gail Hines, the event founder, was undaunted as she took the loudhailer and welcomed the growing crowd of women to the 20th Annual Southern California Yachting Association’s Women’s Sailing Convention.

Shelby, the youngest participant this year, was raring to go. Decked out in a yellow slicker and “duck pants” she was a picture of undampened youthful enthusiasm. With a lucky change in the weather and six hours of instruction Shelby was converted into a sailor.

“I was impressed with all the knowledge. All the women who knew … so much,” Shelby grinned,
her braces exposed for full notice. I looked into her eyes searching for the change from just that morning, wondering if the conversion will hold, or if it will be a temporary, thrilling moment of discovery. Will Shelby grow to love the magical experience of sailing? I hope from this day on she will consider herself a sailor.

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