Misadventures in Sailing

My former boss and now friend, let’s call him Ja, asked me to help him reposition his sailboat. The boat needed to be hauled out of the water at a marina that required passing through the lock system.

We set out in the morning for some light sailing. It was a pleasant trip, even if the winds weren’t particularly strong.

By mid-afternoon, we decided to head in and tackle the locks.

It was the first time navigating a lock system for both of us. Since it was the end of a holiday weekend, dozens of other vessels were trying to squeeze through as well, ranging from massive commercial fishing boats down to tiny kayaks. On top of the crowd, the opening and closing gates created rapidly shifting currents. Sailboats aren't known for being graceful in tight quarters; you have to keep an eye on everything, act fast, and adjust your lines at a moment’s notice.

It didn’t go smoothly, but we made it through with only bruised egos. At one point, the swirling currents spun our boat completely around. Afterward, Ja joked that our maneuvering would probably end up on TikTok.

This is why I don’t want to own a boat.