My husband and I had some of our first dates on a 12 foot nipper sailboat. We dumped it more than once, but oh the memories. Just like you are talking about. I wish you well with your new endeavor.
I had to look up 'conniption' - what a lovely word! But this isn't hysterics, or barminess - this is nostalgia, hiraeth; simply your desire to revisit something you know you'll really enjoy.
That sabot is a cutesy! I too sailed dinghies as a child - not on the sea, but on local reservoirs and, every summer on the lake where my grandparents lived. Many other kids at our sailing club had Optimists - 'Oppies' - tiny, very blunt-ended little tubs of wooden-hulled boats not dissimilar in shape to your sabot. My brother and I never stood a chance of sailing one of those - we were very tall and broad from a young age - so my parents bought us a second-hand Topper - fibreglass, very shallow-hulled, and we would sail just lying across it!
Sailing was fine but I didn't enjoy all the rigging and derigging... and the getting cold and wet in between!
THANK YOU for Rod Stewart - 'Sailing' was the last song on side B of the record I played over and over and over again when I was very small - 'Atlantic Crossing', from 1977. I remember side B much better than side A - the first song on side B was 'I Don't Want to Talk About It', and that's the one I heard the most. Out of every song in the world it's still my favourite now.
Thank you, Rebecca. I looked up Toppers and held my breath - they look as though they'd fly!
I also looked up Optimists and decided they're just another type of sabot only gaff rigged. They all look such fun.
If it's possible to pootle along in a yacht, that's what I'd like to do. But I suspect, that neck and glutes notwithstanding, I shall be left with my red kayak, most loved craft of all. It and I have had so many amazing adventures. But that might be another story.
I thought your tale of Rod Stewart was sweet, especially as I didn't really grow into him until he put out 4 amazing CD's of golden-oldie tracks. THAT was good music. But in terms of this post of mine, it had to be either Rod Stewart or Enya's Orinoco Flows and Rod fitted the requirement much better! XXXX
Pootling in a yacht? Well, I think that setting off for a yachtle sounds like the start of a wonderful day! Sounds like you've just invented yachtling, Prue!
I love that you have such an affinity with your kayak. I've tried kayaking a couple of times and really enjoyed it - we'd been planning on doing it a lot more but then the pandemic hit. It'd be nice to think about having another go!
You're right - I'd forgotten that Oppies were gaff-rigged - they looked so awkward! I remember now. Toppers were very popular, and later, Lasers - those were very sleek and much deeper, so you could actually sit even with long legs. We stuck to our Topper, though, and in the summer we'd sail Grandpa's Enterprise on the lake - it was still a dinghy, but a bigger one, in which the four of us would all fit - at least until my brother and I got too big!
Rebecca, you'd be officially classified as a yachtie here.
When my son and I were talking about the sabot the other day, he said 'Why don't you get a Laser?' And all I could think of was terrifying speed and going bow over stern in the bay the way we did with the catamaran. The bow just nosed straight down as we flew and that was that. I can remember getting the delayed shakes as I stood under the shower afterward.
And yachtling! LOVE the word - let's put it in the lexicon.
Today its a howling gale (they don't call us the Roaring Forties for nothing down here) and I reckon I'd be in New Zealand five minutes after the sail was hauled up the mast!
Yes, Lasers are sooo fast! Actually the last time I sailed, some years ago now - actually that WAS on the sea - it was in a Laser Pico. Rather a different style to the 'original' Laser I'd come across before, but gosh, it carved its way through those waves!
It's windy here too today, but nothing that I'd call a howling gale. Do stay safe, won't you? 😘
Such delight you've captured here, Prue! There aren't many activities I can say I've done since childhood, and sailing was certainly not one of them. That came much later, in my 20s, and I never gained the confidence I'd need to take a boat out on my own, despite living aboard and sailing abundantly for most of that decade. I love that it's in your blood!
Partly for that reason, I wouldn't have thought to use the word "conniption" to describe your urge to get back to what you know. so well. (Incidentally, here, the word is rarely used without being followed by "fit.") Sounds to me like your intuition, perhaps sprinkled with a bit of impulse, is telling you exactly where to go, not unlike your recent swim.
The music video brought back some youthful memories of my own, though I had to chuckle at Rod Stewart as sailor, looking, in my mind's eye, like Stuart Little on his sailing adventure.
Yes, my husband and I got the giggles at his appearance - through our venerable lenses, we thought he looked such a youngster. Ah, age...
My family think I am having a mental conniption. An hysterical fit. And quietly, between you and I, I suspect I'm being unrealistic. Anyway, the sabot appears to have been sold and the only other one is $A150 without mast, rigging or sail. I think the family are heaving a sigh of relief and hoping my kayak is enough to keep me water-happy.
But I feel a bit like Toad in Wind in the Willows. There's always something exciting around the corner for which one can be spontaneous.
Thanks for sharing The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows; I'd never heard of it until now and it sounds wonderful! I plan to order a copy myself. I've also heard positive reviews about Greenlights from others. Since the author is as good a narrator as he is a writer I'll add that one to my audiobook list.
I also enjoy creating stories about random strangers on the street (and glad to know I'm in good company!)
Good luck with the sailing adventure if you decide to give it a go. If not, find joy in your memories and peace knowing that 'living within our means' can also refer to our physical ability to do something. It's wisdom...telling us potential injuries (these days) take too damn long to heal! 😉
I know all too well; it's part and parcel of growing older, and it's hard. But I try to remind myself of the saying that "Aging is a privilege denied to many." And then focus on all the wonderful things we CAN do EVERY day (albeit a little slower, etc.) Take care!
My husband and I had some of our first dates on a 12 foot nipper sailboat. We dumped it more than once, but oh the memories. Just like you are talking about. I wish you well with your new endeavor.
I have this feeling, Janice, that it may just be a nice thought - a great memory.
We shall see.
And I am so glad that it inspired some special memories of your own.
I know that it would be a nice "pipe dream" for me. . .but it is fun to dream.
I just love the word conniption! I did have to look iontophoresis to see what it might fix. Hope to see you soon.
Hope you're well, Judy. And thank you for commenting! XXXX
I had to look up 'conniption' - what a lovely word! But this isn't hysterics, or barminess - this is nostalgia, hiraeth; simply your desire to revisit something you know you'll really enjoy.
That sabot is a cutesy! I too sailed dinghies as a child - not on the sea, but on local reservoirs and, every summer on the lake where my grandparents lived. Many other kids at our sailing club had Optimists - 'Oppies' - tiny, very blunt-ended little tubs of wooden-hulled boats not dissimilar in shape to your sabot. My brother and I never stood a chance of sailing one of those - we were very tall and broad from a young age - so my parents bought us a second-hand Topper - fibreglass, very shallow-hulled, and we would sail just lying across it!
Sailing was fine but I didn't enjoy all the rigging and derigging... and the getting cold and wet in between!
THANK YOU for Rod Stewart - 'Sailing' was the last song on side B of the record I played over and over and over again when I was very small - 'Atlantic Crossing', from 1977. I remember side B much better than side A - the first song on side B was 'I Don't Want to Talk About It', and that's the one I heard the most. Out of every song in the world it's still my favourite now.
Prue, this was such a gorgeous read. Thank you. 😘
Thank you, Rebecca. I looked up Toppers and held my breath - they look as though they'd fly!
I also looked up Optimists and decided they're just another type of sabot only gaff rigged. They all look such fun.
If it's possible to pootle along in a yacht, that's what I'd like to do. But I suspect, that neck and glutes notwithstanding, I shall be left with my red kayak, most loved craft of all. It and I have had so many amazing adventures. But that might be another story.
I thought your tale of Rod Stewart was sweet, especially as I didn't really grow into him until he put out 4 amazing CD's of golden-oldie tracks. THAT was good music. But in terms of this post of mine, it had to be either Rod Stewart or Enya's Orinoco Flows and Rod fitted the requirement much better! XXXX
Pootling in a yacht? Well, I think that setting off for a yachtle sounds like the start of a wonderful day! Sounds like you've just invented yachtling, Prue!
I love that you have such an affinity with your kayak. I've tried kayaking a couple of times and really enjoyed it - we'd been planning on doing it a lot more but then the pandemic hit. It'd be nice to think about having another go!
You're right - I'd forgotten that Oppies were gaff-rigged - they looked so awkward! I remember now. Toppers were very popular, and later, Lasers - those were very sleek and much deeper, so you could actually sit even with long legs. We stuck to our Topper, though, and in the summer we'd sail Grandpa's Enterprise on the lake - it was still a dinghy, but a bigger one, in which the four of us would all fit - at least until my brother and I got too big!
Rebecca, you'd be officially classified as a yachtie here.
When my son and I were talking about the sabot the other day, he said 'Why don't you get a Laser?' And all I could think of was terrifying speed and going bow over stern in the bay the way we did with the catamaran. The bow just nosed straight down as we flew and that was that. I can remember getting the delayed shakes as I stood under the shower afterward.
And yachtling! LOVE the word - let's put it in the lexicon.
Today its a howling gale (they don't call us the Roaring Forties for nothing down here) and I reckon I'd be in New Zealand five minutes after the sail was hauled up the mast!
Yes, Lasers are sooo fast! Actually the last time I sailed, some years ago now - actually that WAS on the sea - it was in a Laser Pico. Rather a different style to the 'original' Laser I'd come across before, but gosh, it carved its way through those waves!
It's windy here too today, but nothing that I'd call a howling gale. Do stay safe, won't you? 😘
Such delight you've captured here, Prue! There aren't many activities I can say I've done since childhood, and sailing was certainly not one of them. That came much later, in my 20s, and I never gained the confidence I'd need to take a boat out on my own, despite living aboard and sailing abundantly for most of that decade. I love that it's in your blood!
Partly for that reason, I wouldn't have thought to use the word "conniption" to describe your urge to get back to what you know. so well. (Incidentally, here, the word is rarely used without being followed by "fit.") Sounds to me like your intuition, perhaps sprinkled with a bit of impulse, is telling you exactly where to go, not unlike your recent swim.
The music video brought back some youthful memories of my own, though I had to chuckle at Rod Stewart as sailor, looking, in my mind's eye, like Stuart Little on his sailing adventure.
Yes, my husband and I got the giggles at his appearance - through our venerable lenses, we thought he looked such a youngster. Ah, age...
My family think I am having a mental conniption. An hysterical fit. And quietly, between you and I, I suspect I'm being unrealistic. Anyway, the sabot appears to have been sold and the only other one is $A150 without mast, rigging or sail. I think the family are heaving a sigh of relief and hoping my kayak is enough to keep me water-happy.
But I feel a bit like Toad in Wind in the Willows. There's always something exciting around the corner for which one can be spontaneous.
Toad! Stuart Little! Long live our adventurous friends!
Great post, Prue!
Thanks for sharing The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows; I'd never heard of it until now and it sounds wonderful! I plan to order a copy myself. I've also heard positive reviews about Greenlights from others. Since the author is as good a narrator as he is a writer I'll add that one to my audiobook list.
I also enjoy creating stories about random strangers on the street (and glad to know I'm in good company!)
Good luck with the sailing adventure if you decide to give it a go. If not, find joy in your memories and peace knowing that 'living within our means' can also refer to our physical ability to do something. It's wisdom...telling us potential injuries (these days) take too damn long to heal! 😉
I really love the dual meaning of 'living within our means'. Sadly it's my body (and occasional mind) that lets me down. XXXX
I know all too well; it's part and parcel of growing older, and it's hard. But I try to remind myself of the saying that "Aging is a privilege denied to many." And then focus on all the wonderful things we CAN do EVERY day (albeit a little slower, etc.) Take care!