Fools rush in?

Yes, I did get windsurfing over the weekend. Whoopee. We had some gusty winds and big swells in the bay which made a fun sail all in all. I love the rush of the board cutting through the waves. And when I pick up speed, catch my smile!

I'm getting much better at handling the sailboard even when the wind gusts hard, skipping along the waves for long run. I can pretty much go where I want, wind permitting, beam to wind, upwind and even downwind, too. The sailboard teacher suggested I try a harness to the mast. Heh, that would be a step up from armpower alone. I have come a long way.

Last year this time I was participating in a windsurfing course at this same sailing school with two girls and one guy. We spent more time in the water than standing on the board. It lasted 5 days. In the fall, only the guy continued, and then dropped out in November saying the water was cold. I kept going all winter and spring and now in summer again once a week.

Nowadays, I am sometimes the only windsurfer out practicing amongst Lasers, Vauriens and Optimists sailors and, need I say it, one of the very few women sailors. I read somewhere recently, that there's a 95% dropout rate for first try sailboarders guys or girls. Wow! The article went on to say that the continuous falls into the water and awkwardly getting up on the board again during those first days, discourages almost all would-be surfers!

If I'd known that, I wouldn't have felt so perplexed all winter when my surf schoolmates stopped showing up at sailing school, while I continued practising week after week. Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread, as the old saying goes. I got a shorty wetsuit that kept me warm enough for the Levante coast winter. I didn't mind getting gonked and dunked in the learning process. I enjoyed a laugh at the incredulous looks from guys dock fishing as this crazy red-headed woman set to sea on a sailboard.