Patience and Desire

We have a number of Master’s-age-bracket Laser sailors in the club and it’s instructive to watch how they approach improving. I’m thinking particularly of the split between those that seem to be willing to tolerantly put in the time learning and those that complain.

I’ve been sailing for over 35 years and in over 20 makes of boats; each day on the water adds to my knowledge base. It has taken me four years to climb from the bottom to mid-fleet in the local Laser regattas in MA, NH. I’ve become a better sailor through repetitive moves and time in the boat.

The first few years I was just trying to get proficient enough that I could pay attention to what was happening around me. A great deal of that time was figuring out how to keep the boat mast-side up and moving. Each maneuver was deliberate and cautious.

My early roll tacks were hesitant and wimpy. My boat-handling moves were different for each tack or jibe. Procedures fell apart in high stress conditions; I couldn’t depend on my tacks when I needed to. I approached my first Laser start like it was a big boat start. At marks I would constantly pinch the Laser into slow mode. I looked ok on the long beats, but I was so tense that I’d miss the wind shifts or good lanes in a crowd.

I’ve sailed one to two times a week during most sailing season and spent two winters frostbiting the Laser and I’m just able to break into the mid-fleet ranks. So it amuses me to hear new sailors berating themselves for flipping in 15 knots of breeze or puzzled that they can’t seem to get out of the second row at the start.

I got into the Laser because I was tired of leading my PHRF fleet around the marks race after race. I love the Laser because I have to work to improve. I savor the gain from eighth to sixth in a regatta. Laser racing is a multi-year campaign and the wonderful part is that 80 year olds are still working at it.

I don’t care where you’re finishing this first season; I’m interested in what you learned and how you are going to plan your next few months to maximize the remaining season. I’m interested in whether you’re fun to hang with after the racing. I have lots of patience for anyone who is trying and very little for those who are impatient with themselves – relax and spend a little more time in the boat. Sailing is about the process and the process needs a nice balance of patience and desire.

Jay Livingston