Feb 10
(note: The Windward Beat is the monthly magazine for Waikiki Yacht Club). I know I have used some of these photos—This is the article I submitted this month for our yacht club magazine—The Windward Beat. The pictures will be different because the focus is sailing instead of Syd.
YOUTH SAILING--By Guy Fleming
Full disclosure, you may cry while reading this, but, you may also laugh, and... you may even be inspired. Many of you may know that my wife is on the final leg of her journey. She is in hospice care and at the tail end of her 12 year battle with cancer. It is not all sad. There are many amazing stories and photos to be shared. We have felt the support and love of countless people from the sailing, cross fit, work and neighbor hood communities. That, however, is not the purpose of this article.
Sailing is my sanctuary. I like everything about it... including the trailering. When you think about it, you are either trailering somewhere fun, or you are driving the gear back with a smile on your face from the memories you just created. I was able to take a much needed ocean therapy day
with our racing team at Kaneohe Yacht Club on the 8th. The weather was exceptionally light with winds in the 0-5 knot range. This is one of my favorite conditions. No one expects me to do well because I am about 60 lbs heavier than the ideal Olympic weight for the boat. It is more about good fundamentals in boat handling (consistent tacks and jibes) and being really in tune with the weather by capitalizing on wind shifts.
The Laser fleet is amazing. Where else could you see an 11 year old skipper and a 76 year old competing on the same course? There were fathers and sons; high school team mates; coaches for different clubs; and, new sailors. It was great to see everyone, but I did not feel grounded when the day began. I have been feeling like everything is moving--kind of like just before an elevator comes to a stop, I had committed myself to complete at least one of the five races. I knew, from the movie, Brian Song, "Never dedicate an event to a person until you know the outcome." In the movie, the Bears had dedicated a game to Brian and suffered a humiliating defeat. In my mind though, this regatta was dedicated to Syd.
Now on to the (hopefully) uplifting part. Syd actually rarely sailed and yet she possessed so many skills that would have made her a phenomenal sailor. There are times when the wind is not predictable and you have to make an educated guess as to what side of the course will have the most wind. Even the top sailors are usually only correct 75% of the time. There is a concept called, "winning your side." Even if you choose the incorrect side, if you own it and concentrate on going as fast as you can, you can often find your way back into the top pack and then attack from there on the downwind. I think, those of you who know Syd's situation know she made the most of some unlucky wind shifts. I think, even now, she believes she can win.
That mindset has served her well her entire life. Six months ago, she could no longer walk and yet she started walking an 8th of a mile with a walker; progressed to doing that 3 times a day; built to a half mile and tapered at a mile or two a day. She trained for, and completed the Kaiwi Coast Walk--Which is 4 miles with two pretty serious hills. Three weeks ago she completed a (very scaled back) cross fit work out. The point is, she made the most out of the challenges she faced.
Sailing in that regatta was pure joy. I finished where I wanted. I made the most out of the windshifts I saw. I caught some boats I did not think we're catchable. I sailed with my son and our team mates. There were sailors from clubs all over the state (including the Big Island). What Syd really would have enjoyed was that this is technically the dead of winter and we were sailing in shorts and rash guards. This sort of fun should be illegal. We are not here for a long time, so make it a good time--Win your side.
