Capsizing

      It is not like I have never capsized before, any true sailor has, but this time was different. All the times I have capsized before were in 420’s with twelve year olds sailing. Oh we did everything in that boat turtled it, half capsized it, T-boned it with another boat, had the bow go under water, or just ran it aground. This time was different because it was no small child at the tiller it was my dad. Our 18 foot hobie cat had just left the docks, and we were working our way up a skinny channel with a light wind coming from dead ahead. My dad called “Ready to tack” and I ducked. The boat began to turn, but not in the usual way. The windward pontoon was getting much to high, 60 degrees, 70 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees. At 80 degrees I could not hold on any longer, my head hit the pontoon as I fell causing half and egg sized welt to grow on my forehead. This bump would cast a shadow on my head for the next twenty four hours. I swam to the other side of the boat, my dad was already on the dagger board with the bow line leaning back using all the leverage available. Slowly the boat began to tip back, until it hit the water right side up with a resounding thwack. We clambered on board and continued our sail although slightly shaken.
      After a few good runs threw the slew my courage was back, and the boat had forgiven us. She was singing again. I hooked myself in and hung off the side of the boat feeling free as the wind rushed passed and the water splashed in my face. The wind picked up and the most amazing thing happened, the pontoon lifted out of the water, not in a capsizing way but in a speedy way. We were truly flying now and the cat shared our joy by raising her song to the next octave, the most beautiful sound in the world.