My harness is set,
the steady wind slowly brushes my face from the west –
perfect.
The sails flap in the wind,
roaring their strength
to take on the mighty lake.
With the utmost grace,
I slide into the boat,
prepare to leave the dock,

dodge through the maze of moored boats.
My excitement grows.
And we're off,
free to roam the open waters.
Still growing,
my excitement has turned
into an overwhelming smile.
After finding the perfect gusts,
examining the cat's-paws,
and keeping a close eye on the tell-tales,
we're ready.

As the boat keels,
my body counteracts the gust.
I curl my knees,
hold on tight to the trap,
and extend my body over the cyan sea.

I feel weightless
with only the boat to trust with my safety.
Trust is key:
trusting your equipment,
trusting the wind,
trusting your instincts.

As my body torques and bends
to counteract the bouncing waves,
I let one hand free,
carefully extending it
to let my fingertips graze the surface of the water.

When I am sailing,
I can do what I want.
The water has no rules and cannot be hurt.

In my boat,
firmly gripping the tiller in my right hand,
and the main sheet in my left,
I am in control.
Nothing can separate us,
not the wind,
the sea breeze tickling my skin,
nothing.
With my harness hung,
my boat clear,
and the wind dialing down to a light breeze,
I await the next time
I can set sail again.