Smooth Sailing

“Prepare to come about!”

Sean turned to look at his father, who was standing confidently at the helm of his newly purchased sailboat. The boat was used but in perfect condition, dark blue with a bright white sail. His dad had named it Smooth Sailing, which was painted in white lettering on the side of the boat. 

Sean hated that he couldn’t remember all of the sailing terms his dad tried to teach him. He was afraid to ask, anticipating his father’s reaction, but pushed himself anyway. “Which way are we turning?”

He saw his father frown. “We’re coming about,” his father said sternly. “That means we are turning into the wind. That way,” his father said after a pause, pointing to the right side of the boat, his frown deepening. 

Sean tried to think of a way to remember this so he would not disappoint his father next time. Like the way he remembered the difference between port side and starboard side of the boat. Port had four letters and so did left, so it was easy to remember that port was the left side of the boat. But he could think of no easy way to remember coming about. He hated that he was always disappointing his father.

Sean ducked as he pulled in the sail and the boom swung across the deck of the boat over his head. At least he knew how to do this correctly. He looked back at his father, hoping for a smile or nod or some sort of indication of approval. But his dad was looking up at the sail, not at him. 

Sean had mixed feelings about these sailing outings with his father. Ever since his parents divorced two years ago, he only got to see his dad every other weekend. He liked spending time with his father, but when they were together, Sean was reminded of how different he and his dad were. His father was handsome, confident, and outgoing. Sean was shy and had few friends. He hadn’t gotten his father’s good looks and he certainly didn’t have his self-confidence. He enjoyed being on the boat but at the same time always felt nervous. He couldn’t stop thinking about the sailboat race two years ago, when a fierce storm appeared unexpectedly and capsized one of the boats. Two experienced sailors fell overboard and drowned. There was always the potential for sudden extreme weather out on the lake.

He looked up at the sky. Just an hour ago it had been sunny, the water turquoise blue and sparkling, with just a slight breeze blowing. He had started to relax. But now the sky was a menacing gray, clouds were gathering, and the wind had begun gusting angrily. Whitecaps were forming on the water. He tugged nervously on his life jacket and was once again reminded how different he was from his father, who had been swimming and sailing his entire life but never wore a life jacket. He knew his father was disappointed that Sean was not a better swimmer and did not share his passion for being on the water.

“Hey, Sean, can you take the helm for a minute?” his father asked. 

Sean hesitated. He didn’t want to, with the weather changing, but he also didn’t want to see that disapproving look on his father’s face, which had become all too familiar.

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Sean replied. He locked the sail in place and went back to take the wheel. 

“Just keep her going straight. I’m going to run up to the bow to check something.”

Sean clutched the wheel tightly and looked around for other boats. The wind whipped his hair into his eyes, and he had trouble seeing. But he did not want to risk taking one of his hands off the wheel to brush it back. He looked toward the bow for his father, but the sail blocked his view. 

Suddenly, the wind shifted direction, catching him off guard. The boat heeled so sharpy on its side, spraying water in his face, that it felt like it might capsize. Sean knew he had to let some air out of the sail to help right the boat, but in order to do that, he would have to let go of the wheel for a moment. His heart was pounding in his ears. Where was his father?

The boat began to heel even more. “Dad!” he called, but the wind swallowed his voice. 

Sean knew he had to act fast. He kept hold of the wheel with his left hand and stretched forward with his right, reaching for the mainsail line, trying to dislodge it from its locked position. After a few yanks, it finally came loose, and he was able to let the air out of the sail. The boat quickly righted itself. 

Sean let out a sigh of relief, then looked around the flapping sail for his father. He didn’t see him anywhere. “Dad!” he yelled frantically, but there was no sign of his father. He looked out at the huge waves crashing against the boat. There was nothing but water as far as he could see. 

Then he saw it — just a flash of something in the water, about thirty feet from the boat. But then a huge wave crashed, and whatever it was disappeared. Then he saw it again. It was his dad! Another wave crashed over his dad’s head, and once more Sean lost sight of him. A few moments later his dad’s head popped up again, and he tried to wave at Sean. He must be hurt, Sean thought, or he’d be able to swim over to the boat.

Sean had to think fast. How could he get his dad back into the boat? Then he had an idea. As the boat rocked back and forth violently, he reached under the seat for the rope he knew his dad kept there — the rope his father had used trying to teach Sean dozens of sailing knots that he could never remember. Sean knew the most important one was the bowline knot, and he needed that now to save his father.

He pulled the rope into a loop large enough to go over his dad’s shoulders as he thought back to the silly mnemonic his dad had taught him to remember how to tie the knot. “The rabbit comes out of its hole, runs around the tree, and goes back down the hole,” Sean recited, forming the knot and pulling it tight. He quickly tied the other end onto the boat with the same knot, then threw the loop end to his dad. 

His first throw wasn’t far enough, so he hauled the rope back in and heaved it again. This time it landed just a few feet from his dad, who was able to reach out and grab it. Sean watched as his dad, using only one arm, struggled to pull the loop over his head and under his shoulders. Sean then used all his strength to pull his dad slowly toward the boat. 

When his dad finally drew near, the water settled down a little, and it was not quite as rough. As Sean helped his dad climb back into the boat, he saw that his father’s right arm was clearly broken. 

“You saved my life, son,” his dad said. He lifted the rope over his head with his left hand and fingered the knot. “Nice bowline,” he said smiling, looking Sean right in the eyes. 

Sean felt a rush of relief and pride. But he knew there was more to do and stepped quickly to take the wheel. He had to get his dad to the hospital, and to reach shore they were going to have to change direction. He looked at his dad from the helm, smiled, and called, “Prepare to come about!”