It's only the third day of summer and I'm already
looking forward to the cool temperatures of fall: it's ninety-two
degrees and steamy and barely past noon. The sun beats down upon me
as I make my way along Penn's Landing — past the Chart House,
the Moshulu, and the Seaport Museum — and across to the boats.
The air is hazy and still. There's no wind, hardly even a trace of
a breeze. Geez, I grumble to myself, what a crummy day to go for a
sail.
The instant I see the North Wind, my
inner voice changes its tune. Focused on the day ahead, I instantly
snap out of my funk. How lucky I am! Imagine it: mere minutes from
my Center City doorstep, I am about to board a 75 foot schooner. By
day's end, I'll know port from starboard, I'll have helped haul the
sails up, and I'll have taken a turn steering the craft. I'll have
learned the basics of chart reading, become familiar with modern navigational
instruments, and gained some insight into the rules of the sea.
Most important of all, I'll have learned something about myself and
the others aboard. We'll have started the day as 15 strangers, but
by the time we put weary heads to pillows tonight, we'll realize that
each of us is a key part of a team.
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I'm a guest on Day One of Philadelphia City
Sail's summer sailing program and I consider myself privileged, for
I'm a little old to take part. Designed for children aged 10 through
16, City Sail was founded in 1990 to give city youth the opportunity
to learn valuable life lessons in a pretty neat way. The program offers
children from a wide range of backgrounds a chance to come together
to share experiences, regardless of their neighborhood, family situation,
religion, or race. The classroom is the North Wind and the lessons
are hands-on. Forget about the virtual: this experience is real.
I board the vessel and am immediately
handed a lifevest. Rule Number one: no matter what your level of
skill as a swimmer, always wear a lifevest when you're onboard a
boat. The Captain directs me where to stow my gear and where I should
and shouldn't go. I'm assigned to a team. Rule Number two: the captain
is king. Unwritten rules to remember: when onboard, trusting your
skipper is implicit. Teamwork is key.
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