Sailing

Sailing Date - Part 2

 It’s hard to express how awkward I felt walking back to my car in nothing but my bathing suit and gawky lifejacket. The ground was soft moss and grass under my bare feet.  I rarely even wore shorts; having my legs and feet bare somehow seemed to enhance the bulk of the jacket around my torso. 

I was doing my best to ignore the thick collar and straps between my legs as I deposited my clothing in the back seat of my car.  But the straps between my legs in particular made that a losing battle. As I was walking back down toward the boat I couldn’t resist hooking a thumb under the straps where they passed under my crotch and trying to pull them down a bit.  It worked as long as I was actively pulling at them but as soon as I let go they pressed right back up into me.  Hannah was looking my way now though so I resisted the urge to pull at them some more. 

“All ready to go?” Hannah was beaming again, I nodded trying to be enthusiastic despite the awkwardness of the jacket. 

“Give me your keys, I’ll put them in here” Hannah had her small waterproof bag open. I handed over my car keys feeling a bit like I was signing my life away.  Hannah smiled.  Alright hop aboard. 

I climbed down into the small boat rather awkwardly; in part because I was just awkward, but the bulk and restriction of the lifejacket sure didn't help. Hannah set about untying the boat, moving fluidly and with a confidence I only wished I could emulate. 

I took a seat on the far side of the boat. There wasn’t a ton of space, the boat consisted of a raised beach seat along both sides and a small foot well in the middle.  Sitting down was a relief, with my legs bent the two straps between my legs loosened off enough that they weren’t pressing into me anymore.Tho the collar and general bulk was still enough of a hindrance to prevent me feeling completely normal. 

Hannah hopped lightly into the boat like it was nothing. 

Until now the sails had been flapping about lightly in the breeze. But Hannaha pulled some rope through a sort of clamp and in moments the sail was taught and the boat was gliding over the water as if by magic. 

I almost forgot about the lifejacket for a moment as the boat started moving. It was really cool to glide over the water without an engine like all the boats I’d been on previously. 

I had assumed we would sit on opposite sides of the boat the entire time but as we pulled out and started moving more quickly my side of the boat started to rise up out of the water and Hannah moved to sit next to me, with her weight added to my side of the boat we seemed to be heavy enough to keep things balanced out. 

“Ok so, sailing lesson one.  When we go to turn; the sail will flip over to the other side, I’ll yell tacking before I turn us.  When that happens we need to duck so the sail can swing over to the other side, and we also need to switch sides to keep the weight right.” 

My face must have betrayed that I wasn’t following everything. 

“Don’t worry , just do what I tell you” She smiled and patted the back of my bulky lifejacket.

I thought the boat was moving surprisingly quickly over the water but as it turned out I hadn’t seen anything yet. 

Hannah turned the boat into the wind and the sail started to vibrate.  The boat started to lift out of the water and felt to me like it would flip, but Hannah seemed unworried.

“Ok do what I do, sit up here with me and lean back a bit.”

Hannah had already moved from the seat to the side of the boat. She had the rudder in her left hand and was leaning out backwards over the water. 

Very unsure of myself I put my hands on the side of the boat behind me and slowly lifted myself upwards. Positioning my but on the edge of the boat the way Hannah was.

As I moved up to the higher seating position my legs straightened out and the straps running between them were pulled up annoyingly into my crotch again.  Glancing down I was embarrassed to see them bunching up my bathing suit. I was too busy clutching the edge of the boat with both hands to pull at the straps but managed to loosen them a touch by leaning forward slightly. 

With my weight further out apparently Hannah felt confident pushing the boat even more into the wind. I gripped the side of the boat tightly as we sped up. The boat was at nearly a 45 degree angle to the water and I felt like I was going to fall overboard. As annoying as the thick collar and the straps between my legs were, I was very thankful for the bulky lifejacket at that moment. The boat seemed on the verge of flipping and Hannah leaned out back over the water to help off-set the weight.

“Lean back!” 

I hardly had time to process her order when I felt my lifejacket pulled firmly backwards.  Hannah had grabbed the handle on the back of it again and was using it to move me into the ‘correct’ position out over the water.  The boat levelled out slightly as my weight was shifted out over the side. But the side effect was that the straps between my legs were pulled up even more, giving me a wedgie. I wanted desperately to pull at them but I wanted even more desperately not to fall overboard. My fingers were getting sore from clutching the side of the boat. I tried briefly to lean forward again but Hannah was still holding onto the handle and resisted my half hearted tug seemingly without noticing.  

“Ok ready?”  I wasn’t sure what she was asking if I was ready for; but the answer was no. 

“Tacking!”

Hannah switched from holding me back to pushing me forwards, back into the boat. She kept her hand on the back of my life jacket, holding onto the handle there.  She guided me down into a crouched position in the middle of the boat as the boat suddenly swung round and the sail swung over our heads.  Then she was pulling me forward again towards the far side of the boat. The boat was moving again and the far side was rising up out of the water.  Hannah half pulled me up to the far side before finally releasing her hold on my jacket and practically throwing me at the far side. I did my best to get back up onto the side of the boat as quickly as I could, almost forgetting the lifejacket for a moment in the scramble. A moment earlier it had felt like the boat would flip but as we both got up on the far side it stabilised and flew forward over the lake instead.  I had to admit it felt awesome, almost like flying. 

“Lean back a bit more!”

I felt the pull on the lifejacket again as Hannah pulled me out further over the water, so that I was leaning back over the edge.  I was less scared this time but the straps tightening up and pulled into my crotch was exactly the same.  I shifted at the hips, trying to make them more comfortable without the use of my hands.

“Are you having fun?!”  Hannah was still holding the back of my jacket but more casually now. It was almost kinda like she had her arm around me. 

I smiled back at her to answer yes and was stuck by how attractive she was.  She looked so confident with the rudder, her long braid was catching the wind and her slick back life jacket hugged her body, exaggerating her curves. 

“It feels like flying!”

Her face lit up.

“Do you want to try??” She gestured at the rudder with her head.

I didn’t think it was a good idea but also didn't want to disappoint her.  So, I am very unsure of myself.

“Ahh, sure..”

“Don't worry there’s nothing to hit out here.”  She turned the boat directly into the wind and suddenly the sail went dead, flapping lifeless.  The boat smoothly slowed to a gentle glide.  As it did so it also levelled off our side of the boat falling back down to level with the far side.  We both straightened up into a normal sitting position.  The straps between my legs finally loosening off as I bent at the waist.  I managed a quick tug at them when Hannah was looking the other way, getting them untangled from my bathing suite. 

“Ok here.”

Hannah placed the handle for the rudder on the floor and started to get to her feet.  Apparently she was still holding onto my lifejacket as I was suddenly pulled upwards. Hanna released me just as I got to my feet, and moved around in front of me.

“Ok, so sit right here.” She put a hand on each of my shoulders.  Pressing me backwards and down.  Into the spot she had been sitting. 

“So, right now we are in ‘irons’ which means pointing right up wind. This is how you make the boat stop. The closer to irons you are the faster we go until you are pointed right up wind, so when you turn, turn at least 30 degrees and we won't be going too fast”

She scooped up the rudder handle and put it in my hand.  I was overall pretty unsure, but also a bit excited to try. 

Hannah sat right next to me and leaned around my back grabbing my right forearm in her hand to guide my movement, her lifejacket squishing up against my own.  I did my best to try and focus on what she was saying.

“Ok this way to go right, this way to turn left. Turn right tho so we are on the right side.”

Our life jackets rubbed on each other making a loud swishing sound on each movement.

I nodded trying to ignore the smell of her perfume and pulled the handle towards me turning the boat right.  Right away the sail filled up again and we started moving, the boat rising up under us.  

“Good.  Now lean back a bit”. Hannah let go of my arm and moved her hand back to the handle on the back of my jacket, pulling gently and guiding me out over the boat.  I noticed the now familiar feeling of the crotch straps pulling up between my legs but I was having enough fun to more or less ignore them for the moment. 

“So turn more to the right and we’ll slow down.” I did as she said and as the boat slowed down Hannah pressed on on my back, moving us into more of a sitting position.

“The faster we go the more we have to lean out to keep the boat from flipping.  We are basically just offsetting the force in the sail.  Turn us back up wind a bit” 

I turned us left again towards the wind and felt the boat rise up.  Hannah pulled on my lifejacket, leaning us back out over the water. The lesson continued like this a few more times. Hannah had me slowly turn into and out of the wind, guiding me from sitting to leaning and sitting to leaning.  I was having fun but the constant sitting up and leaning back was causing the straps between my legs to pull and rub and brush in ways that were starting to become distracting.  Having them pulled up tight was one thing but the constant on and off was another.  I was trying to follow Hannahas instructions but one of the two straps was caught up under me in a particularly awkward  way. I was getting desperate to adjust it but didn't have a free hand.  

“You're doing great! Let’s try tacking. Get up a little speed first”

Hannah pulled me back out over the water, pulling the straps up between my legs.  I squirmed a bit as the need to adjust it was really driving me mad.

“Hold on, sorry.” I couldn’t stand it any longer. I leaned forward and let go of the boat to pull at the strap, it didn't matter that it was right in front of her I had to adjust it. But I forgot about the rudder and absentmindedly turned us upwind.  The boat sped up suddenly just as I hooked my left thumb under the crotch strap to pull at it. As the boat shot forward it also shot upward under us obviously on the route to flipping.  Hannah yanked backwards on my lifejacket but was too late.  My thumb got briefly stuck between the crotch strap and my crotch, just long enough to prevent me grabbing the boat as I toppled over backwards. Hannah, to her credit, held onto my jacket far longer than you would think.  With my weight gone the boat flipped instantly and she must have splashed into the water on the far side.  I crashed into the water upside down.

 Terror is the word to use when you fall into the water and can’t swim.  My mouth and nose full of water I immediately started to twist and flail around; trying to grab hold of something solid. Trying to find the surface. I had no idea which way was up. Everything was liquid and everything was a sinking spinning panic. Then my whole body was suddenly twisting and spinning around like some alien force had me in a tractor beam. Pulling my torso backwards past my legs and spinning me around. The surface spun into view a split second before I crashed through it. Coughing and still splashing around. I failed around on the surface for a moment or two.  Getting a few gulps of air I started to calm down a bit, and suddenly my surroundings came flooding back into my awareness.  The lifejacket was suddenly there; tightly wrapped around my torso, it was holding me like King Kong held Anna. Like the hand of a giant had come out of the sky to save me.  For a few moments it was all I was aware of.  The thick bulky foam strapped tightly around my torso, the collar cradling and supporting my head, and the crotch straps snug between my legs. I kinda sank into it, feeling viscerally that it was the only reason I wasn’t downing. It was so bulky and tight and I was immensely grateful for every ounce of it. Trance like, still blinking and coughing, I reached up grabbing the shoulders with both hands.  Clutching it like a comfort toy.  The collar was like a pillow, I relaxed and just allowed it to hold my head.  No longer kicking; my legs dangled down below me in nothingness. I absently felt around with them; hoping for something solid but knowing that there was nothing firm for them to find.  Aware of my legs hanging down into the abyss I was suddenly grateful for the tight straps between my legs.  The crotch straps were as tight as they had ever been, but now the pressure was reassuring me that my torso was staying where it was; nice and snug inside the jacket, with no danger of slipping out the bottom.  

The contrast between my torso and legs was interesting.  My upper torso was tightly wrapped, even my arms were held in close with the jacket.  My whole upper body felt safe; held and supported.  But my legs felt heavy and loose, hanging out in space by themselves, like explorers. I twisted in the jacket absentmindedly.  Suddenly aware of, and surprised by, the fact that I felt cosy and safe. 

I understood now what the crotch straps were for.  I briefly imagined what it would be like without them; my torso sliding down, slipping out the bottom of the jacket, following my heavy legs down deeper into the water. Clutching the jacket as gravity tried to suck my torso out of its protection. But the straps were there and they held me tightly in it. I was twisting and turning in the jacket, like I was in bed, cosy under the covers on a sunday morning.

A huge splash startled me. I twisted in the water, moving into a more vertical position and rotating to look.  The boat was back upright and Hannah was standing on it, dripping wet.  For a moment I was terrified she would be furious but then she turned, she was laughing and smiling. 

“Your first flip!” She laughed. “Did your hand get stuck on the crotch strap?!?” 

Now it was my turn to go pink. How on earth did she catch that?

Hannah was still laughing “No, no I’m sorry it’s fine, come on back up here” She was gesturing me to swim over. 

I did understand in principle how to move around in water; you’re supported to kick and move your arms, so that’s what I did, trying to crawl through the water toward her.  Hannah looked confused for a moment watching me then shook herself out of it.

“Ow, shoot, ok hold on.” Hannah looked around the boat for a moment before ducking down out of sight.  A moment later she popped up with a long yellow strap in hand. 

“Here, grab this.” Skillfully, she tossed it out. Landing it in the water just within arms reach. I managed to grab hold of it and a moment later Hannah was pulling me in much more effectively than my splashing was managing. I was pretty tuckered and happy to be pulled in, well past any inhibitions or pretence of ego by this point. 

As I reached the boat I grabbed the side and made an effort to pull myself up. Before I had gotten more than my torso out of the water Hannah was already leaning down and grabbing hold of my jacket.  Hauling me up out of the water with surprising strength. The jacket pulled up sharply around me; I felt the collar press up into my head but I was lifted by the waist and crotch straps.  While tight it was surprisingly not uncomfortable, though I did have one serious wedgie as she pulled me in over the side. I lay on my stomach dripping wet in the bottom of the boat, my legs splayed out behind me.  With some effort I rolled onto my back and bent my knees, reaching down to undo my wedgie as Hannah fought a giggle fit above me. I was generally past being embarrassed by this point, surprisingly easy with Hannah, despite her laughing I never once felt she was not laughing with me at the absurdity of the situation. 

“Ow man that was really funny, I'm sorry, here let me help.” Hannah leaned down grabbing the shoulders of my life jacket and pulled down on it. I hadn’t realised the jacket had ridden up on me but as she pulled it down I felt it against the top of shoulders again and the straps between my legs loosed up a bit.  Hannah grabbed my arms and helped me get into a sitting position. 

I twisted a bit in the jacket and managed to get up onto the seat wiping water from my face “Sorry about flipping it…”

“Ow man no not at all, it’s made for that. That’s the first time I’ve seen someone bail because they got stuck on their own crotch strap tho.” She was still giggling.  I went pink again.  “Don't worry I’m sworn to secrecy.” She looked more serious. “For real tho by not comfortable swimming you meant you can't swim at all. I didn't realise.  Thank god that jacket was buoyant enough for you, I would never have gone for it if I realised.  That could have ended…” she didn't finish. “Are you ok tho? Actually? You got really thrown there.” 

I nodded, eager to assure her I was ok  “Ya, It was totally fine. — I mean ya scary for a minute.  But this lifejacket was really good, like it was more than enough. I felt really safe in it once I calmed down.”

Hannah smiled at that.  “Ok good. — Ya it is super comfy in the water.  Not good for swimming in, even if you know how to swim, that’s probably the worst thing about it, but ya I definitely do remember it was super comfy cosy to just float in. — And hey it being no good for swimming doesnt matter for you anyway so it actually kinda suits you in that way!”

She was joking around but the comment made me feel a bit weird. I just nodded agreement.

“Ok that said tho seeing as you really can’t swim, maybe we should up your safety just a touch.” Hannah leaned down and picked up the yellow strap she had tossed me to pull me in.