Page 12 of Dan.
With that, we follow the rest of the sailing team out into the open ocean, all of us constantly in motion to keep the Persico 69F moving in the right direction. I’ve sailed before, but not on anything like this small racing boat. Everything moves like we’re in fast forward; what would have taken a few long moments of adjusting the rigging on a normal sailboat happens in mere seconds on the Persico, and for Andries and Johan, it’s like the boat has become a part of them. They move with it like they can anticipate its next move before it’s even necessary, and I have to admit that they work well together for only being acquaintances.
That’s nothing compared to the guys on the racing team, though. They barely speak to one another, just moving, tossing ropes, and pulling in one direction or another with hardly even a glance, they’re entirely in tune with the boat and their teammates. I’d have been happy just watching them work––it’s so incredible––but there is zero time for leisure on our foil, even if I am a novice.
I do what I understand, but with everything moving at light speed, I can’t help but feel like I’m two moves behind everyone else. I am thankful, though, that I took the seat next to Johan and not Andries, because where my friend would have loved the opportunity to poke fun at me while teaching, Johan took it all very seriously and is a perfectly patient instructor for me. Every once in a while the team coach would come up beside us in his own foil and call out some instructions, which we would put into action in a snap.
I fumble and struggle to catch up for the first thirty minutes or so, but suddenly, everything starts clicking into place, and it all just works. After that, it stops being just a frustrating learning exercise and becomes fun.
I’m not exactly as in tune with everything as everyone else, but sooner than anticipated, I’m able to get into a sort of groove with everyone. Johan continues to be a stellar teacher, and even Andries manages to help me when I’m finally ready to move from side to side on the boat when the course demands it, and eventually, the ropes stop all looking exactly the same and I’m able to pull and let out what I need to with a decent amount of accuracy.
The foil rises so far above that water at times that it should be terrifying, but really, I’m feeling exhilarated, even letting out a few enthusiastic yelps when we get a particularly large amount of air, splashing back down with a controlled slap into the water before going upwards once more. I’m soaked, the salt water sticking to my eyebrows and eyelashes, but I love it. I haven’t been able to work out since we’ve been in Capri, and my muscles are happy to be awake and put to use once more. The slight burn is a welcome sign that I really am giving the Persico my all.
About halfway through the practice, I see a drone zipping above us here and there. It’s white and difficult to see against the bright sky, but the blinking red light gives it away occasionally. I hope the footage doesn’t make me look like a fool.
“You’re a natural!” Andries laughs right as I get a mouthful of seawater.
I sputter and spit the water out, letting go of the rigging just long enough to flip him off before getting back to work. My friend laughs again just as one of the racing team foils comes up next to us, bouncing on the waves. Waving, it almost seems like they’re issuing us a challenge. We’ve been keeping up with them better than I would have thought, but there is still a subsequent gap between the professionals and us hobbyists. Regardless, I know I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and neither is Andries. Johan throws the other boat a thumbs up, so I guess he’s in for a little friendly competition, too.
There’s no way we would ever beat any of them in a full sprint, but there are a few times we catch up and even pass them before they overtake us much more, and it makes my pulse thunder in my chest trying to keep pace. I don’t even notice the way the ropes heat my gloved hands as they whip through my grip or the way my arms and legs start to shake with the strain of it all.
After about three hours, a shrill whistle pierces the air and the coach waves us all back towards shore. I’m initially disappointed that it’s over already, but Johan sighs happily as we maneuver the boat around.
“I thought lunchtime would never get here. I’m starving,” he comments, almost as in relief.
His words go straight to my stomach, and if it wasn’t so loud out on the water, the angry growl it gives off would be quite audible.
Once the boats are docked back at Marina Grande, the coach lets us all strip off the wet gear before we all make our way to a seafood restaurant called “Lo Smeraldo” which looks out into the beautiful water. One would think I’d be sick of the ocean by now, considering I must have swallowed a few gallons of seawater, but I don’t think I will ever be able to get enough of these views.
While the staff pushes tables together for us on the patio, I take a second to pull out my phone, chuckling at the string of increasingly angry messages from Elise as we choose our seats. I pull out my chair with my hand on the back of it, shaking my head and grinning as I do so.
“What’s so funny?” Andries asks, all but falling into his seat beside me, and Johan next to Andries.
“Man, your sister is pissed.” I hold out the phone so he can read the message.
Elise:Where are you guys? I can’t believe you left us to do the tour alone! I hate you!
He waves his hand in the air with a scowl. “If you want to annoy her even more, just ignore her.”
I actually agree with Andries, so with a shrug, I re-pocket the phone and turn my attention to the sailing team and coach as they fill in the other seats around us. The practice has taken a lot out of everyone, both from the intensity of the workout and the hot sun that has colored everyone’s cheeks red, but the energy is still lively. Before the coach sits down, he makes sure to shake all of our hands and pat us on the shoulders.
“You boys did great out there. Seriously! You kept up better than I'd hoped. I’ll send you the footage as soon as it’s done uploading.”
We all thank him, as well as the other team members. The general consensus is that they won’t underestimate us so much during the second half of the day, and they definitely won’t be taking it easy on us.
The wine that I see going out to other tables calls to me, but with the post-lunch sailing plans looming over me, I order sparkling water and a light meal of white fish and rice when the server comes by. After thinking for a moment, I wave him back over and add a double espresso to my order. I might need it to get through the rest of the day.
Elise keeps trying to reach me, but I’m happy to click my phone ontoDo Not Disturbmode and immerse myself in the present. Good food, new people to meet, and new experiences to share ascertain that there is never a lull in conversation, but my ears perk up when I hear Andries tell the coach that the drone pictures and videos have finally come through. He passes his phone around the table so everyone can see, and by the time it gets to me my palms are almost itching to get my hands on it. I’m afraid that how much of a novice I am will come through in the pictures and recordings, but after a cursory scroll through them all, I’m pleasantly surprised at how confident I appear.
My viewing is interrupted when a message from Elise pops up on the top of Andries’s phone screen, and while her constant bombardment is annoying, it does give me an irresistible idea to pick at her just a little more.
I hand Andries his phone back, asking, “Can you Airdrop me all of those?” to which he nods absentmindedly, hitting the buttons while still engrossed in his own conversations.
Once everything has come through, I unmute Elise and send her the best picture from the lot that I can find on short notice, making sure that it has Andries, Johan, and myself all in the frame sailing our majestic Persico.
Dan:Having fun with your ex. You were right. He’s pretty nice actually… much nicer than you’ll ever be. Don’t wait up for us to have dinner, we might be pretty late.
I immediately mute her again with a wicked grin, knowing just how pissed off she will be. Slipping the now-silent phone back into my shorts pocket, I jump right back into the conversation, and put Elise out of my mind the best I can. At least for the time being.
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