These young residents of the Eure had never sailed before. At most, they had taken ferries between two islands, or made a few circles in the water on a small motorboat to go swimming. Both of them jumped for joy when they knew they were going to board a sailboat!
What did you like about this idea of a sailing course?
Brunehidle: Being on the sea is something I likeeuros since I no longer have a heartache! We are in the open air, and not in a fog of pollution. And then, on the sea, there are not too many people, we have the impression to be more alone than elsewhere. And also, I had never tried the fun boat, so I wanted to discover it! My father also made us want to try sailing with all the good memories he told us. He had been sailing when he was younger. In fact, for me, it was a bit of an adventure to sail! But it didn't make me anxious at all to know that I was going to do it.
Lou Salome: I was happy, excited, eager for the vacations to come. I told myself that when I know how to sail, when I'm older, I might be able to sail with my family. I thought it would be nice to try. In the movies, you see the beauty of the boats, the maneuvers. And the big sailing boats, it impresses me because they are big, of course, but also because you have to have a lot of skill to sail them, right?
It's true that I was a bit stressed when I signed up for the course: I was wondering what kind of people we would be with. And how it would be if there was a lot of wind, huge waves, if they would take us to the open sea
How was your arrival at the sailing school on the first day?
Brunehilde: We were asked to come in a bathing suit and with sunglasses, cap, windbreaker, water shoes. And at the center, they lent us a wetsuit. Not very easy to put on! Then, we put on a life jacket. I had already put some, but this one was a little different: it was higher on the bust, I think. It's always better without one, anyway, but it's mandatory! I thought we would be better equipped for sailing.
Lou Salome: We were also told to wear sunscreen before coming to protect ourselves. And to put on a one-piece swimsuit for the girls, I don't know why actually. And no sneakers, because to walk in the sea water and the sand. And the boots, that would not have been very practical either! The suit, it was the first time I put one on. It's a strange material, but it's quite nice... and it made me feel better to put it on because I thought it might be cold out there. Between it and the vest, we were told to put on our Kway, to cut the wind. With all this on me, I had a little trouble moving my arms at first! But I was also excited to have so much gear on me!
What about the first contact with the nice moniteuros?
Brunehilde: I found Hugo relaxed. And his assistant too. They were quite young. And I liked that: older, they would have intimidated me! He immediately talked about navigation: how to move forward, tack, position yourself on the boat, tack, avoid getting lost, explaining it clearly. It seemed simple! And then he showed us all this on the boat. He also talked to us about safety, but without overdoing it either He didn't give us a fixed program, and I found that good: that way, we didn't have any pressure, we didn't have to know how to do this or thateuros before such and such a date! And Hugo was nice: when we forgot things like a cap, he didn't get angry.
Lou Salome: When I arrived at the sailing school, it was a bit like a playground. I didn't really know what to do. But I was really looking forward to meet our instructors. I wondered what they would make us do and how tolerant they would be When I saw them, they seemed quite nice. I was expecting, it's true, older instructors. But I didn't mind that they were like that. It's just that when you're older, you have more experience, right? Hugo introduced himself first. And then, he asked us to listen carefully: he told us what not to do, like jumping in the water to swim, or playing with the boats, or letting them go to the end of the world by themselves when we got dry! He also told us what to do, and how. I remember well his advice about the wind and its meaning. After the first lesson, I was very happy and eager to do it again the next day. What impressed me was the number of instructors we had to supervise us as soon as we went over the limits. Oh yes, because he had given us limits so that we didn't go too far out to sea and that we stayed a little bit in a group... I remember that we skimmed and even ran into other boats, without wanting to of course. But it was fun.
Was the boat, the Fun Boat, to your liking?!
Brunehilde: I had imagined it to be a bit bigger, but I didn't mind that it was small in the end. Besides, I think it was good for our beginner level. In fact, I was especially looking forward to getting on it! There were two or three of us per boat: Hugo's assistant put them in the water and we went on board
Lou Salome: I was expecting a much bigger boat, actually! I had seen longer ones in the center's courtyard just before. But it was great that they were small, because it made me feel better! All yellow and without foceuros so it was easier to maneuver. Also very small. In fact, I wondered if there would be enough room for a duo or a trio.
What was your favorite part of the course?
Brunehilde: The best is when there is wind! Otherwise we don't move forward... When it was going at two per hour... bof bof! We tried to tack to take the wind in the other direction, but it didn't work, and we couldn't gain speed to tack properly. In fact, I thought that even without or with less wind, we could still go forward a little bit! When it goes fast, what I like is the speed of course, but also that we have to take care of more things at the same time: the rudder, the helm, the ropes to pick up and let go, and to be careful not to sink too! And then, sailing with teammates, I found it nice: you can talk, you can be explained to you and also more easily straighten the boat if we are losing water! I wouldn't have minded doing the manoeuvres on my own, but I think I'd get bored at the end of being alone on the boat. I really enjoyed steering: I had never handled it before. I found it pretty easy actually. You just have to turn the opposite way from where you want to go. But I think I prefer to hold the sheets because by controlling the sail, you control the speed. I actually like the idea of being able to control the boat. I'm a horse rider and the horse, even if you know how to lead it well, well, it can decide to do something different than what I want! On a boat, if you want to make it go forward, it's you who decides how to do it. The good thing is that I was never afraid. With all the instructors around us, it was impossible!
What really surprised me was the desalination! Hugo had talked to us about that and told us how to right the boat if it happened to us, but when it really happened I was also surprised by the speed of the boat. Finally the "non speed" or the very small speed of the boat when there is no wind or very little. We almost stopped one day. I tried to move the bar to the right and to the left to make it move forward, but nothing! Honestly, I thought that boats were always moving forward. In the movies I had seen with sailing, they never stopped! What also amused me, it is, after the desalination, when we were all in the water with our windbreakers and our vests: we could hardly move then to cling to the boat, it was not practical! But the windbreaker was effective against the cold and the life jacket also to float.
A little souvenir you won't forget?
Brunehilde: With my sister, we wanted to go to the toileteuros but in the open sea? So Hugo the instructor took us on his canoe, and put us in the water for, briefly. But then, it is there that it was funny: to get us back on board the canoe, he had to lift us by the shoulders of the life jacket: my sister and I felt pulled up and quietly we found ourselves in the canoe! There is another moment that amused me: it was when the boats, the instructor's boat and the Fun boat that was going away by itself, suddenly moved away from each other. And I had a foot on each one! And another time: we were heading towards a flag that we finally avoided by a narrow margin by doing a sort of tacking - it all went so fast!
Lou Salome:
With the teammates, it happened
Lou Salome: Sailing with several people, I didn't really know what that meant in fact. I discovered that it was practical for each person to have his or her own mission: the ropes, the helm, etc. And it's more fun especially when the teammate is nice, cooperates, and we alternate roles. But it is also more difficult to manage when there are several of us: one day, for example, we all wanted to take the helm! Some teammates got really angry or thought they were the boss. When we were going really fast, and I was at the helm, I think the others, who were not in control of anything, got a bit stressed! It's true, I found it very interesting to steer to experience how you can take the wind in the sail, and how you can steer. Tightening, letting go, tightening, letting go of the sheet, that tells me less. Last thing: in fact, I didn't expect to sail at all right away, I thought we were going to have lessons, theory beforehand and that it would take a long time before we could go on board. I really enjoyed being at sea from the first day.
Would you like to do a sailing course again?
Brunehilde: Yes, but maybe on a slightly larger boat and with new teammates to see what it's like to change companions?
Lou Salome: Me too, on a bigger boat, a catamaran maybe? I did it the last day of the course, but there was no wind. On a bigger boat, you have more things to do, and more space to move faster, so there should be less risk of sinking, right? I would also like to be able to experiment by myself and have a hand from the instructor just when I need it. And then, why not try to sail on a big monohull where you can sleep?
