From scaredy-cat to passionated sailor
Or
How I learnt that cruising without anxiety and stress actually does exist

I had sailed a lot on my parents’ boats as a child in the Mediterranean. Yes, there were wonderful moments, experiences, memories which are still present to this day. But: there was a lot that happened as well! Sudden storms, time pressure, engine failures, a dragging anchor…. Nobody showed consideration towards me as a child or paid attention to my feelings and anxiety.

Due to some ‘substantial experiences’ I was left with one thing: Fear!  I was terrified of high waves, extensive healing and the loss of control over the boat. 

What remained, however, was the love and longing for the sea. And therefore, I did continue to sail from time to time - first with my husband and later also with our first small and soon growing children. But I could never really enjoy it, since anxiety remained deep inside me.

Anxiety is an emotion, and is deep - it's not just something you an argue away, situated somewhere in the brain where common sense normally is found. The pure knowledge that the boat will not capsize when healing doesn’t help to fight fear, unfortunately.

Since I really wanted to enjoy sailing fearlessly, I thought there could only be one way forward: In signed up for Leon’s theory course in Malta to beging with.

In January 2024 I could not only brush up my theoretical seamanship skills, but since Leon’s wife Gaby is psychologist with professional training how to handle anxiety, this was an excellent opportunity to talk openly about my anxiety and my wish to finally being able to enjoy sailing!

Talking to both Leon and Gaby really built my confidence and I began to feel that I was on the right track.

Then it was time for putting it to a test during a practical sailing leg! On the (almost) all-women Leg 8-2024 in Galicia with Leon, Esther, Susanne (plus her husband Christian who joined as an addition reassurance), I learnt for the first time how stress-free cruising actually can be! All it needs are certain circumstances and some conditions!

 

And now I can testify: I have not only lost almost all my anxiety, I left Regina Laska with that pure feeling that I would rather go on sailing - just now and here! I didn’t want to arrive, I wished to leave! Leave for the horizon!

I just couldn’t believe my transformation myself! What hat happened?

• The atmosphere onboard was from the very beginning completely stress-free ("we may do everything but don’t have to do anything!")
• We were all engaged in the passage planning

  

• Our fears and anxiety were taken seriously: Everyone could trust that if anyone preferred reefing due to not feeling comfortable with the degree of healing, it was immediately done. The trust that the “weakest” was not considered a coward but became the very one,who actually had control over where to sail, in which way, under what conditions and when was I power I had never experienced before. Nobody should feel bad or uncomfortable, but, instead, remain in control!

  

• We spent a lot of time learning how to interpret and understand weather
• We learnt how accurate weather forecasts on the Atlantic actually are, and how precisely we could observe the approaching lows and fronts long before they arrived! There were absolutely no weather surprises!
• We learnt how to understand waves! Not only their height, but also the importance of their direction and length (“period”) and how to distinguish between wind-waves, primary-, secondary- and tertiary swell and the corresponding consequences they give us (roll, vertical acceleration, slamming). We could first check it on the computer (PredictWind) and then sailed out of the Rías to actually experience wind and waves for real and learn how these theoretical numbers correspond to real sea conditions and what it means for each and everyone of us.

  

• We observed with our own eyes how very experienced Bluewater sailor actually staying at anchor or in port when conditions were not perfect and how they didn’t go on sailing the coast until conditions improved. Throughout my entire life, I had thought the idea was to sail each and every day and only the stupid cowards staid in port - while  "real sailors" went out in any weather! How wrong I was to believe so, now seeing true Bluewater sailors on their way into the Med, over the Atlantic to the Caribbean or even around the world staying in port waiting for comfortable weather conditions!

  

• We learnt that more than a 20° healing hardly improve speed at all, and that the boat just gets a bigger leeway. We compared the heading (green line on the plotter) taken from the satellite compass and could compare it to the course over ground (COG from GPS) and observed how these two lines drifted apart each time the healing increased. I set my personal level to 20° and would keep a sharp eye on the inclinometer from now on!

  

• We learnt how to avoid orcas in these waters and what to do if we ever would encounter them despite all preventive measures.

  

Further to this, we had the most wonderful sailing week in great company with fantastic meals, beautiful hikes, valuable, open-hearted and lovable discussions and such a super-experienced and so handsome wonderful skipper and suuuuuch a beautiful sailing boat!!!

My conclusions of this sailing week were:

• I now know my personal comfort zone regarding wind strength, wind direction, wave hight, wave direction, wave period, and inclination (heeling).
• I may openly tell when my comfort zone is left and when I do not feel comfortable any longer.
• And maybe this comfort zone may be stretched just a little bit further next time I sail on Regina Laska!? Who knows?
• It is crucial to know on which boat you are sailing (high degree of safety and comfort) and with whom you are sailing (empathy and respect!)
  Therefore, a big thank you to all my fellow crew! It was so wonderful to sail with you!

  

• And finally last, but definitely not last, a huge thank you to you, Leon, for your ability to get me to where I now stand. You did so with so much patience, empathy and joyfulness. You transformed me from a scaredy-cat to a passionated sailor (“Vom Angsthasen zum begeisterten Genuss-Fahrtensegler”!)

Please, would I be allowed to join again? 🫶🤩