I have been an instructor teaching people to sail on boats in the 25-40 ft. range since 1983. I have also taught sailors to be sailing instructors for the past decade. Over the years safety around and on boats has been my primary concern. Without a doubt, one of the hardest things to instill in sailors, neophytes and seasoned mariners alike, is the necessity to look over their shoulder when on the helm and making a course correction such as jibing or coming about. With new sailing students, they respond with alacrity when I admonish them for their omission but long time mariners often regard my coaching with less than enthusiasm.

Many years ago, when I was new to the role of sailing instructor, I was sailing with two students on Muskegon Lake on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Near us was the large sloop of an older couple. Like myself, they were members of a local yacht club. This couple was known around the club for their friendly attitude and cheery greetings for all. They always seemed to be in a good mood. On this particular day they were sailing behind and slightly off our port quarter. I forgot they were there and asked the student at the helm to execute a come-about, which she did. Suddenly we were treated to a stream of foul-mouth obscenities, which would make a longshoreman blush. These were coming from the female half of the happy couple because I forgot to caution my student to look behind before making a change in direction. I shouted an apology but she continued to berate us while her husband, who was at the wheel, looked away.

The moral of this story is; Look before you turn-she may still be out there.

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