Sailing

Written By Deborah Soltis

Photo by Nathan Pablo

There is a moment on a sailboat that I love.

The sails have been raised. The lines are taut. The canvas flutters softly, waiting for something it cannot create on its own.

Then, almost without warning, the wind arrives.

The sail fills.

The boat leans ever so slightly, as though greeting an old friend, and the water begins to whisper along the hull. Suddenly, we’re no longer floating.

We’re gliding.

It happens in an instant, yet it takes my breath away every time.

Not because I’m surprised. I know it’s coming.

That beautiful instant when anticipation gives way to motion.

When effort gives way to grace.

Sometimes I wonder if that’s what a figure skater feels when their blades find the perfect edge. Or what a skier feels when fresh powder carries them effortlessly down the mountain.

Perhaps that’s why I love sailing so much.

It reminds me that some of life’s most beautiful moments don’t come from pushing harder.

They simply arrive when the moment is right.

And suddenly, we’re gliding.

That’s a perfect bite.

With gratitude to Nathan Pablo for this beautiful photograph, and to the crew of the Lewis R. French for the unforgettable sailing experiences that inspired this Perfect Bite.

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