LATH

As stated earlier my parents and I are members of PPYC. One of the best things that the club does is a program they appropriately call Learning at the Helm, LATH for short. It began several years ago as Ladies at the Helm. The women in the club were upset because a lot of the men in the club like to race, and in such an atmosphere it was difficult for them to learn how to sail or gain much experience. So, they made their own smaller organization inside of the larger. It was decided that on Tuesday nights they would gather at the clubhouse at 5:30 and by six they'd be on the water, teaching themselves how to sail and enjoying a leisurely evening to themselves. And so began LATH. A couple of years ago the women opened the program up to the less experienced men in the club and changed the name from Ladies at the Helm to Learning at the Helm. Finally, last year, they opened the program to anyone in the Nashville public, welcoming members and nonmembers alike. No sailing experience was required, only an interest in the sport and an open mind were needed for newbies to be more than welcomed into this cast of characters. For those who came, a fleet of boats comprised of everything from Catalina 22's to Hunter 31's awaited, as did their experienced skippers who were more than willing to answer any questions and begin teaching their tricks. I was one such lucky newbie.

I took the ASA (American Sailing Association) basic keelboat course last summer, so I at least had some idea of what I was getting myself into. However, I must admit that I never realized just how little I knew about sailing until I met the LATH sailors. Fortunately, thanks to a couple of months of sailing with them, I'm beginning to learn their tricks too. We don't always get to sail because storm cells have a nasty habit of springing up right at five o'clock over the lake, and recently I've had to work and haven't been able to go. However, if they don't sail they do what they like to call a "chalk talk." I managed to get off work and I made it to the lake on time this week, but as soon as I pulled into the parking lot the bottom fell out. I figured we'd learn how to tie knots like we usually do during a chalk talk, but this week I was wrong.

Upon my arrival at the clubhouse I discovered that everyone was drenched, myself included, but when Kathy, the coordinator, announced that Galen Freeman was going to lead the chalk talk all thoughts of dry clothes and my present discomforts quickly dissipated. Galen Freeman is the best racer I've ever had the privilege of meeting. I'm not big into racing though. In addition to racing J22's all over the world he also owns The Boat Locker in Franklin. Of course, being in middle Tennessee they mostly sell power boats, but occasionally there's a sailboat in the front lot. I'm notorious for driving by at night, after the store is closed, and pulling off on the shoulder to admire one particular S2. After the chalk talk, which was beyond informative, I had the opportunity to talk with Galen for a few minutes. To say that he is a character and a superb sailor and racer would not do him justice. I finally left about about seven o'clock, much more knowledgeable than I had been upon my damp arrival and with yet another sailing friend.

For me, when it comes to sailing, LATH has been my saving grace. When I found the program I was a sailor by formalities, but when it came to respect from other sailors and nautical know-how, I was a newbie. Now, two months later, I'm still not even close to the skill level that I'd like to have someday, but I have a few more tricks in my hat than I used to. To put it simply, LATH has made me a much better sailor than I was a year ago when I began pursuing this crazy dream, and it has allowed me to meet some of the kindest and most helpful people I know. I owe an enormous thanks to Kathy and Bob Ware who are the LATH coordinators, as well as to all of the skippers who come out on Tuesdays to share their boats and their experience. For more information on the LATH program click on the following link. http://ppyc.org/generalinterest/lath.htm

On the off chance that you're ever in the Nashville area on a Tuesday evening between April and September stop by the Hamilton Creek sailboat marina about 5:30, and join the group of characters on the clubhouse deck, I promise you won't regret it.

The pictures are of the PPYC club boat which is an O'day 23, and a boat under sail with LATH participants enjoying a turn as rail meat.