Tai Chi At Sea

My friend Neil took me for a sail on his 39’ sloop. Watching him sail is like watching a tai chi master at sea. He moves lightly and with grace. A flick of his sailor’s wrist and braided line coils around the winch; a quick pull and wrap and the main is stowed. Up and down he moves with ease and trust, at one with who, and where, he is. And me, novice at sea, at the helm, doing yeoman's work with metaphor.