Dreaming (anxiously) about sailboat racing

by Carol Newman Cronin
A few nights ago, I had a vivid dream that I was onboard Katrina—and we were approaching a crowded starting line. As the countdown wound down to zero, my father tacked onto starboard and lined up for a perfect start at the boat end. To help with timing, I ran forward—but, in the irrational way of dreams, I found myself in the forward cabin instead of on the foredeck (where I could actually see what was going on). When the gun went off, we were over early by one second.

Once I woke up, I had a quiet chuckle. And unlike many dreams, the origins were obvious; I’m about to sail my first regatta since last October, and it’s the first time in almost forty years that I’ve taken more than a month or two away from racing. Also, starting is my biggest weakness. Apparently, my subconscious is stressed enough about this looming reentry into my chosen sport to completely bastardize a happy childhood racing memory. – Full report