First time sailing was when I was in my teens. I was main breast-stroker on the swimming team and the best backstroker friend of mine decided to build a canoe.
We mounted a sail and leeboard on it and sailed on a small lake near Akron, Ohio. Got across the lake and was becalmed. But, we had paddles.., so no problem.
That did NOT impress me about sailing.
I was attending Long Beach State College, living in Belmont Shore and my roomy and I were laying on the beach studying. Along came a power boat and put out a mark. Then there came some really teeny, slow boats that went around it and headed back from whence they came.
Then a funny looking, two hulled thing came roaring up, rounded it quickly and roared back from whence it came.., much, much faster. The first were Sabots, the latter was a Malibu Outrigger.
That experience made me buy a Shark Catamaran in 1965, and the day I took delivery I sailed in a regatta at Mentor Harbor YC, Mentor, Ohio.
We were dead last, and I noticed this beautiful, bikini-clad girl helming another Shark. They were dead first.., every time. I told my buddy, we have to follow them and do everything they do.., plus the scenery would be great.

That was when I met Mary Wells.., married her many years later. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Rick