Mary,

See my baby smile in the profile photo. I sailed the boat in that photo about 9 years later and smiled exactly the same. It might be genetic predisposition. Why not?

I remember with rich details when I played in the bathtub with a big white plastic toy boat - my first boat. I should have been three years old, maybe less.

At age six, the first money I put my hands on was saved for the declared purpose of "building a boat". Awareness of money, saving and economic issues in general all developed as a function of my NEED to have a boat.

When I was nine a relative noticed my enthusiasm during a ride in a rowing boat and, together with the sailing director, convinced my mother to inscribe me in the club's sailing school.

Theoretical classes were given by an old sailor at night during the week, with the aid of projected transparent photos ("slides") and small wooden toy boats.

Practical classes were given by his son during the weekends, using the first Optimist built in Brazil (1969). My former teacher is now the permanent coach of the Brazilian Olympic Sailing Team and that Optimist is preserved with a golden plate explaining its importance. It makes one feel old.

Afterwards it was the usual: racing and cruising many types of boats and reading everything available. The main reason for learning English was to read more magazines about boats. "Playboy" was in English as well, but who cared about the text?

Multihulls came to my life later, at age 32, but this is yet another story.