Recently I took a former co-worker out sailing for the first time... he has an engineering background, so I endeavored to explain some of the simple physics of sailing before we took off. Stuff like sail shape, lift, points of sail, sail balance, displacement vice planing. Simple explanations, based on a science background.

Then we took off... I got us out of the slip and into the fairway and then handed him the tiller... from that point on, I made a few suggestions here and there and kept the sails trimmed, adding commentary as we went along, but ensuring that there were plenty of quiet moments to simply enjoy the motion and feel of a boat under sail. It helped that conditions were perfect... 8-10knots of breeze and flat seas.

He loved it. He is now pursuing sailing classes and membership in a sailing club. He has raved about the experience to others. (I think I just "created" a sailor... GRIN)

There was joy felt there in the act of sailing for the sake of sailing. (and frankly I enjoyed sharing the lessons--comes from my days as a SCUBA instructor... watching people "get into" something for the first time... I would love to say "GROK... " but I think that involves a far deeper understanding of a thing/activity/situation)

Maybe she just had not yet "gotten into it." I honestly don't know. My wife enjoys going sailing with me, she enjoys the motion of the boat, the quiet peaceful reflection on the water, and the occasional chance to view marine life... she also loves fishing. But I cannot get her to sail. She either just doesn't "get it," or doesn't want to. I have come to the conclusion that a long passage is unlikely for the two of us, but coastal cruising and going to new places is quite doable.

So who knows, you may be right... perhaps Charlotte just wasn't "there" with the sailing, yet... but certainly she was there with the sense of adventure... and I believe this "sense of adventure" she wanted share with her whole family... Eric and the kids. I think she was motivated. But perhaps it was a bit too much, too fast... and "jumping off the cliff" was too much.