My hubby Bob and I had long enjoyed watching the toy boats sail in the
Central Park Boat Pond and often talked of renting one, but never did.
Bob finally broke down and bought a toy sailboat at an online auction.
It was listed as "sailable"; it should have been "salable."

The next Saturday afternoon we headed to the pond and, as we were
unpacking, were approached by an older veteran sailor named Capt Neal
who carefully looked the boat over and helped adjust the rigging and
sails. He remarked that this model didn't have a weighted keel but
that we could try sailing anyway.

Bob placed the boat in the pond, and it did sail briefly. A strong
gust blew the boat over as it hit a rock, and the cloth sails were
soon stuck in the water. A toy powerboat tried to help right the boat,
but mostly just pushed it farther underwater and was caught briefly in
the rigging.

After Doug the power owner got his boat free, he ran around asking for
other sailors to try to rescue the toy sailboat, floating horizontally
just below the surface. There was nothing anyone could do, and neither
of us looked forward to getting in the water and rescuing the boat
ourselves. Bob had a tear on his chubby cheek.

After several minutes of commotion, a toy fireboat (with working
waterworks) came sailing up to the rescue and glided to a graceful
stop just above the boat. It lowered a paperclip hook into the water
and easily snagged the sailboat and dragged it to the edge of the
pond.

Now Bobby will not go back to the pond to sail anymore. He says he
lost to much face. That he will never sail until everyone at the pond
has forgotten what a fool he has been.

I tried to get him to wear a disquise but he just ran to him room
pouting saying it would not work.

Please help me. How can I get Bob interested in sailing again?

Thanks,
Suzy

At your service,
Capt. American