Thanks. The children are much older now and enjoy sailing very much. Years
later they asked me if some of the situations in which we sailed scared me
as much as it did them. (I never intentionally put them in any danger, but
sometimes a sudden squall would pop up or there would be an occasional rough
sea.) I told them that sure I was scared, but I did not have time to show
it; I was too busy thinking about the options and plans B and C should
anything go wrong. They are all married now, but we had some great sails
together when they were younger.

Tom

"FMac" wrote in message
...

"Tom R." wrote in message
...
The water would come over the transom and the
engine would start to sputter. "Putt, putt, putt, varoom." The look from
the
children and spouse would be answered by, "Don't worry, it is just
gasping
for air." My look of confidence was not shared by my brain which was
thinking "this is stupid, get an inboard."

I admire your tenacity during a somewhat difficult situation. You have a
skill shared by few. Your children will never forgot your look of
confidence and will have a grand time sailing.