Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: How did you become interested in Sailing? Wayne Williams: In First Grade I saw a picture of a sailboat and it seemed to capture the complete sense of exploring and living with nature. From then on these fantasies grew with trips to Catalina Island, books and movies about Treasure Island or Peter Pan, fishing lakes and streams, or even watching Flipper on TV!

SFP Editor: How did you become interested in Sailing?

Wayne Williams: In First Grade I saw a picture of a sailboat and it seemed to capture the complete sense of exploring and living with nature. From then on these fantasies grew with trips to Catalina Island, books and movies about Treasure Island or Peter Pan, fishing lakes and streams, or even watching Flipper on TV!

SFP Editor: How did you learn to sail?

Wayne Williams: I’m still learning as its an ideal life time sport; navigation, radio, rescue, cooking. Didn’t really get active until after college and then in Seattle took a Basic Sailing course at Green Lake (and ended up with the key to the boat house!), hooked up with the University of Washington Sail Team (until I capsized a 470 in Lake Washington 5 feet from the dock in 30+ wind after my ballast – I meen friend – didn’t jump in the boat with me), learned the importance of hypothermia and rescue with the Mountaineers (the largest volunteer recreation program in the country, and went cruising in the San Juan Islands with the Seattle Single Sailing Organization (where skippers and potential crew are matched up randomly thru a name in the hat drawing at a local tavern). In Florida I was a Red Cross Volunteer teaching Basic Sailing and ended up Cruising with friends in the Moorings Charter Programs. Also took all 5 courses on navigation that the Power Squadrons offers. Now in DC, just settled into a wet slip and doing Free Lance photography and writing (when I’m not working…)

SFP Editor: What about sailing do you enjoy the most?

Wayne Williams: Just reconnecting with Nature; weather, water, wildlife, sun, moon and stars.

SFP Editor: What about sailing was the most difficult to learn?

Wayne Williams: Celestial navigation still baffles me.

SFP Editor: Describe your role as the Layout Editor for the SCOW newsletter.

Wayne Williams: The Sailing Club of Washington ( SCOW.org) has a monthly newsletter which is posted on their website and also emailed to members. I help with the layout of what thru an arcane/technical process (secrets of which I can not disclose) and a newsletter is created (as a PDF file!) complete with articles from the Board of Directors, Poems, Quotes and Pictures. Theres lots of help from the Editor who compiles a first draft with Word via multiple emails from many authors.

SFP Editor: How did you become involved in the Leukemia Regatta?

Wayne Williams: Each year there are many races. I heard about the race at one of our Christmas Parties and was impressed by the magnitude of the dollars. 250,000 for one race! The money is for a good cause and this really demonstrates the giving spirit of good people. Activities involved in this even are growing year by year with kids races, adult races, picnics, and auctions

SFP Editor: Where is your most favorite place to sail and why?

Wayne Williams: Place is not so important to me as time and weather. I like sailing at night! The stars overhead and the dark waters below. I could be in the Pacific Northwest, Coast of California, Key West, or heading down Chesapeake Bay as long as there is a full moon a Bahama breeze and a star to steer by.

SFP Editor: What would be your ideal sailing adventure?

Wayne Williams: My life won’t be complete until I’ve been around the world and/or found Pirate Treasure!

SFP Editor: What tips do you have for beginner skippers?

Wayne Williams: You can have lot’s of fun without even owning a boat. Join clubs race, picnic, cruise.

SFP Editor: What about writing about sailing do you enjoy?

Wayne Williams: Stories are just the greatest! The language involved with boating is so unique with influences from around the world and throughout time. Sailing is a different world. Telling and hearing and reading and even music. When I write or take pics it’s like tapping into the whole collective mosaic of wind, waves, and the sea.

SFP Editor: What inspires your story ideas?

Wayne Williams: The emotions. The exhilaration of rounding a mark with your crew and passing another boat! Frustration of dragging anchor and waking up tangled on a forested shoreline. Awe while watching a spinnaker go up and feeling the boat surge. Fear when a wind shift threatens a broach. Boredom when the wind is flat and your becalmed.