| My sister had always been a philanthropist. She | | | | skipper was to enroll in some sailing courses and |
| went to silent auction charities all over the | | | | RYA courses to help me learn the ropes. I |
| country, just so that she could support as many | | | | started regularly attending RYA courses and day |
| things as possible. One day, she showed up at my | | | | skipper courses as well as any other type of |
| house saying that, on a fluke, she had won a day | | | | sailing courses that I could find. |
| sailor boat in one of the silent auctions and she | | | | After several months, the RYA courses and |
| wanted me to have it as a late birthday present. | | | | sailing courses paid off because I was able to |
| I didn't know the first thing about day sailing, but, | | | | take the boat out into the water and sail for |
| not wanting to hurt my sister's feelings after she | | | | hours. The gift that my sister so graciously gave |
| offered me such a generous prize, I accepted. | | | | me was finally being put to good use. Now, I am |
| For a long time, the boat just sat in the harbor, | | | | my own day skipper and I am able to take my |
| collecting dust. But then, the day came when I | | | | sister and her family out on the water whenever |
| actually wanted to use it for once. I decided that | | | | I want. I absolutely love that boat now that I can |
| the best thing I could do to become a day | | | | use it. |