August 16th: For the first time, going offshore by boat with the Wing board!

Today was finally the day for a lesson going offshore by boat.
Until now, practice had been near the shore, but
today we were truly 'going out to sea'.
Amidst a mix of anticipation and anxiety, I boarded a small boat for the first time.

As we left the sandy beach,
I felt the gaze of the bathers on my back.
It was a look of longing, as if saying, 'Go for it!'
Holding the amphibious board,
it felt as if I was embarking on an adventure.

However, once we set sail––
the rocking was beyond imagination.
The small boat was pounded by the waves,
hitting the surface of the sea with 'thud, thud'.
My body bounced, and the impact resonated in my lower back.
It was far from comfortable,
but the wildness made my heart pound.
It truly felt like 'battling the sea'.

When we arrived offshore, the instructor smiled and said:
'If you ride upwind, you can go back and forth left and right.
If you drift away, I'll pick you up with the boat, so it's okay.'
I replied with a smile:
'I'll do my best not to get picked up!'
Thus began my first offshore lesson.

However, there was––no wind.
It was barely blowing at all.
Moreover, the swells were strong,
and the board was constantly rocking up and down.
If there were wind, I could balance,
but now, without that help, I was just tossed by the waves.
I'd stand up, then sink; stand up, then sink.
The cold seawater, mixed with regret, slapped my cheeks.

It just slipped out of my mouth.
'There's no wind, so I can't do it well...'
Then the instructor said one word:
'Don't blame the wind. Do what you can.'
Rather than being scolded,
it felt more like my back was pushed.
Even so, my heart was still shaking and unstable.

While repeatedly sinking,
before I knew it, I had drifted downwind,
and a tetrapod was getting close.
Noticing the danger, the instructor immediately rescued me with the boat.
We went upwind again, and I challenged it once more.
But the result was the same.

And then, as if to add insult to injury,
a blue glowing shadow on the water's surface––a Portuguese man o' war.
The instructor shouted:
'It's dangerous there! Don't sink!'
But no, even if I didn't want to, I would sink (sobbing).
Fear and helplessness mixed,
and I couldn't help but laugh.

Ultimately, I was rescued by the boat again,
and we started heading back, rocking with the waves.
When I sat in the back seat,
the splashing water unforgivingly hit my face.
It didn't matter anymore,
and I returned to the beach soaked to the bone.
My wetsuit clung to my body,
and the sea breeze felt unusually cold.

––As expected, it's tough when there's no wind but strong swells.
Wing, I wanted to quit.
What I gained today was only the experience of riding a boat.
However, surely this regret
will someday become a stepping stone towards 'the day I catch the wind'.

Contrary to my feelings, the beach was bustling with people enjoying the Obon holidays.