When I lived in Annapolis in the 80’s, my husband taught at the U.S. Naval Academy. I was lucky enough to be allowed to sail in their fantastic sailing program. This is where the plebes get their feel for water – its power as well as its splendor. There are valuable lessons to be learned on sailing vessels. One afternoon I watched several plebes sail an 18 ft. boat hard into the slip with the mainsail still flying.  They had ignored our cries to drop the mainsail and they tried to stop the boat with their legs. This proved a painful lesson for them.  Many afternoons I would climb on…