This was maybe the best date I've ever had. I matched with a sailor on Hinge who talked up his boat and how much he liked Champagne. So much in common already: I love wine, including the bubbly kind, and people who have boats. He offered to sail me around the San Francisco Bay, and while I can't wholeheartedly endorse this as a first-date activity because of the obvious and inherent danger, I threw the rule book out and said yes anyway.
I'm here to tell you it was epic. He taught me how to "tack," which is a sailing term meaning do exactly what the captain says and retain none of the information after the experience. He also taught me words like "port" and "starboard" and let me steer. If you're even a little bit clever with words, sailing is a flirtation environment goldmine. Everything is flirty including calling the other person captain, talking about safety, tying knots, I could go on. I realize this could have gone horribly wrong and does not meet my criteria for a first date only lasting an hour or giving yourself an easy exit, but sometimes you break the rules and end up with a great date story.
