Always sports-minded, she tried her hand at windsurfing for two years, but that didn't satisfy her. Then she remembered her father's love of sailing and decided to give it a try. Many years before he had introduced her to sailing -- he had always wanted a son to share the joys of outdoor sports. 

"I was his boy," she added with a laugh. 

But in most ways, Muriel Fultz, has led a traditional female life--at least until she took up sailing. She bore five children and was a housewife -- "you can't find anyone to baby-sit with that many kids" -- lived with her family in landlocked Kansas for 25 years -- "my wilderness experience" -- worked in sales jobs, started her own wholesale jewelry business, cared for an aging mother and aunt, and then retired. 

That's when she decided to buy a sailboat. 

"I finally had enough money to do it," she said. "And I wasn't about to sit around doing nothing." 

 A smart shopper 

For several months she went out on weekend sails with boat owners trying to decide if their boat was the one for her. She shopped around, but it wasn't until she laid eyes on the then-new 1994 Corsair 27 trimaran that she felt she had finally found her ideal. 

"At my age, it's not good to buy a used boat," she said. "There's too much maintenance, too much that could go wrong and too many things I still did not understand about boats." 

All that would change within a short time. She has always considered herself mechanically inclined and now she gets countless opportunities to prove it, fixing working components on her boat. She also tackles the basic maintenance of her vessel--her sidetie location at the marina allows for her to jump overboard and do her own monthly hull and bottom scrubbing. Another basic chore she undertakes herself is waxing the boat - "it helps it stay clean and fast."

And to Muriel, speed is important. When she ventures out into San Diego Bay she looks for three things in order to call a day complete: speed, safety and a positive social experience. She appreciates crewmembers who contribute to the sailing adventure; the teamwork involved is crucial to her enjoyment. She's not opposed to taking "green" sailors on board, but some day sailors just do not have what it takes.

A tough captain 

As the captain of her vessel, she said she automatically evaluates whoever's on board. But early on she wasn't nearly as tough a captain as she is now. 

"I have a real problem with people who don't listen. If they don't listen to me, they don't come on board again." 

The reason for her strictness is well founded. Despite the ease with which she navigates and sails, certain tasks are easier with strong, able-bodied crewmembers aboard. Her boat was designed to be raced, and knowing that the equipment was built for strength and speed gives her a lot of confidence. But sometimes a helping hand with winching up the main is much appreciated. 

The physical layout of the trimaran helps her out, as well. From her spot at the helm, she can reach and react to almost any situation; roller furling for the Jenny and main helps overcome any strength issues. She has nothing but accolades for her Corsair, the Corsair Company and the sales team who helped her choose and learn the idiosyncrasies of her vessel, but learning a whole new sport (and new way of life) didn't happen in the showroom. 

Learning to sail was fairly easy for her once she overcame the terminology -- that seemed to give her more trouble than learning the concepts of wind. She signed up for sailing lessons at a San Diego sailing school and after completion of the course, began to venture forth on her own. 

But not without incidents. 

"Oh, I've bumped a few boats in my time," she said. "In fact, I put a hole in a boat with one of my 'floats' (also referred to as pontoons), but that's why I have really good insurance." 

Caught in a storm 

Only during one trip did she begin to wonder whether she would have to file an insurance claim on her own boat, Tri-Oomph. Her most frightening sailing adventure so far came when she and her youngest son were bringing the boat back up from dry dock in Mexico. Starting out later in the day than they
expected because the boat wasn't ready, the two began the return trip as evening was coming on. The weather quickly took a bad turn, the waves began to build and they found themselves in the middle of a storm. 

They weren't making the time they had expected; by dark, they still were off the coast in Mexican waters. Thinking they spotted a familiar landmark, the crew of two brought the boat closer to the shoreline. 

"The first thing I knew, we were in the surf...two huge waves about 10 to15 feet hit us head on and crashed into the cockpit. I remember Chris saying, 'Mom, I think we're goners.' But as it turned out, it wasn't an impossible situation because we made it -- but it sure had us going for awhile there." 

Another frequent crewmember, Shannon Graybau, 50, said she's learned a lot from Muriel because she is "competent and has a lot of patience." 

"We were out sailing last week in some pretty strong wind," Shannon said. "It was pretty hairy out there, and she looked over and asked me if I was ever afraid with her. I said, 'No, are you? I think we're doing fine' and she said, 'Not a bit. This is when it gets really exciting' That's just the way she is." 

In fact, Muriel said, on a typical day sail, fear does not normally enter her mind. 

Safety at sea 

Muriel has sailed to Catalina Island; north to Dana Point, Long Beach and Marina Del Rey; south as far as Ensenada, Mexico; and, hundreds of times in San Diego Bay. And, she has learned that many times it is safer to be out in the ocean than to be close to land. 

"I'd rather be far enough out...out in the wind, so that if you get into trouble, all you really have to do is just reef your sails and bounce around until it stops. It's less likely you'll have trouble out there, than if you're in a marina trying to maneuver around. Everybody watches you when you're trying to get around inside and everybody kids you about it afterward." 

Many sailors know that feeling. But with "practice, practice, practice," Muriel continues to learn and grow as a sailor. Others have noticed her progress, too. 

"As a woman who has sailed the South Seas and all points in between, I've seen a lot of women handle boats," said Anne Wayman, 57, of San Diego. "I'm astounded at how easily Muriel moves her boat around. I've watched her during the past three years; it's been amazing to watch how she's grown from a tentative novice sailor to a competent skipper in such a short time. For a woman of her age...well, she could be an inspiration to us all." 

And Muriel's not about to give up that role. Only poor health will force her out of the cockpit, she said, and only then when she no longer feels competent at the helm. 

"Sailing makes life exciting," she said. "It's the uncertainty of it all that keeps you going back out. It's well worth the chances you take. The wind has a mind of its own -- you have to learn to look for it, then capture it, then use it. All sailors know that." 

Miss Muriel