It made little difference, however, for John was headstrong, and would have been pretty certain to disregard whatever he might say.
It was true that this was not the first time John had been in a sailboat; but if not the first, it was only the second.

The first occasion had been three years previous, and at that time he had had nothing to do with the management of the boat--a very important matter.

It was in John's nature to be over-confident, and he thought he understood merely from observation exactly how a boat ought to be managed.

As we shall see, he found out his mistake.
The first day after his boat was ready John was greatly disappointed that there was no wind.

The next day, as if to make up for it, the wind was very strong.