Sailing is more than "just a skill." It’s a life-and-death adventure every time you go out, and if you have even one smidgen of smarts in your head, you know you have to be prepared every time you go
In the first part of this article/story - the list - I beleive it started way too late! Sailors indeed are different in all those ways. But the list starts way earlier in time. We love what we do and are planning / thinking more than a week in advance. Our heads are always wrapped around the weather and the four or five apps that claim to know the winds. For me, before I even get out of bed the day of, I'm already at the dock or beach planning my tacks to get out or off and what tack to my first destination. I've already seen my craft return and know my fenders will be to port etc. etc.. Oh, if the wind forecast changes, I get to replan and enjoy all the new visions! I like to think sailors play in the fifth dimension, much like musicians and master chess players. We swim in what is coming and what we are going to do with it!
Good thoughts - thanks for your thoughtful comments - you have really excellent points!! Meat for another article - since I felt my list was already long, I chose to keep it for just that sail. I love the fifth dimension idea!
Angela, you had me at, "there's just something about them." I too beleive I can see a sailor a mile away - often it is just in my head. But anywhere near water and I'd put money on who I'm beleiving is! And for whatever it is worth, from your list, I'd love to have the hair problem - it was there once upon a time
LOL - that's funny! And yeh - something about sailors! Same thing with surfers - they have that Something, too. Where do you sail out of? And I meant to say before - you're not just a sailor, you're an AVID sailor - fifth dimension, indeed!
it is indeed a skill..and one that takes a long time to become proficient at, and way longer to master. "just a skill" is a ridiculous statement.
So many different skills are needed, and most trips will teach you something new.
the first time you find yourself out of sight of land with many days to reach the next landfall is a standout moment. You know you had better do it all and do it right. The boat becomes a community unto itself.
Finding your destination with a sextant, arriving just about when you estimated and within a few miles of the target is s feeling that cannot be conveyed with words.
Coming through a violent storm at night, ditto.
"Hours of boredom, moments of terror." seems appropriate here.
And then there is , " like standing in an icy shower tearing up 100 dollar bills" which can also apply.
There is so much to learn, that one lifetime is hardly enough.
Great story and well written. Thank you for sharing it.
In the first part of this article/story - the list - I beleive it started way too late! Sailors indeed are different in all those ways. But the list starts way earlier in time. We love what we do and are planning / thinking more than a week in advance. Our heads are always wrapped around the weather and the four or five apps that claim to know the winds. For me, before I even get out of bed the day of, I'm already at the dock or beach planning my tacks to get out or off and what tack to my first destination. I've already seen my craft return and know my fenders will be to port etc. etc.. Oh, if the wind forecast changes, I get to replan and enjoy all the new visions! I like to think sailors play in the fifth dimension, much like musicians and master chess players. We swim in what is coming and what we are going to do with it!
Good thoughts - thanks for your thoughtful comments - you have really excellent points!! Meat for another article - since I felt my list was already long, I chose to keep it for just that sail. I love the fifth dimension idea!
Angela, you had me at, "there's just something about them." I too beleive I can see a sailor a mile away - often it is just in my head. But anywhere near water and I'd put money on who I'm beleiving is! And for whatever it is worth, from your list, I'd love to have the hair problem - it was there once upon a time
LOL - that's funny! And yeh - something about sailors! Same thing with surfers - they have that Something, too. Where do you sail out of? And I meant to say before - you're not just a sailor, you're an AVID sailor - fifth dimension, indeed!
it is indeed a skill..and one that takes a long time to become proficient at, and way longer to master. "just a skill" is a ridiculous statement.
So many different skills are needed, and most trips will teach you something new.
the first time you find yourself out of sight of land with many days to reach the next landfall is a standout moment. You know you had better do it all and do it right. The boat becomes a community unto itself.
Finding your destination with a sextant, arriving just about when you estimated and within a few miles of the target is s feeling that cannot be conveyed with words.
Coming through a violent storm at night, ditto.
"Hours of boredom, moments of terror." seems appropriate here.
And then there is , " like standing in an icy shower tearing up 100 dollar bills" which can also apply.
There is so much to learn, that one lifetime is hardly enough.
Regards
Adios
Rick Pratt