Why a boat? is a fair question, and one usual quick answer is, "why not a boat"
Aha! got me again, remember if you don't like the answer, ask a better question. Okay, how about this question, "why take a boat for a cruise instead of taking a car and camping?" Now were getting somewhere;
WHY A BOAT?
Spending most of our lives on land, a boat, at least for me, offers wide open spaces, freedom, and much more. The journey is my desire, my wish, my goal, the destination is simply a mark on the chart, a mere way point in life. The boat is at once a complicated machine I must master, or at least control, and yet a simplistic drifting raft,or racing hydro-foil will also fill the bill. While journeying by water my mind is filled with the pressing matters at hand, what course is safe, what hazards lay ahead, are we drifting toward that menacing lee shore, will we clear the point, should we tack now or risk thin water, what is that new sound? motion? vibration? Looking ahead I see a rock, a quick glance at the gauge hints at the waters depth, the rock is gone, now it appears to one side, as we glide closer I see it has eyes and a nose. I feel a mariner's connection, and an urge to wave, but no response is forthcoming. Anxiously checking the depth again, I'm ready to start the motor; The wind shifts, the sails fill, a little gust, and the lines pull taut. Looking up the mast to the top, I see the wind-vane has changed direction and is pointing 90 degrees to starboard. The sails hanging like billowy white clouds floating above the boat are spilling wind, I let out the main sheet, and slack the jib. click on read more...
Green and red telltales stream flat on the sails indicating our trim is right. The boat picks up speed, cleanly slicing through smooth green water, we're in the groove, fairly flying, our rolling wake is a temporary marker of where we have been, an open message telling little and yet pointing our course for all to see. No longer in the currents unrelenting grip we will soon clear the point and be free of the deadly ship wrecking lee shore. The motor will stay idle, we will sail into the cove and anchor in time for a hike on shore, a hearty dinner, and then a relaxing sunset campfire on the beach. Now the sails luff, the wind has shifted and abandoned me, I trim the sheets, but the telltales hang limp, the boat slows. I glance at the looming shore, and then check the depth, we may not make the cove after all. Should I start the motor? Looking around for hazards, I see more heads turned towards me, The connection feels stronger, I give a dismissive wave, they know the wind has left me behind. Without any wind we lose headway and soon steerage, we are drifting backwards; ever so slowly the boat is getting closer to the rocky shore and certain doom, I check the depth. Looking out over the surrounding waters I see kelp and seaweed; pockets of debris from the last storm are floating in little flotillas of waste. Loose halyards suddenly slap the mast, the rigging strains and flexes signaling a swell rolling the boat, I scan the water for danger, and look for what caused the commotion, what set off the the alarms, then I see it, a small boat far off in the distance has sent us a message with their wake, more weaker messages follow and then they are gone. I check the depth and glance towards shore.
Fast forward to the cove; The burnt orange sun silently slipping below the horizon is marking the end of a wonderful day. I'm enjoying a glass of fine Pinot or a cool drink by a campfire on the beach. My trusty yacht is peacefully anchored 150 feet off shore or possibly tied tranquilly to the dock just a few steps away. Later after dark while waiting for sleep to overtake me my thoughts will be of the day gone by and what tomorrow will bring.
Why not a boat!
Best, John
