Favourite moments every time I go sailing

I don't think there's anything new I can add to the list, but one of my most memorable and favourite experiences goes back about 13 years to a cold February evening on the Solent - coming through the Needles and up to Yarmouth, standing in the companionway with my hand-scawled pilot plan in hand, spotting the next light, whilst beside my feet the oven slowly roasted a chicken and potatos with the warm air wafting up to where I was. Tied up in Yarmouth, rowed ashore to the pub for a quick couple, and then back for a slap up roast, a drop of wine and bed...

What a memorable Day Skipper course that was...
 
1. Dolphins, anytime anywhere.
2. Beautiful anchorages.
3. Really dark starlit nights with crystal clear visibilty.
4. Sailing straight down the moonbeam.
5. Sailing at night with the phosphorescence streaming out astern.
6. Watching even more phosphorescence as the dolphins or the mackerel arrive.
7. Sailing effortlessly at or near hull speed in moderate winds, upright and lounging on the cockpit side in 'position A'.
8. Passing effortlessy by bigger and more expensive boats, especially when going upwind and pointing closer than they can only dream of....
9. Not for publication! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Feeling the warmth of the sun after a storm,
Shouting for joy as she rides the wave,
Cruising into habour at sunset,
Relaxing with friends over food, drink and a smoke.
Fresh coffee in bed the next morning,
and a good sh** in the woods.

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1. Dolphins, anytime anywhere.

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Not every time I go sailing; just once, but never forgotten. Night watch, about 2am. On the way from Scalloway to Stornoway. Ghosting along, nothing in sight. "Humph!" from the side of the cockpit. Turned round to find a dolphin with its head right out of the water looking straight at me.
 
I just love dolphins, even the ones I thought were rocks in the water when approaching land and looking for a buoy marking rocks one dirty night pre GPS!

Met a French guy years ago again pre GPS/Deccas who flew a dophin pennant because he swore they chased him off the rocks he was sailing towards in the fog - they kept swiming straight at his bows until he turned away.

Robin
 
Two things in addition to most of the above are :-
a) The muted roar of the engine at around 3000 revs accompanied by the "swishing" sound as we cut through a gentle swell.
b) In a dinghy, drifting up or down a creek with the tide in late evening. The only sound being the wildfowl and perhaps a tractor in a distant field.
 
I think that was me, we were followed by a pod crossing to Ireland from about 2200z to 0230z tis in my log.

You can see perfect green outlines swimming 10ft down, the closest simile I can think of is when everything turns to computer code in the matrix, but far more beautiful.

You could see the dolphins swimming alongside with more clarity than in daylight, I just watched for hours the way they swam, rolled and disappeared into the depths.

It is so far the most beautiful and totally awesome sight I have ever seen, not just at sea, but anywhere.
 
i) Opening up and putting the kettle on.
ii) Shutting off the engine and letting the sails take the strain.
iii) Beautiful reverberation that runs throught he boat when she touches 7knts.
iv) Successfully mooring up in a new destination.
v) Sitting in the cockpit with a book and a beer, and never getting to read, coz it's too interesting watching the world go by.
vi) Getting the boat back on berth after a challenging trip. This one is a bit like sitting on the lip of the car boot after a great walk and taking the walking boots off.

I guess it can be summed up by saying that I generally enjoy being around the boat.

I know what you mean about the shower, but with a long journey home ahead of me I tend to have a freshener before leaving the boat.
 
I just love the physical reaction of being on our boat - I can actually feel my pulse rate slowing as soon as it's just me and him indoors out there on the water.

The wonderful contrast, of course, is the moments of excitement when you achieve things well or for the first time.

Sailing, you can't beat it!

Sue
 
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