Happy and gay

[westhinder]

Just being on a boat, any boat, is a good start
Next is the moment you switch off the engine and the sails take over. Setting up the boat so you get optimal performance for the circumstances. If on longer trips, settling into the watch system. Any visit from dolphins, sighting of seals, birds around the boat. The company of good crew, cooking and serving a wholesome dish on passage, seeing the sun go down and adapting to night modus. Reaching new destinations, but just as well revisiting familiar places. Finding a sheltered anchorage and enjoying an aperitif and meal in the cockpit, followed by a glass of something nice, accompanied by a good yarn, or carefree banter. Reaching a safe haven after a difficult passage, when you can let go of the tension and forget about any difficulties enroute. Discovering new cruising grounds, being impressed by the grandeur of the scenery. Sailing into your home port again after the voyage.
A manoeuvre wel executed, or having berthed in a difficult spot without hiccups, the confidence in your boat handling that builds up over a longer trip.
Being in a secure berth when it is blowing a hooley. Sitting inside warm and comfy while the rain rattles on deck.
Coming home and remembering all the above and the energy you derive from that. Thinking of your next visit to the boat, whether it is just pottering, daysailing or embarking on a more ambitious voyage.

What more do you need?

 

[Bajansailor]

@westhinder Johan, I think you nailed it absolutely there!
I shall save your wee essay above for future reference, as I would never be able to come up with something so succinct and accurate.

 

[Stemar]

Sitting in a quiet anchorage with Milady, watching the sun go down, a nice glass of something appropriate in hand...

 

[Poignard]

In addition to the pleasures of sailing so well described by Westhinder above, there is the satisfaction that comes from making a good job of a repair or improvement to your boat.

Especially if you haven't had to pay anyone ele to do it!

 

[johnalison]

In addition to the pleasures of sailing so well described by Westhinder above, there is the satisfaction that comes from making a good job of a repair or improvement to your boat.

Especially if you haven't had to pay anyone ele to do it!

Which unfortunately has its satanic counterpart in the job where you stand back after finishing to admire your work and find that it is crooked.

 

[zoidberg]

Which unfortunately has its satanic counterpart in the job where you stand back after finishing to admire your the boatyard's work and find that it is crooked.

I've amended that a tad, 'johnalison'. Hope you don't mind.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Which unfortunately has its satanic counterpart in the job where you stand back after finishing to admire your work and find that it is crooked.

An ingenious forumite has very recently posted one answer to that.

My wife was compelled to buy a Breton plotter for her day-skipper course. It has been banished from the chart table but did find its niche on one occasion when I needed a set square to align my clock and barometer. ...

,

 

[Wansworth]

@westhinder Johan, I think you nailed it absolutely there!
I shall save your wee essay above for future reference, as I would never be able to come up with something so succinct and accurate.

We have some poets about?

 

[Lightwave395]

Dolphins. We find the company of dolphins extremely satisfying.

Me too, lots of them, in this case halfway across Lyme Bay:

 

[Wansworth]

Satisfaction…..sitting in the cockpit having spent the day putting the boat in order,everything clean and tidy….and expectation of the next time you leave the mooring

 

[Mister E]

Havinga Shag on the boat.

 

[Wansworth]

Havinga Shag on the boat.

You mean like a Cormorant??

 

[Mister E]

You mean like a Cormorant??

I could not say.

 

[Hydrozoan]

As single moments, the feel of the boat heeling into the groove - and also a slight but characteristic tremor on its 'getting into a higher gear'. (I don't think there's a problem with the rudder!)

 

[LadyInBed]

I do not do stress.

 

[Blueboatman]

It’s all good but sometimes it’s very very good.

the best to me is leaving under sail, early in the morning on a fair tide , sailing all day with a variety of sails /amount of sail and arriving under sail.
If you just save your tide AND there’s a nice pub still open once the anchor is down , bonus ??

 

[LittleSister]

Which unfortunately has its satanic counterpart in the job where you stand back after finishing to admire your the boatyard's work and find that it is crooked.

I've amended that a tad, 'johnalison'. Hope you don't mind.

I reluctantly paid a boatyard to fit a radar reflector to a mast because I was doubtful about my ability to get it straight.

Guess what?

 

[capnsensible]

Sunday morning, nice breeze, sunny. Aboard a Jenneau 45.2, a type of boat I know very well. New owners, friends. Boat maneuvering practice in marina. Brisk sail outside for an hour checking everything works. My kind of day.

But that was this morning. Watching F1 now.

 

[Clancy Moped]

I do not do stress.

I don't suffer from stress, I'm just a carrier.

 

[John the kiwi]

Single handed - out for a couple of days and back to home base which is a marina in a very tidal estuary. The approach over the bar with a stonking good sea breeze can be a bit fraught. I did see 13 knots on the GPs under 2 reefs as i surfed over the bar once! Suddenly one is over the bar and making a right angle turn inside the sheltering sand banks. Down sails and on engine to chug a couple of miles up against the 4 knot out going tide, but now the water is smooth and barring engine failure one is home and dry! Break out a big grin of achievement and contentment.
So happy - yes. Gay- not so much! I had a school friend called Gay, and often wonder how she has fared since her name was appropriated by the homosexual community. Their misuse of that name has certainly caused a lot of pain and difficulty to a lot of innocent Gays.