What's all this about being one with the boat!
- Thread starter Nostrodamus
- Start date
rotrax
Well-known member
The lack of aprehension-the " butterflies " if you like-were what made me retire from motorcycle racing.
I was not getting the BUZZ that you need to be on top of your game. After 40 odd years it was just not there.
Sailing became a new challenge. Its fair to say that every time we slip the warps its a learning curve.
Preparing for and making a passage is certainly giving both of us the adrenaline rush.
Nostrodamus
New member
Could it have been that after 40 years your bike was getting a little old for the circuit and needed updating? :encouragement:
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Some people are natural born sailors.
It comes to others as they build experience.
Others never 'get it' despite being technically proficient.
And then there are people who should have bought a camper-van.
Nostrodamus
New member
Tried the last one.. it sunk
pmagowan
Well-known member
I often feel 'at one' with my boat but for many different reasons. It is a wooden boat and I restored it myself, touching every last square inch of her. I felt 'at one' with her over that winter when she was in our shed and I was removing bits and adding bits, cutting out rot, splicing in new wood, rewiring, sanding, varnishing etc. We had had a family tragedy and it really got my head into something else where I could switch off entirely and just focus on getting her back to full working order.
Then there are other the other times, like when we got our new sails up for the first time and goose-winged down Kerrera sound in the sunshine with G@Ts in hand, a preventer on and the spinaker pole keeping the jib out. Or, different again, coming down the sound of Isla in a gusting force 9 through awful seas, strapped to the mainsheet traveler with waves breaking over her until we rounded the corner into Port Ellen for a well deserved pint and a curry. Oddly I have felt pretty 'at one' when stormbound on board with the new anchor holding fast, whisky in hand, playing Gin Rummy on the little teak table I made for the cabin in the light of our miners lamps. Most recently was on the way back from our summer cruise when I discovered Christopher Bungy who took the tiller while I had a steak supper in the shimmering twilight sailing on into darkness and then Glenarm. I always feel a bit more 'at home' when at sea on a boat.
Then there are other the other times, like when we got our new sails up for the first time and goose-winged down Kerrera sound in the sunshine with G@Ts in hand, a preventer on and the spinaker pole keeping the jib out. Or, different again, coming down the sound of Isla in a gusting force 9 through awful seas, strapped to the mainsheet traveler with waves breaking over her until we rounded the corner into Port Ellen for a well deserved pint and a curry. Oddly I have felt pretty 'at one' when stormbound on board with the new anchor holding fast, whisky in hand, playing Gin Rummy on the little teak table I made for the cabin in the light of our miners lamps. Most recently was on the way back from our summer cruise when I discovered Christopher Bungy who took the tiller while I had a steak supper in the shimmering twilight sailing on into darkness and then Glenarm. I always feel a bit more 'at home' when at sea on a boat.
Sandy
Well-known member
And the lack of cycle clips 200NM offshore!
rotrax
Well-known member
At the time I packed it in-2008-I rode in four meetings, three different disiplines.
I had a rostrum in an International Twisty Sprint, a win, two seconds and a last place in a Speedway, a rostrum in a road race at Darley Moor, and a rostrum at Curborough, another Twisty Sprint.
I rode three bikes, they all went pretty well.
One bike I had the privilege of riding was made in 1926.
It had a fully documented history since it was built, it won many, many Brooklands Gold Stars, awarded for lapping at 100MPH or more during a race, and I managed 120MPH on it at the end of a standing start half mile.
As you suggest, it HAD been updated. For example, it used modified Kawasaki pistons and the connecting rods and crankshaft had been improved way beyond the capabilities of the origionals.
To put a different meaning to an old Trueism-" There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle!"
Nostrodamus
New member
Rotrax,
Genuine respect to you.
Anyone in any professional sport not only has to have talent but a commitment way beyond anything that the average person has.
I had a very good friend now sadly dead who was a top class professional speedway rider. I tried it once but it scarred me silly.
Genuine respect to you.
Anyone in any professional sport not only has to have talent but a commitment way beyond anything that the average person has.
I had a very good friend now sadly dead who was a top class professional speedway rider. I tried it once but it scarred me silly.
rotrax
Well-known member
AH-I was never quite professional-that indicates earning ones living at it.
At best I was getting expenses paid, and a little back to keep the bikes up.
Respect for trying Speedway. Riding Speedway is all in the mind. Many top riders never held a license for a streetbike.
The bikes are designed to work at big throttle openings. If you can give them plenty, they turn quite easily.
Fixing this in ones mind sounds simple, but in practice........................................
Nostrodamus
New member
Like boats they also don't have brakes!!!!!!