What's the point in sailing?

[demonboy]

What\'s the point in sailing?

Just wondered. For me it's the fresh breeze, the smell of salt, the challenge, scaring my self s***less, the sunsets, the post-sail toddy and lying about how big that breaker was. Thing is I have many friends who simply cannot see the attraction and I just wondered what is it about sailing that makes you do it?

 

[Koeketiene]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

The freedom.
Once I'm out there the "world" seems a lifetime away.
Trouble is, the more I sail, the harder I find it to come ashore again (mentally).

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Can't say really.
As I day sail on a lake all the 'big adventure' scenarios don't apply. I think it's just being able to concentrate on something so tranquil and satisfying for a few hours. In, of course, beautiful surroundings.
It's the moment you turn off the motor and the sails power up, or you drop the mooring chain and the sails fill, if the wind's right for an engineless cruise.
I just go up and round and down and back. I get loads of pleasure from just beating up the channel behind Belle Isle with the wind on the nose, or just ghosting along as the sun goes away for the night.
There isn't a point. It's just a pleasure.

 

[Salty John]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Yeh, that's what I thought. So I switched to a power boat a couple of years ago.

 

[Magic]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Easy one!

It's NOT spending 4 hours commuting a day, it's NOT spending the day shut in the office, it's NOT looking at a computer screen, it's NOT wanting something different!

It IS freedom, it IS getting away from it all, it IS fun, exciting, and new everytime.

 

[Cornishman]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

I agree. And it is being able to get from one place to another without firing up the infernal combustion engine - and that is not a typo.

 

[DonMunro]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

'cos the people you don't like and who don't like you don't like sailing, so you're either alone or with people you like, simple

 

[graham]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Getting more in touch with the natural world.

enjoying the solitude of singlehanding.

Enjoying the company of likeminded people when sailing with others.

 

[Stemar]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

It's that moment when we get out of the harbour. The sails start to draw and we stop the engine. Jissel heels over and comes alive then and so do I (heeling optional).

Then it's the peace of a quiet anchorage after a perfect day as the sun goes down along with the level in the bottle.

Then it's blatting up through the overfalls above Hurst with 8 knots on the GPS of a Snapdragon 24.

Then it's the good humoured rowdiness of the Folly on a Saturday night

Then it's .... well, most of it really

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Satisfaction:

Of watching the sun come crawling up over the horizon in the morning, arc its way across the sky, and set in a blaze of gold in the evening. MOBO's already home, so misses it.

Of watching dolphins between the hulls of our catamaran, and the kids yelling "Their breath stinks of fish!" Few MOBOs have twin hulls, or dawdle about at dolphin friendly speed.

Of having a merchant vessel slow down for you. Not often I admit, but it has happened.

Of switching off the electronics and watching your destination appear on-the-nose.

Of doing it all quietly.

We'll still be doing it when petrol and diesel are nought but folk memories.

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

Sunrise
Sunset
Starry Nights
Mist hanging around an anchorage
No traffic jams
Relaxed pace of life

 

[Peppermint]

Re: For some

it appears to be getting down to the boat and switching on the interfaced nav instruments. Getting your radio check in. Solving a connectivity problem between the forward looking sonar and the radar/plotter screen. Answering your mobile. Trying to get the Ebersbacher to fire up. Answering your mobile. Emailing home to say you've arrived onboard. Asking all and sundry what the weather forecast is. Check your tides on your PDA, answer your mobile, and cross checking the tide result on your plotter. Climbing into your goretex. Missing the forecast because of the rustling of goretex. Answering your mobile. Having another look at the weather on the WiFi laptop. Dealing with a couple of urgent emails that appeared when you hooked up. Check where " Red Eagle" is on AIS. Set off and two hours later trying to raise Cowes yacht haven on 16 so that you can worry about rafting up procedures.

Now that's what I call getting away from it all and communing with nature.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: For some

Peppermint, you should see my post above.

 

[bluepippa]

Re: For some

Peppermint....

Depends on what you want to get out of it... Sounds like you get your buzz from all the gadgets.. as for me, the gadgets are there if I need them, but whats better than switching it all off, having a quick look at the charts and then just pointing the boat in the direction you want to go, and just GOING.

There are those that like "going" and there are those that like "getting" one type sails the other motors.

 

[Eightball]

Re: What\'s the point in sailing?

hi my day sailing is 1 up at 05.30 down to boat sun just breaking call up cg login and then which ever way wind is blowing let her go sit back till the sun gos down then head for home with a nice glass of the cold stuff .what do i get out of this another world.

 

[iangrant]

Re: For some

nice wind up peppermint!!

cheers

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Ah!

You must be new to these parts.