Sailing Is…

Sailing is a Bit Like Marmite

Speak to someone who’s been sailing before and you’ll find they’ll fall into one of two camps…. They will either shake their heads and say “well, I didn’t really enjoy it very much,” or you will see their eyes begin to sparkle as they describe how much they love it. You see sailing is a bit like Marmite; you either love it or you don’t.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not always an instant reaction brought on by that first day out on the water, but for those that give the sport some time, it can grow into a fierce passion that becomes part of a lifestyle.

So if sailing isn’t for everyone, who exactly is it for, and could it be for you if you’ve never tried it before?

What exactly is it about sailing?

Sailing Is…

… a love of the sea, of being in water, of swimming and snorkelling and a fascination for what lies beneath. But more than that, it’s a love of the great outdoors, of wind and sunshine and rain on your face, the smell of the brine and the sound of lapping waves, the splash of a fish; the love of nature.

It’s a love of being active, of venturing outside and doing something, of coming home at the end of the day fresh faced and glowing and tired because you’ve done something extraordinary instead of sitting around or following routine. It’s exercise the natural way, not by way of 2 hours in the gym, but the way it’s meant to be, just by virtue of living.

Sailing is…

… a feeling of freedom, of giving yourself some time & space to just slow down your hectic life and take a look around you; of being far enough from the land and all its trappings to have escaped.

It’s a love of simplicity, of a life where wants and needs take on a new perspective and where ultimately there’s just you, the boat, the wind and the waves, and whatever else you’ve managed to stash in your bilges to help you out when things get tough. It’s self sufficiency and having the confidence to deal…no matter what.

Sailing is…

… constantly changing; when you step aboard you know that today will be a new adventure, not like yesterday or last week, and not like the adventure you’ll have tomorrow; and it’s constantly challenging. Every change in the weather, the wind, the waves, the boat, even in you, brings a new puzzle to solve, a new decision to make and a new lesson to learn.

Sailing is lifelong learning, and learning for life, and learning how to stay alive.

Sailing is…

… about romance and adventure, of discovering new lands, new people, cultures and crops; of pirate stories and buried treasure. It’s about arriving and knowing you’ve earned the right to be there.

It’s camaraderie, it’s meeting in the bar at the end of a race, or sharing a sundowner in a remote cove; it’s knowing if you ask for help then a fellow sailor will be there to give advice and lend a hand.

Sailing is…

… wild squalls and sunsets and water so blue it doesn’t seem real.  It’s about being glad to be alive and here on this beautiful earth, and no, sailing’s not for everyone…

…Thankfully

Please leave your comments on what sailing means to you…

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