Found this a few years ago
ONE MAN'S OPINION September 16, 1997Cruising World August 1995 I can no longer remain silent. At first I thought itwas just a few eccentrics, but I am now afraidthat I am beginning to see a pattern. I think thatthe final straw was the recent article I read onsailing in fog that said that if I didn't have a radaron my boat, perhaps I had misappropriated myboating budget. I must confess: I have no radar. Not only do I not have a radar, but I have nointentions of buying one. My new gear prioritieslist does not even contain this item.I must go on: I do not have a GPS. Can youimagine that I actually sail - even cruise - withoutone?There's more. I do not have roller furling. Yes,that's right. I actually have more than one jiband what is more, I have to hank it on - one hankat a time - every time I go sailing. Wait! Whenthe wind is up and the seas build I actually goforward, on the top of the deck and - now get this- change to a different jib. Can you believe thatanyone can be so primitive?More. My only electronics are a Loran (recentlypurchased), a speed/log, a depthsounder and acheap VHF. Yes, I will admit it. My VHF is a lowpriced model! Furthermore, my electronics arenot interlinked or whatever fancy jargonaficionados use to indicate that their electronicstalk to each other. No, I do not have ananemometer. At times I can be caught standingon deck estimating the wind speed. I even go sofar as to make sail changes based on the boat'ssailing characteristics. I have never told anyonethis, but I am ready to bare all: I don't have anapparent wind indicator. I am not lying. We usea piece of - I am so embarrassed - a piece ofcassette tape tied to the shroud. I do believe itwas from "Smurfs Do the Whitbread" orsomething like that.At any rate, we survive and make port withoutcalling for assistance. We enjoy wonderfulmeals cooked on the Weber that hangs off thestern pulpit and corn on the cob cooked on, of allthings, an alcohol stove.I could go on and on. By now you must havefigured out that my boat is OLD (1973). Heavenforbid!It's hard to imagine that I could enjoy sailingunder these abominable conditions, but the truthis that I am as addicted as the guy who has allthe equipment. I am proud to say that my boat isnot a marina queen - she lives on a mooring -from which it is easier to sail her. Her name isTrav'ler and I make sure she lives up to hername.We have lost sight of what this sport is all about. We have lost sight of nature, of ourselves, andour God, unless your God is powered by 12volts. Mine is not. Once - and I remember this -an RDF was considered a luxury. I remember atrip in fog so thick (you know the cliché) and wemade it home with nothing more than acompass, a depthsounder, a sumlog and a VHF. Once we even did a fog run without the sumlog,as it had broken. We just estimated our speed. I know my boat so well that I could estimate herspeed within a fraction of a knot. Whattremendous satisfaction there is in reaching yourport using the true skills of a seaman.We often hear the lament of how nonsailorsperceive our sport to be one that is reserved forthe wealthy. Is it any wonder when we readarticles about how we all should have radar, orhow our latest mast project only cost $1,200? These are elitist statements made by peoplewho know nothing about the lives most of us live. Sailing can be done safely and enjoyably on abudget and I feel it is about time that those of uswho sail on a budget speak up.Joe HigginsCrystal Lake, Illinois