What does sailing mean to you? Down deep.

[sailingseadragon]

Claud Worth said best.....

While he was speaking of the lure of the sea, I think it is true of sailing and the sea...."It is as hard to describe the fascination of the sea as to explain the beauty of a woman, for, to each man, either it is self-evident, or no argument can help him see it."Claud Worth 1926Yacht Cruising, 3rd ed.Great thread!

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

When I first saw a painting ot the Flying Cloud

Don't remember exactly when, sometime when I was a kid, something stirred in me. Told my mom I had to have that picture to hang in my room(she found prints of the Cutty Sark and Flying Cloud somewhere that I still have 50 yrs later). Something magnificent about those great sailing ships when they had all the canvas up.I don't know but when the wind is up and the spray flying there is no way to describe it except pure bliss.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The never-ending maintenance requirements.

as Henk wrote, are another reason, in addition to everything you've all noted, that keeps me very interested.Wow, I actually could learn to fix things - my mother wouldn't have believed it and my father would have been proud. By doing all these things, I feel much safer because when, not if, it hits the fan, I can deal with.Now, getting me to work around the house?????

 

[CharlieCobra]

Ok, I looked and dreamed about sailing long ago.

Then life happened along with eight kids and two marriages. Just over two years ago, I bought this little V-21, cleaned it up and put it on the lake. It had a hidden hole that day, the keel was stuck up and we almost sank but I was kinda hooked. After 18 months of sailing in all kinds of conditions, I got the big boat. On the delivery trip, we got caught in un-forecasted Force 11 conditions. The trip was amazing, the adrenaline high and the hook firmly set. With all of the wild things I've done over the years, from CAFE racing to Skydiving, NOTHING compared with the peace and satisfaction of this. I didn't want the trip to end.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Always wanted to....

I've always wanted to sail since the day I stayed on a farm with a boyhood friend. This place had a small scummy pond filled with chub fish and he had rigged a sail onto a raft made from an old truck inner tube. No real control but it was cool anyway to a 7 year-old. My first mate could swim after a fashon but was always afraid if the water was deeper than 2 feet. While I convinced her to come out a couple of times on my little Snark 11-footer, she never got really at ease until I had sold off the 17 O'day and gone to a V21. In the few years we've had this one and some pretty fun trips to other lakes as well as Florida bays, I now can hear her say on any dreary day that it's taking too long to warm up enough for us to go sailing(I think: "my work here is done") and I've finally converted her as well.

 

[NautiDuck]

A differrnt world

Our lake is 25 minutes and a world away from home. Just being on the water is relaxing and takes the pressures of every day life away.Like Stu, I love to work on the boat, do maintenance, add new items, etc.This last year we began cruising in the San Juans. It has added a whole new element and a new sense of adventure.

 

[T37 Phil]

Popular sentiment

"I have my finger on the pulse of escapism." -Jimmy Buffett-My reasons are lost in a vast emptiness.

 

[Andy1237]

If you have to ask you really don't know

Sounds trite, and we could wax poetic and discuss in volumes. Some times I call it therapy for the soul, cure for addiction. It's escapism for some and reality for others. Its my thing for one reason and your reason for another. Lets leave this for the sociologists to study while we go sailing!

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Thanks to everybody for your thoughts.

I guess with the nice people, interesting boats and wonderful nature that sailing has brought my way, the most simple way to say it is that I just feel very LUCKY! Andy, when I posted question, There was four inches of snow out my door,I had just sat down after a 12 hour work day and the inquiry WAS an invitation to wax poetic and discuss in volumes should anybody care to. Speaking of lucky, watch out RichH if I ever win the Lotto big, I'm gonna have the Hinckley fairy drop ya a teak decked SW70 in your favorite color at your dock! Really. Thanks for all you do. Lance