On a nice day; open water, blowing 10 to 15, sure - everybody is sailing.
But there's a boundary or something around rivers, wide channels, easily navigated inlets, entrances to anchorages and broad - easily sailed thoroughfares, that turns most sailboats into power boats. Sails drop at this boundary sure as the sun will set.
It doesn't bother me to see other boats not sailing in these 'no sailing' areas (that's pompous). It's not for everybody.
Almost as much as sailing in these 'no sail' areas, I enjoy watching other boats sail through, then asking myself, 'why do they do it?'
It doesn't seem to be the kind of sailboat. New, old, easy to sail, not so easy to sail, there doesn't appear to be a connection.
And performance: Fast, slow, doesn't make a difference. I remember this old Tancook Whaler (a 100 year old fishing boat design), was the only boat to sail into a tricky anchorage.
And the captain (alone), did it with ease.
If not the boat, then why?
One reason is clear; these sailors are at ease sailing their boats. When you leave the clear air of open water, the wind can become finicky and the sailing, challenging. These sailors - I think - like the challenge and in fact may look for those conditions.
At times I think this experience and skill with their boats, can be taken as arrogance. I'm convinced it's not. I think of it as more of an invitation to join them.
About a dozen boats came into Pulpit Harbor on this afternoon. Here's to the only one, a Sabre 34, that sailed in. I wonder why?
But there's a boundary or something around rivers, wide channels, easily navigated inlets, entrances to anchorages and broad - easily sailed thoroughfares, that turns most sailboats into power boats. Sails drop at this boundary sure as the sun will set.
It doesn't bother me to see other boats not sailing in these 'no sailing' areas (that's pompous). It's not for everybody.
Almost as much as sailing in these 'no sail' areas, I enjoy watching other boats sail through, then asking myself, 'why do they do it?'
It doesn't seem to be the kind of sailboat. New, old, easy to sail, not so easy to sail, there doesn't appear to be a connection.
And performance: Fast, slow, doesn't make a difference. I remember this old Tancook Whaler (a 100 year old fishing boat design), was the only boat to sail into a tricky anchorage.
And the captain (alone), did it with ease.
If not the boat, then why?
One reason is clear; these sailors are at ease sailing their boats. When you leave the clear air of open water, the wind can become finicky and the sailing, challenging. These sailors - I think - like the challenge and in fact may look for those conditions.
At times I think this experience and skill with their boats, can be taken as arrogance. I'm convinced it's not. I think of it as more of an invitation to join them.
About a dozen boats came into Pulpit Harbor on this afternoon. Here's to the only one, a Sabre 34, that sailed in. I wonder why?