(BEOWULF PRESS – SETSAIL.COM, 2005; 1.5 HOUR DVD; $12.95)
REVIEW BY SUSAN LYNN KINGSBURY
Do you dream of sailing? Maybe you’re a seasoned sailor . . . or a novice who simply loves the water and the very thought of sailing. The only prerequisite you’ll need to enjoy this DVD is a desire to experience the sights and sounds of sailing the open sea.
“If you’re stuck behind the desk but yearn for the sights and sounds of the open ocean, this DVD was designed for you,” Linda Dashew states. Linda and her husband, Steve, filmed the scenes for Sailing Dreams while cruising over 200,000 miles.
Meant to “soothe, invigorate, and inspire,” sections include Beowulf, Australs, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Marquesas to San Diego. If you want to relax, it’s recommended that you set Sailing Dreams to Beowulf and Fiji to enjoy the rustling of the sails and rush of water as you cut through the sea on your sailing vessel. The colorful spinnaker against the white sails and blue sky is a sight to see. And if you look forward to more exciting footage, the Australs or Tonga sections fit the bill, with rougher seas and salt spray you’ll swear you can feel on your face.
This “sailing movie” (sailing scenes sans plot) is perfect as background, playing on a big screen TV at parties, or for watching before falling into a peaceful slumber at night. You’ll be treated to a multitude of views encompassing incredible scenery, from every imaginable angle. Just when you least expect it, a sunset fills the screen with awesome oranges and pinks. You might want to hit the freeze frame so you can enjoy the sight just a few seconds longer.
What’s lacking? I wanted to feel the wind as it blew — strong gusts or small puffs. I wished to feel the hot penetrating sun of Tahiti or the rain the thunderheads promised to deliver on my skin. To imagine the swaying of the vessel as she gracefully flew over miles of ocean just wasn’t enough. I wanted to be there — adjusting the mainsail or rolling out the jib.
Perhaps the Dashews’ objective was to entice the observer to want more. If that’s the case, they definitely accomplish their goal with this DVD.
