Issue 16 : Jan/Feb 2001
We try to refrain from using the words “sport” and “sailing” in the same sentence, preferring instead the softer concept of “recreational activity” to the hard-core idea of “sport.” But in this case, the training-cum-deck-shoe fits, so I’ll wear it.
In sports, as in all things, there are levels of achievement. A jogger might aspire to run marathons or to achieve Olympic-team status. Or she might be content to run around the neighborhood for the adrenaline rush, for the increased heart rate, for the joy of running, for the health of it. As a runner, she chooses her level.
Running’s not for me. I tried. But biking brings a smile to my face every time. As with running, I could train for long-distance rides or races, the Tour de France, Olympic team selection. Or I could jump on my bike a couple of times a week and ride to the post office or the library, rather than driving there. I could pedal joyfully around either of a couple of nearby lakes, with no destination at all, and arrive home once again elated. I could appreciate the occasional bald eagle or great blue heron sightings as I rode, enjoy the wind on my face, and arrive healthier and more alive than when I left.
How is sailing different? I could train and race and aspire. There are big leagues for those who enjoy racing sailboats: Around Alone, Olympics, America’s Cup, Whitbread, even world-record passages earned for speed, age, gender, or some other criterion. And there are many very pleasurable ways to race sailboats locally and have a lot more fun.
As cruisers, we have our own big league. We are compelled to circumnavigate. Or are we? Must we have completed a bluewater voyage to be accepted in the club of hale and hearty sailing voyagers? Must we be preparing for such a voyage, or say at least that we are, in order to save face?
My response is no. My cruising ground is a delight for me; I enjoy every moment I’m on board and each exploration we undertake. I love the scenery, the ambiance, the other sailors, the medley of life and wildlife we experience while sailing. All this is possible right here in my own backyard (when it’s not frozen, of course). While I want to continually improve my skills, I feel it’s unnecessary to “train for a higher level of my sport” in order to impress others (both sailors and non-sailors). I’m having too much fun sailing every time I get the chance.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
