Reviewing those occasional moments of chaos — and bliss
Issue 68 : Sept/Oct 2009
In a frustrating moment during a mechanical refit on Pleiades, I sat wondering, “Why do I even own a boat?” My lack of an immediate answer worried me, so I gave it some serious thought. “Well, it must be fun,” I mused, as I stared at a sooty exhaust manifold lying across my knees . . .
We sail on the boundary between two vast and turbulent fluids in a sideways variation of flight, finding balance between opposing forces to hold a desired course. We enter this domain by choice but never solely on our own terms. Managing the occasional moments of chaos is essential to enjoying it.
For me, sailing is the source of many rewards: pride in my personal accomplishment and skill, the satisfaction that comes from choosing a boat wisely and handling it well, and a sense of belonging to a rich tradition of innovation and excellence. Nor can I overlook the access it affords to a world of overwhelming beauty and collapsing social distance.
A boat is also a thing of beauty, shaped by the demands of the sea and by human desire. A great boat represents the yearning for perfection. It is perhaps the ultimate expression of completeness: an earnest investment of dreams, skill, and resources. These qualities are palpable and can be breathtaking.
There really is no such thing as a universal boat. Boats tend to be very specific in their qualities. From the naked truth and efficiency of a kayak to the uncanny swiftness and balance of a sailboat, there is but one boat, maybe two, that will suit any individual. In my practice as a marine surveyor, I find that boats mirror their owners’ spirits.
If you sail around the world or across the bay, the experience is focused and immediate. Somewhere in it all is an opportunity to grow, succeed, and wonder. That is why I own a boat.
Tony Allport is a SAMS marine surveyor. He lives on Anderson Island in southern Puget Sound and sails extensively with his wife, Ann, and children, Alden and Claire, on their classic 30-foot Albin Ballad sloop, Pleiades.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
