Good Old Boat Issue 142: Jan/Feb 2022

The View fromHere

BYANDYCROSS Let’s Go Sailing!

W hen I was in my mid-20s, I catamarans in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, and basically anywhere else I was asked to go. It was a blast...mostly, anyway. I loved sailing in new places, and I enjoyed sailing with new people each week. Overall, I relished the opportunity to teach fledgling sailors a lifestyle and sport that I was so passionate about. On one particular escapade to the Abacos, my flight was late coming from Florida, and I knew the students had been stewing impatiently on the boat for a while. The flight delay was out of my control, of course, so I wasn’t bothered—I’m a pretty laid-back guy. But walking down the dock towards the big cat, I knew I had to do something lighthearted to grab their attention. I needed to start this class in an uplifting way to diffuse any hard feelings they may have had. As I approached, I could see my cantankerous crew gathered at the table on the aft deck, and I broke into a huge smile and gave an energetic wave. Then, in one quick motion, I swung my sea bag over the rail, hopped aboard, instructed cruising and sailing classes on monohulls and

could also sense uncertainty and trepida- tion when discussing their sailing goals. This was totally normal, I assured them, and by week’s end I was proud when they stepped off the boat with more confidence than when they arrived, chatting about where they’d sail next and what boats they might buy. I’m glad it all began with a laugh. Whether you’re starting sailing for the first time like so many of my former students, buying a new-to-you boat that has seen better days, or standing dockside admiring the craft you may have owned and cared for with pride for decades, intense emotion comes with the territory. One thing that knots all sailors together is the love and joy that shines through when the main is set, the jib unfurled or hoisted, and the engine shut off. There’s no sensation quite like the bow diving into a wave, water rushing down the hull, and a frothing, V-shaped wake trailing in our paths, all because we’re harnessing the power of the wind. To be sure, it keeps all of us coming back for more. For me, more meant buying a boat of my own. Five or so years after jumping aboard

that catamaran in the Bahamas, my wife, Jill, and I experienced many of these same feelings when we purchased our 1984 Grand Soleil 39. When we tossed Yahtzee ’s dock- lines aboard at the broker’s office in Seattle and set out for our first long weekend of sailing, we were running high on excitement with a bit of nervousness tucked in for good measure. The world was ours. From that moment forward, we never looked over our shoulders, but rather jumped right into racing and cruising, all while having two boys along the way. Now, over nine years later, fromWashington to British Columbia and Alaska, all the way to California, Mexico, and Central America, I still have those same feelings when the sails are set and the engine is shut off. I always will. Along with my deep affection for all things sail, I’m also a passionate writer and editor and have worked in that capacity over the past decade while living aboard and cruising. During this time, I’ve truly come to understand how the medium of boats and the act of sailing elicit emotions and narratives about a seemingly endless array of topics from sailors of every stripe. Whether they are sea

and emphatically exclaimed, “Let’s go sailing!” Totally caught off guard by my Captain Ron-esque entrance, the students laughed, and our week together was cheerfully underway. Mission accomplished. Later, while talking with them about their back- grounds and sailing dreams, I could see the excitement in their eyes. But, when I asked what they wanted to get out of our week together, I

stories of my own device or those of other authors, I love bringing these tales to life for readers who range from novice sailors to old salts. In that spirit, I’m excited to throwmy sea bag aboard with the fine crew and faithful readers of Good Old Boat . When you get a chance, please feel free to share a sea story of your own, a tip for an anchorage down the way, or simply to say hi (andy@goodold- boat.com). Let’s go sailing!

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January/February 2022

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