Just over a year ago, my friend Keith (who I have known for 25 years), took me our for 4 hours on his yacht (a Contessa 32) around a waterway near his home in Holland.
Since then I’ve been somewhat hooked on the romance of sailing. I have only those 4 hours to go by but the experience was so much fun that I have a strong desire to repeat it and, eventually, to own my own boat.
I’m buying sailing magazines (Sailing Today, Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Ireland Afloat) in an attempt to get to know the terminology, to be able to adequately explain to someone else the difference between ‘a jib’ and ‘to gybe’. I do notice, however, there’s a dearth of resources online for sailing the way I have been able to eat my fill of news and articles about technology. I’m sure there’s more out there but until then, dead tree will suffice.
Sailing is not in my blood (to my knowledge) but now I live by the sea and have a dream of circumnavigating the world in my own boat.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I hope some day you get to fulfil your dream of life on the sea.
Cheers, Phil.
Pixar’s recent flick, UP, is a damning reminder of the cost of putting your dreams on hold.
Matt,
check http://www.gisc.ie/ for weekend courses. I know many people who’ve started here and never looked back
Hi Dermot,
Thanks for the link. Too late in the season for courses (around the Isles anyway) but will keep an eye out for the new year.