Sailing

For many years my wife and I sailed our beautiful offshore boat:

Our boat was strong and safe - her sistership had sailed around the world. She had a reliable Volvo inboard diesel engine, roller furling, standing headroom, lots of extras, and hand carved by me, companionway doors Below decks she was nicely appointed, standing headroom throughout, a nice galley with full stove for baking and good work area. There was good lighting below with both interior electric light and lots of windows for natural light, a good heater for winter, and great curtains my wife made for privacy. There was no gasoline anywhere on board - diesel for engine, heater, and generator, and denatured alcohol main stove in the galley. Foreward there was a comfortable large cabin for privacy, a well appointed head, shower, and so on, while the main cabin was capable of sleeping six.

Above decks the boat was set up for easy single handing with every control, including Simpson-Lawrence controls for two foreword anchors running back to the cockpit. We usually carred three sails for our Bermuda rig. Roller furling on the bow with a storm rig, and cockpit controlled three-point furl for the main. I made some lazy-jacks which worked extremely well. Dropping the mainsail took only a moment as it folded even in a stiff breeze into the jaks. Lots of oversize winches too, made things nice and easy. Below the waterline was a 3/4 lead keel, rudder post, and tree-bladed prop. I built a stainless steel Bimini which keeps us dry in the rain and out of the sun the rest of the time.

Instruments: Good VHS, GPS, barometer, Loran, autopilot and self-steering via NEMA, anchor alarm, wind speed/direction, electronic and magnetic compasses, fully equipped navigation station, and lots more.

When my wife and I went sailing, we would often see whales. The local porpoises loved to ride the bow wave as we sailed along in a stiff breeze, sparkling as the leap and frolic. On our last trip before illness meant I had to sell the boat, we took a long holiday sailing the ocean along the coast. Sun and waves, the gentle flapping of sails, the sound of the bow as it sang through the water… absolutely lovely. Illness means that I will likely never sail again, but what a privilege to have been once been able to do this!