Moitessier Syndrome

[Dockhead]

How many of you have ever experienced something like the following: You've been sailing for a couple of days and nights, a new port is just over the horizon, with its fleshpots and provisions and the odd part you desperately need, and a cocktail (or three) which you have been denying yourself at sea, and a good hard sleep from a stable platform, and a wander around a strange, new, wonderful place. But you suddenly sight land and -- your heart sinks.

[captain58sailin]

Yes, I am always happier offshore.

[sailorchic34]

The end of a journey and or tying up at a dock always makes me sad.

[captain58sailin]

Conversely I feel a tremendous sense of relief heading out to sea. A release of stress, probably something to do with knowing I cannot do anything about the problems that will arise on the beach while I am gone, and I am focused on only what lies before me, in an immediate sense. The old "Be here now".

[goboatingnow]

I agree, I always find stress falls away as land disappears, its now you, your crew and the boat. conversely it re-appears as I sight land.

however I so like a cocktail


dave

[boatman61]

Hell.. I've succumbed to it in the past.. planned on stopping at the Azores after leaving SMX heading for the UK.. but when the time came I sailed straight on by.. 47 days solo at sea in total.. and to be honest if a helicopter had dropped water and supplies I'd have been there a damn sight longer.

[SaltyMonkey]

Oh, i thought this was going to be a thread bout thinking you are some romantic poet sailwhore or something and then some wave comes by or some gear brakes and knocks u on your arse and you wake up to learn the TRUE reality of it all.

carry on..

[Cavalier]

We've suffered civilization psychosis a few times - got to a new port only to find ourselves running frantically back to the boat to cast-off again, just to get away from intensity of people, smells, noise etc. I remember one specific time in Italy when we turned tail after making it 200yds from the pontoon! In reflection we felt the frantic anxiety of being attacked as per Hitchcock's "The Birds" - and there were only three dozen or so people in the village entire! :shakehead:

[robert sailor]

Truth is it takes me a week or so to settle in and sleep properly and even eat properly. Once I get past this point I'm good to go for long periods although I have to admit that passages are not my favorite times although I do have favorite moments or even days. Like Dave when land is near my anxiety goes up.

[Jim Cate]

Hmmm...

While I have enjoyed some passages fully,others have been less fun... ie, one from Hawaii to SFO where we had 16 out of 24 days of gale force or above. I was damn glad to see the Golden Gate and to get into a berth in Alameda, even though it meant the end of our cruising for a while.

In truth, I do like to be at sea, but I enjoy the landfalls, too. Getting into port, clearing customs, seeing a new (or old familiar) place, meeting some new friends, seeing old ones... it's all part of our cruising style.

I only met Bernard once, near the end of his career and life, and while I found him interesting as hell, I had no desire to emulate him. We were simply different kinds of nut cases!

Cheers,

Jim

[FSMike]

Actually, it's "Moitessier" said the spelling fanatic.

Perhaps, in the end, we all go the long way.

[IdoraKeeper]

If I had a big ass Moody I would prefer to stay at sea too. You lucky bastard!

[msponer]

Yes. I've felt like the sea is home. My mind gets so clear and happy out there. Coming back to land after a long passage, I feel like just a visitor, and when we head out to sea again, that is going home.

Maybe folks who hike and camp or climb big mountains feel the same way.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

We've suffered civilization psychosis a few times - got to a new port only to find ourselves running frantically back to the boat to cast-off again, just to get away from intensity of people, smells, noise etc. I remember one specific time in Italy when we turned tail after making it 200yds from the pontoon! In reflection we felt the frantic anxiety of being attacked as per Hitchcock's "The Birds" - and there were only three dozen or so people in the village entire! :shakehead:

I know that feeling. Friend and I went out on a several week leisurely cruise from New York City to Nantucket and back just anchoring or on moorings. After we docked back in New York we went to dinner in a crowded, noisy packed Mexican restaurant . Big mistake! We just sat there cringing throughout the meal at the sensory overload and were so glad to get back to the dock and some serenity.

[Mike OReilly]

I call it "re-entry", and have experienced it numerous times over the years. First as a remote canoeist and kayaker (25+ days in the wilderness of Canada) and now as a seasonal cruiser (40+ days at a time). It's that feeling of simplicity and clarity that starts slipping away as one re-enters the complex modern world.

I love the simplicity of being on my own, whether it be 100s of km down some northern river or 100s of nm away from the next dock. There is a beauty and simplicity to just living. The only thing you have to do is survive and live in the space you inhabit. Back in our urban space the world is far more complex and -- aggravating .