What is sailing to you?

[s/v Moondancer]

Sailing is 50,000 sea miles with my wonderful wife who can stand her solo watch in any weather!

We are about to sail New Zealand to Alaska together!

[peter57]

Originally Posted by Sandero

This is a wonderful question and there are probably many varied answers.... because it means different things to different people.

For me sailing is the best teacher in my life... of physics, electrics, navigation, meteorology, cooking, plumbing. knots and rigging, sewing, motors, maintenance... languages, geography, stars, medicine, survival.....

It is a universe of self sufficiency which connects you to the natural world... and requires you be in harmony with your environment. It is an experience where you journey anywhere the sea is... using only wisdom and wind.

This Quote, Nails and clenches it.

Plus the feeling of the boat heeling with the force of the wind and progressing forward leaving a wake behind.

[TheThunderbird]

Few places can be so well regulated as your boat below deck.

Few places can be so wildly supremely glorious as the outdoor marine environment

Sailing keeps you in the between

Sometimes, you may even have a fireplace (US-made clippers) or some other amenities, like a not-grumbling woman ...

[Jim Cate]

Sailing? The most expensive means of traveling fourth class known to civilized man!

But it must be ok, 'cause I've been obsessed with it for the past 46 years.

For me, sailing isn't a thing, it is a life.

Jim

[daletournier]

Travelling with the comfort of my home. Sailing gives me something to do (the boat) and something to look forward to ( the places).

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GILow]

Sailing is going somewhere new to fix what you broke getting there.

Sorry, not a good week to ask.

[Pelagic]

'Sailing'.... is simply a breath of fresh air.

While often scented with salt and vinegar.....
..... it is as Jim describes, ....
.... the air that gives us Life.

[Cap Erict3]

The pleasant illusion of freedom.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by Shawna

what is sailing to you? ... Do you all go with the wind or do you prefer to go against it to get to certain destinations or practice skills? What makes a good trip to you? ...

There is sailing and there is cruising. Some sailors don't cruise, just sail, some cruisers don't sail just cruise.

Sailing to me is having fun doing something I like but that sometimes has nothing to do with cruising. I learned to be flexible on my cruising immediate destinations to enjoy as sailing as possible on the best possible conditions, the ones we enjoy most.

Sometimes I plan to go to a certain place but in the morning there is no wind that allows me to go there, at least in a reasonable travel time but enough wind to go somewhere in another direction and in another direction I sail.

Sometimes there is too much wind to me comfortable to sail upwind to the place we where intended to go, so I turn the boat around and sail and cruise somewhere else.

That may look a bit odd but that is the true definition of cruising that some confound with voyaging, like going to point A to point B as fast as one can.

"Cruising: to sail about touching at a series of ports...to move or proceed speedily, smoothly, or effortlessly...to travel without destination or purpose."

That is what for cruising is all about for me, sailing without a fixed destination or intent just for the pleasure of sailing and cruising. Off course sailing on a place that has multiple choice destinations is fundamental to do this easily.

A good trip to me is one that provided me with sensations and feelings that I will remember for a long time or even forever. That is also why I prefer to sail a boat that is fun to sail and provides more feelings than others.