Unlike the early part of this cruise, we’re enjoying the close proximity of places to visit. Rather than dawn to dusk slogs, covering 50 to 100 miles, we’re enjoying 2-3 hour hops, and each stop brings new sights and interests. Today, we sailed from Rockland to Tenants Harbor, a quaint lobster port.
A while back, we presented several individual stories of cruising couples we met. Breaking it down further, what are the common reasons that motivate people to cruise for extended periods? We were asked if we like sailing so much that we want to do it every day. In thinking about that question, it became clear that it’s really not about sailing. Of course we love sailing, but one could sail every day within a few miles of home. In fact, when cruising, it’s often the case that you don’t sail at all, depending on wind conditions or other factors. There are really many reasons to love cruising.
Freedom – After a life of school, career and other regimented activities requiring most of our time and mindshare, cruisers feel the need to experience freedom from those constraints and schedules. They are presented with a variety of choices of where to go and what to do each day. That’s not to say they want to completely escape from responsibility and many cruisers continue to have important roles in society. Modern technology enables doing work and staying in contact from just about anywhere in the world.
Adventure – The thrill of setting out to places unknown, navigating one’s way safely and using the power of nature to get there is unique, as is the thrill of discovering new places, people and wildlife on a daily basis.
Learning – It’s incredible how much one learns when cruising. To begin with, cruising boats are complex with all they entail… sailing, navigating, mechanics, electricity, plumbing, electronics, weather, or maritime rules, and require constant learning. Secondly, visiting new places sparks curiosity about local history. Next, encountering wildlife teaches us about a world beyond humans and domestic animals. And finally, meeting people, whether local or other cruisers, is a rich source of new information and knowledge.
Nature – Encounters with sea animals of all sorts sparks curiosity about them, their habitat and, sadly, the dangers they face to survive. It heightens our sensitivity to the environment and how much risk our planet faces.
Challenge – While there’s nothing wrong with living a safe and comfortable life, for some it’s not enough. When cruising, one is forced to face situations that are quite uncomfortable and to be self-reliant in addressing them. This can be caused by weather, rough seas, equipment failures, challenging navigation and obstacle avoidance, and having to make critical decisions at a moment’s notice. But overcoming challenges is fulfilling and builds confidence.
People – The human encounters when cruising are enriching, whether it be with other boaters or local inhabitants. Most of the encounters made when cruising are natural, pleasant and interesting. Cruisers seek encounters, a welcome contrast from a societal tendency toward more isolation and distractions. Throughout this blog, we’ve described the kindness and generosity we’ve encountered with strangers, as well as the lasting friendships we’ve made along the way.
Health – Cruising on a sailboat can be physically challenging and you are in motion much of the time when on board. When you go ashore, your main means of transportation is walking, whether on a hike, exploring a town or even to get to the supermarket for provisioning. Cruising is also good for mental health as it forces you to exercise all of your senses, to heighten your situational awareness and to practice analytical and critical thinking in real time. It also offers time unplugged from media and computers. Modern cruising boats have internet access and TV, but when you’re anchored in an idyllic bay under a starry sky, surfing YouTube or watching CNN somehow lose their appeal.
We’d welcome hearing from other cruisers on this topic in the comments!
