another ancient Chinese mystic, Confucius. But we hold onto them, for
dear life, justify them, any which way we can. Excuses not to
act. Procrastination is probably one of the faults I battle with at
times. With sailing I don't procrastinate though, I act as soon as I
feel there is a need. I won't just sit and see what happens. Another
saying,not so old I think, but a funny one nevertheless, is that you get
people who make it happen, people who let it happen and people who
wonder waht happened.
So often we are faced with a daunting task, so daunting that we don't
want to take the first step, forever getting ready to set sail. A
journey of a thousand miles starts with one single step. And funny how
once you have taken the first step, the next step just follows. It is
thus the first step that needs to be taken. I am speaking mostly to
myself here, and looking at all the different facets of my life. Perhaps
you will be able to relate somewhat. It does take monumental courage to
face some problems, much easier to just let it be, instead of dealing
with it, just switch on the TV. The greatest procrastinating tool ever
invented in my humble opinion.
Have you ever had friends or family over and don't switch the TV on.The
uncomfortable silence that hangs in the air, everyone staring at the
blank TV screen. If I were to visit you and the TV is on, I will excuse
myself in no time at all. You will probably not even realize I have
gone. TV only came into SA in '76 and it's effect on family and other
matters have been all consuming, taking no prisoners in it's wake. We
have one of the highest divorce and suicide rates in the world. Compare
the figures before and after '76, it as clear as daylight. The young
people I deal with all the time don't read books anymore, movies are so
much less taxing. And the ability to express themselves properly are
very limited, F and J words mostly to express their frustration at not
being able to find the right word. And words in themselves are already
so limiting to express what we really want to. And that is where art comes
in, speaking to a part of us that we don't always get at first sight, but
with time in becomes part of you. Expressing the inexpressible.
Sailing is both a science and an art. The science of creating forward
motion from the angle of your sails and the angle of the wind getting
squeezed between the sails. There are so many factors you have to take
into consideration. Wind speed and direction, currents, proximity to land
at times, effects created by land masses and continental shelves, tides
and then the vessel you are on. Trying to work out an estimated time of
arrival and provisioning accordingly. Then there are less tangible factors
like morale on the boat, living and staying healthy, using water sparingly
on longer journeys. Living with others in very close quarters, sharing and
caring.There are many other factors at play to create a happy boat.
Then the art of sailing. Easy to keep a happy boat when things are on
song, but when things get tough, rough or slow, it is not that easy. But
it only takes a little favorable conditions to get the hopes up again. The
art is when it all comes together, no matter the circumstances. When you
are on watch and witness the most glorious scenes. When you become one
with all around and inside of you. When the incredible lightness of being
dawns on you. When you now and then catch a glimpse of eternity. Perhaps
this is why we sail, why we are called to the deep blue. When the salt in
our veins and arteries and our tears match those of the medium that we are
on, the ocean wide. At the end of the journey you look back and are
humbled by what you have witnessed, experienced, learned. And somehow we
remember the best, and the tough times seem to take on an isignificence,
although without it the end wouldn't be half as sweet. Much more I can say
about all of this, but perhaps you are stifling a yawn.
Our position @ PM 01:00 UTC was 37*09'N/06*14'E. We are 740 nm from
Greece, 314 nm from Sicily. Slight headwinds, motoring with main up and
centered, genoa also furled in a bit and centred in front of the boom. Not
doing good, not doing bad, just doing, just keeping at it.Wind predicted
to turn south east and even south for a while,which will suit as down to a
t.
Greetings from the north of Africa, Algiers, still but not long, and we
will be above Tunisia.
Paul
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