Why Do We Sail?
Allison Smith
Tradewinds health and wellness supplement 11/11/04

Recently I was asked, "Why do you sail?"

As a life-long sailor who sailed here seventeen years ago from Florida, cruised and lived aboard for ten years, owned a number of sailboats ranging from 8' to 40' and has generally hung out with the best and the worst of the sailing world, I pondered this question and checked in with other St. John sailors as to their reasons to "sail the briny sea".

The draw of sailing goes beyond the obvious fresh air, balmy breezes, the discovery of remote islands and deep blue seas. From a health and wellness perspective, the opportunity to avoid the smell, noise and pounding of fuel driven "go fast" powerboats is grasped by those who appreciate the beauty of gliding with the wind over the waves, in tune with the wonder of nature, quietly filling the sails with warm, balmy breezes, and gently skimming across turquoise seas with billowed sails, easing into isolated, pristine anchorages at the day's end, resplendent with the colors of a magnificent sunset.
For some, the greatest joys are waking to the sound of waves lapping gently at the hull, diving overboard for an invigorating morning swim, greeting the multitude of marine wildlife and having coffee in the cockpit as the sun climbs in the open blue sky.

Of course, the reality of sailing is that it doesn't always follow these Chamber of Commerce scenarios and often involves the challenge of overcoming the forces of nature and the complications of marine mechanics and high seas, failing engines, howling winds, broken lines or ripped sails. Hard core sailors embrace the adventure of reefing sails, repairing underway, pulling on foul weather gear and winning the game of dead reckoning or heavy weather sailing. Charting a course, weathering the storm, outsmarting the elements and exhibiting your seamanship are all a part of the exhilaration of sailing.
But the most important and universal theme among all sailors young and old, in yachts or more simple boats, on an island hop or a voyage around the world, is sailing's amazing sense of freedom, the call of "mother, mother ocean" that pulls us beyond the horizon, that stretches our abilities and our need for security, that feeds our restless souls and satisfies our yearning for solitude and peace, the experience of being out-of-sight of land on the deep blue sea under a star-filled sky, of the humility of an endless expanse of ocean, alone with the awe of the wind on our face and serenity in our heart, being at one with the beauty of nature, free to sail the sea, to flow with the waves and follow our dreams.

The love of sailing answers mankind's deepest innermost needs of wisdom, adventure, responsibility, resourcefulness, competence and respect in a remarkable and profound experience of freedom that heals our minds and challenges our fears, that speaks to our souls and transforms our lives.

An anonymous quote says it all as to why we sail: "A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what boats are built for".

Allison Smith, Ph.D. is a freelance writer and psychologist in private practice on St. John who coordinates healthy and spiritual retreats, (www.stjohnretreats.com), teaches "A Course in Miracles", raises goats and sails aboard the Wayward Sailor. She is also the Founder of the People Moving Forward Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian organization, and Rejuvenation Vacations.