It’s December, it’s cold outside, and I’m thinking about my sailing trip this coming summer. Will I be the Hare or will I be the Tortoise!
Sometimes I think that I want to get in the boat and sail for hours and hours – that would be the Hare. Only stop for the nights and then keep on going. This would result in lots of miles covered and sailing in all sorts of conditions – this I think would be so much fun. The autopilot would become my best friend again. My navigation skills would get well honed and the boat would be well tested. I have no doubts that the boat could handle this. Can I? I would see lots of the coast very quickly and maybe see areas that I would want to go back to for exploration. I might have an inkling to drop into Whidbey Island Race Week to visit some of my friends racing their boats, or attend one of the other regattas that happen around the coast every summer in hope of getting a chance to crew on a race boat. If this was my mode, then circumnavigating Vancouver Island could be a goal to set.
As the Tortoise I would probably stop off at anchorages for days on end to explore, swim, read, and relax. With some luck I might catch a salmon for dinner, or maybe I’ll get a crab trap and do some crabbing. The dingy will be great for checking out the tidal pools and maybe I’ll get some good wildlife shots with my camera. I then might sail to a Marina for a few days in one of the many coastal towns to socialize and enjoy the amenities of the town such as eating out at a nice restaurant or visiting book stores. Then off to another anchorage, or a new town, four hours sailing away, for more of the same. How much of this can I do before I get bored? Some cruisers say you can spend two weeks in Desolation Sound without staying at the same place more than two nights and the scenery is incredible. If this is my mode, then I may never get out of the inside passage this summer, and that too would be good.
Sitting at the computer this evening I cannot say which way the trip will unfold. When I feel more adventuresome (dare I say macho), I’m thinking of the circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. When I’m enjoying a glass of wine contemplating about life, the thought of sitting in my boat in a quite anchorage seems quite appealing. The Hare or the Tortoise – what do you think?
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