A film I want to see, an important point you can take to the bank, and in the “Holy fuck how stupid can you get” department…
I had planned to post something about the charter business today but that will have to wait for the weekend and, hopefully, it will be worth the wait.
In the meantime, I have a couple of things I want to say about non-sail propulsion for sailboats…
For starters, we’re talking about sailboats with wind being the primary force to get the boat from point A to B. Obvious, right?
Well, maybe not, as it happens I saw a catamaran sailing into the anchorage yesterday which is such a rare sight here in the Caribbean that I told my wife she might want to take a look. Most cats down here are just motor boats with a mast.
Some years ago we were in the BVI’s and the couple next to us, who had just arrived with the 1500 rally, proudly told us they’d only used their motor for 60 hours. This left us with the impression that most of the other boats in the rally had motored lots more.
There are times I get the impression that a lot of sailors don’t like to sail. In fact, I once asked a charter captain what would he considered a “Perfect” charter and his response was…
“One where I don’t have to take the sail covers off”
Which, pretty much says it all.
While I feel that it would be no bad thing for everyone to experience an engineless sailboat. I realize that’s not going to happen for most and can only hope folks might use their engines a bit less and build their sailing skill-set as a result.
Which brings me around to what seems like the out-dated concept of an auxiliary engine. The key word being auxiliary.
auxiliary /ôg-zĭl′yə-rē, -zĭl′ə-rē/
adjective
- Giving assistance or support; helping.
- Acting as a subsidiary; supplementary. “the main library and its auxiliary branches.”
- Held in or used as a reserve. “auxiliary troops; an auxiliary power generator.
More about that tomorrow…