Going again…
by Tom McMahon – Deckhand aboard Sea Dragon.
Once again I am sailing on Sea Dragon, It has been a year since I first set foot on the yacht and here I am, aboard once more. I’ve been looking forward to returning.
One thing which seems to be true of being at sea is that every time you slip lines from the dock, the ocean takes just a tiny bit more of your heart, at least that’s how it seems to me.
So I was excited about the planned itinerary for the yacht as it has lots of offshore passages, along with lots of remote and breathtaking destinations.
The thing I find missing in a lot of sailing content is the things that are none too easy to describe, yet are the main things I’ve seen the world over. For this reason, I will do my best to put it into words.
To start with there is the sense of community which surrounds sailing. The team who run Sea Dragon are not only competent and experienced at sailing, but after having done it for a number of years now they know the ports and a number of interesting people once we arrive.
This mixed with the simple, open and friendly attitude of the sailing community means that I get to meet new people as if they were old friends. It’s a pleasant change from modern day life.
How refreshing.
Another pleasant change from modern day life is that offshore, phones don’t work! On top of this being surrounded by nature and its rhythms means that the sun wakes me up. There isn’t any need for alarm clocks.
And the sea is big. In fact, it is vast. The scale of it really becomes apparent when there is no land for hundreds of miles in any direction.
On one passage we were treated to a spectacle only available at sea. When it is calm enough on a clear moonless night, the milky way and all of the stars are clearly visible. Both above and below reflected in the water. It’s a rare and awe-inspiring thing to see.
It really put into perspective how small we all are. You may frame this as being depressing, but I’ve always seen it as a relief, as a reminder of what we are all a part of.
It’s this change of perspective both literally and metaphorically that has always given me the headspace to clear my mind and get back to enjoying the simple things. A sunrise made fire-y with the rusty red hues of Saharan dust off the north African coast.
Maybe you can see why the sea has a little piece of my heart.
Perhaps you know someone who might enjoy a similar experience?