Just love it
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-WorldCruising.com 29 Mar 2019 11:00 PDT
John Rousmaniere - Annual Sailing Stories © John Rousmaniere
Categorically, the best things about this gig are the learnings, the intel from all that is going on, and the desire for people to share some terrific information. If you are one of those that has a thirst for knowledge, and realise that exercising the grey matter is just as important as the fibres in the muscles, then seeing all the material that comes across your desk is not so much onerous, as opportunistic.
Case in point would have to be the information that came in from the Explorers Club who is going to host their annual Sailing Stories on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at its global headquarters in New York. This is a day focused on sailing-based exploration and conservation. Sean J Holland, who had informed us of the event, later commented to me, "Too often in our technology-driven world we tend to forget that many of the first explorers were sailors. Perhaps with hand-cut wooden hulls, maybe with bits of iron and canvas, sailors pushed across unknown seas to search for a better tomorrow."
"Whether they were driven by paddles or wind, guided by stars or birds, they ventured with their lives. Despite taking these perils, sailors discovered new lands, cultures and ideas. Migrations and trade followed the expansion of knowledge triggered by sailors."
"Sailing Stories provides an intimate, peer-to-peer exchange with sailors sharing their skills from navigation to survival. The historic Explorers Club offers a unique setting, welcoming the public and explorers to gather and share their curiosity about the ocean we sail and depend upon."
Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club is characterized by the great diversity of its over 3,000 field scientists and explorers from around the world, whose disciplines range from aeronautics to archaeology, and oceanography to zoology.
Interestingly, Holland added, "The Club's members accomplished many great 'Firsts' - first to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, and first to the surface of the moon." If you are in the Big Apple, or can get there, then you can sign up at explorers.org/events/detail/sailing-stories-2019
Half a world away now, and in the Southern Hemisphere, I have been watching the 2019 Multihull Solutions Gold Coast Expo quite keenly. It has been steadily building over the years, and the team were busy ahead of this one when I popped in to see them recently. Well the results speak for themselves with something approaching 500 visitors on the day, many of who partook in the array of seminars that were on offer: most as standing room only. As a positive sign of the times, they ended up with one new boat under contract and five used ones also finding new homes, so good on them!
Before we go, our Managing Editor, Mark Jardine, and I have been pondering the case of how that for the bulk of the sailing population, the differences between a racer and a cruiser are nigh on insignificant. Yes, true, at both ends of the bell curve there is a marked difference, but for the most, we are all very, very similar. Now obviously an Olympic sailor is way different to live-aboard, and a RTW sailor on an Ultime tri is not someone having 12 months off and taking their cat around the Pacific, but the two are not as mutually exclusive as you might think.
Perhaps this is a direct result of all the crossover that we have oft discussed here about so-called cruising elements making it into racing boats, and also vice versa. Does it mean we'll see deck spreaders on a cruising vessel? I don't think so, but just how fast can a cruiser get, for after 15 knots everything is wet, and lumpy? Well it might be best to look at the automotive scene, for a time not so long ago, active suspension, engine management, variable valve timing, satellite navigation, and traction control were the domain of very expensive vehicles. Now your average Korean econobox has them, or they are on the options list. Food for thought...
Today you will find that we have information for you about the ARC, Tasmania's wild west coast with Tim Phillips, rescue deep in the South Atlantic, coral, French Polynesia, Perini Navi's gorgeous 42m begins fit out, boat insurance, GPS rollover, keeping out of a ships way and in their sights, as well as much more.
So you see, there are stories, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please do savour... We're really enjoying bringing you the best stories from all over the globe. If you want to add to that, then please make contact with us via email.
Remember too, if you want to see what is happening in the other Hemisphere, go to the top of the Sail-WorldCruising home page and the drag down menu on the right, select the other half of the globe and, voila, it's all there for you.
In the meantime, do you love being on the ocean? Well remember to love them back too. They need our help. Now more than ever! Until next time...
John Curnow
Editor, Sail-WorldCruising.com