Why I sail
Est. reading time 2 minutes
I first got into sailing in my early twenties. A neighbour invited me out on their 27-foot Thunderbird for winter races out of Sidney, and I was hooked right away. Winter racing is cold, exciting, uncomfortable, dangerous and a ton of fun. Far from a “cruise”, every Sunday was a mission. The captain, Mike and his wife Fern were good to learn from and I stuck with their crew for two or three years. Eventually, they stopped racing, and I stepped away from sailing for a while.
Years later, a good friend of mine, Dennis, moved back to town with his 42-foot wooden sailboat Magic Carpet and wanted to race out of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It’s close to my house and he needed crew, so I joined him. I already had some experience, so getting back into it wasn’t hard. I ended up running the foredeck and learned the complexities of the dip-pole gybe—handling the spinnaker and headsail through a maneuver that takes coordination and timing. We raced every Wednesday evening for a few years and even competed in Swiftsure, an overnight race out the Strait of Juan de Fuca and back. It was challenging and rewarding.
“Be a good leader or be a good follower”
One of the things I love about sailing is the importance of a chain of command. As a crew, it’s not “recommended” that you follow orders – you must follow orders immediately or the safety of the vessel and the rest of the crew can be put in danger. In business I’m a leader, responsible for a multitude of decisions and responsibilities. On the water, as crew, it’s a joy for me to be on the other side of it and simply carry out the orders of my captain.
When Dennis left town, I still wanted to be on the water. Around that time, I got to know Mike and Manon, who run the Three Hour Sail, a company that has their website with Radar Hill. They have an 85 year old Norwegian ketch called The Duen and they run educational excursions for school groups in the spring and fall. In the summer, they set up in the inner harbour and provide 3 hour private charters and sailing outings aimed at tourists. We did some photo and drone work for their business, and I got to know the boat and the people behind it. I booked a birthday sail with them and volunteered to help out if they needed a hand. I was invited out and got on well with captain and crew. I let them know I was interested in crewing in a more official capacity, and they were open to it. I then got my Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) certificate, vessel safety and marine first aid accreditations and started crewing when they were short of crew or had large groups.
Last summer, I crewed 21 separate trips. I set and trim the sails, take the helm, climb the rigging if needed, help dock the boat, and talk with the guests. I love teaching “old time sailing” to the guests – how to tie a bowline or how to cleat a sheet. It’s a great way to spend a few hours during the summer months when business slows a bit at Radar Hill and it fits into my schedule easily.
For me, sailing is straightforward: it gets me outside, it keeps me sharp, and it gives me a break from the desk. When I’m on the boat, I’m focused. It’s just wind, water, and the task at hand. I enjoy the work, the people, and the time away from screens.
That’s why I sail.