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Sea Wolf
1st Mate

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27 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/20/2006 : 00:50:46

As you might guess, of one called Sea Wolf, I've acquired an appreciation of Jack London's writings. I thought this story might be of interest to the group here.

Small-Boat Sailing by Jack London:
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
A sailor is born, not made. And by "sailor" is meant, not the
average efficient and hopeless creature who is found to-day in the
forecastle of deepwater ships, but the man who will take a fabric
compounded of wood and iron and rope and canvas and compel it to
obey his will on the surface of the sea. Barring captains and
mates of big ships, the small-boat sailor is the real sailor. He
knows--he must know--how to make the wind carry his craft from one
given point to another given point. He must know about tides and
rips and eddies, bar and channel markings, and day and night
signals; he must be wise in weather-lore; and he must be
sympathetically familiar with the peculiar qualities of his boat
which differentiate it from every other boat that was ever built
and rigged. He must know how to gentle her about, as one instance
of a myriad, and to fill her on the other tack without deadening
her way or allowing her to fall off too far.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

continued: http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1434/

Regards

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 08:59:07

Your quote brings to mind two personal experiences which contradict Jack London in that, like most of us, before sailing I was a complete landsman and had to learn everything, mostly by experience.

I took a 62 year old very dear friend of mine on a five day cruise a couple of years ago. He was a total non-sailor and had never been near a sailing vessel before. When the trip was completed I asked him if he would like to do it again. His response was someting to the effect that he "really enjoyed the experience", "greatly appreciated the skill it takes to sail a sailboat", and although he felt "very safe" sailing with me, he didn't think he would go again. He sailed with me on a short cruise agin this year and is considering a longer 10 day to two week cruise next season.

On another occasion, a 72 year old fellow club member who has sailed Lake Superior for 35 years, most of them solo, told me after returning from a cruise together (both of us were solo sailing in our own boats), that I "handle my boat very well".

Needles to say, I was very proud of myself and just a little pumped. I have since taken up solo sailing in earnest and feel completely at home piloting my boat on a cruise or club racing. Perhaps there is some inate "sailor" in me. I do thoroughly enjoy the "awesome feeling" I get when sailing my boat though

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 11:26:02

When I am "on" my solo sailing is a dance choreographed to a symphony where the boat, wind, water and my heart are the instruments. When I am off it is more like getting a leg caught when trying to pull on pants; kind of a hopping, skipping, tripping sort of thing. But the thing that is always there, in my car, on my boat and other places is a sense of the sensuality of the helm, the awareness that the slightest flex of my fingers changes things and that when the harmony is there I can feel it as I become part of the machine.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 11:35:30

Well said Frank.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 12:00:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 Your quote brings to mind two personal experiences which contradict Jack London in that...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds like they completely support Jack. Why do they contradict?

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 12:50:05

I agree, there is no contradiction.
A sailor who didn't know he had the stuff of a Sailor, is sometimes known by other titles. I assume by your descriptions of the previously non-sailing person that he has certain qualities: intelligence, a stout heart, decisive, observant. (you know, all those great qualities we have)

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 13:04:23

The contradiction is in being "born" to sailing. But then I could be a reincarnated Columbus, or John Paul Jones, or .........Jack London.
It's in my blood now though.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 13:09:46

Anyone who was once a complete landsman, and one day bought a sailboat and learned everything himself, and is now sailing solo on the Great Lakes and also sharing with other landsmen was clearly born to sailing.

Thanks for the quote, I enjoyed it.

I spend as much as 175 days per year sailing and, with few exceptions, I am usually planning my next trip when sailing back in.

Edited by - on

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