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Passion Non-attachement and Naval Architecture

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ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/23/2012 : 12:10:37

Comment please?!

On Passion Non-Attachment and Naval Architecture

As I sit in my pastoral office surrounded by heaps of bibles, commentaries, artwork of of sacred spaces, places, Islamic calligraphic prayers, and Christian saints and intermittently visited by parishioners telling me of their sacred journeys, I find myself in bemused reverie gently returning to one of my greatest passions: sailing. With all things passionate I am reminded once again of non-attachment...and of course you were probably thinking about it too- naval architecture.

I own a 1997, 25 five foot, wing keeled Catalina. I made the purchase after much research and found that it was the best vessel for the dollar. Dollars are important because as a Main-Line, Protestant pastor they come few and far between. It is by all yachty accounts a small, poor vessel, yet I find it big enough, and seaworthy enough for taking my family of five (with children ranging from 15-7) on five day cruising adventures around Narragansett Bay, the Cape and the Islands. In addition I have been know to entertain an occasional confirmand, deacon, or council member under the great silvering sky.

I wish everyone knew just how affordable and wonderful cruising with a family can be. For the price of a mediocre used car, millions of people could be bonding their family out under sail, experiencing for themselves the majestic swell, the indescribable ecstasy of being powered by the wind and the magic of hooking on to new mooring at dusk. For some reason they don’t.

As it turns out, there is a reason why so few people know the pleasures of sailing- a reason that may speak to other things as well. They are “programmed” to consider it something way beyond their needs. Recently I was reading a History of Amercian Sailing Ships by the late Smithsonian Naval Historian Howard I. Chappel published in 1935. In the final chapter on yacht racing tracing the history and architecture of great vessels such as the America, El Chico, the Yankee, the author stated that the sailing industry had been held captive to the Universal Rule (which in turn influenced the contemporary meter rule) producing, expensive, slow, overly seaworthy craft which are great in a race in the North Atlantic in winter, but not so great for most cruisers and racers who sail in more sheltered coastal conditions. This rule he claimed has not only influenced yacht racing but the world of cruising as well. He concludes that since prominent merchant marine and naval academies have been focusing on their bread and butter: internal combustion propelled ships, the world of sailing has been left entirely to the world of amateurs and market driven builders which produce craft to meet the arbitrary whims of buyers (Howard I. Chapelle, The History of American Sailing Ships, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. (New York, 1935 pgs. 354-358). And since the world of the buyers is inherently subjective and the yachty world elitist, the real world needs of many sailors, who may not need to circumnavigate the globe, are left out in the cold.

Though my more affordable boat is not fit for an ocean crossing, it is perfect for coastal cruising. Yet when someone thinks of a cruising sailboat the image which comes up in their head is a far more expensive ocean crosser. How can a person of middle income possibly sustain a dream of the sail driven sea if their only options are boats which cost as much as a starter home and are about to easy to finance as well...a hole in the water? I mean could you imagine if the only way people thought you could go camping with their family was by buying one of those RV’s with special hatches which pop out to make extended living rooms and dinettes? What if everyone scoffed at those poor slobs who who used a lowly tent or if it was conventional knowledge that the only camping worthwhile is the kind of camping which enables one to make stopovers at all the national parks in six week stint? Welcome to the world of sailing.

But it doesn’t really need to be this way. I wish I had known in advance how capricious naval architecture was at the outset. I wouldn’t have wasted as much time with “two-footitis”- that perpetual envy of every sailor for the craft that is just two feet bigger than his own. Since I’m interested in sailing I do have a subscription for Sail Magazine which is filled with gorgeous blue water cruisers which has indeed prioritized any lottery money I may be fated to win. But the truth is, unless you are interested in purchasing an internal combustion ship to import coffee, there is little correlation between a vessel that could truly expand your passionate boating horizons and the dollar. And I think that is true for most things these days. I think it’s sad that passion of sailing is not about the true thrill of the immense horsepower of sail and the water, but functionally making others envious about your life as they watch you flit past in some impossibly expensive accessory.

I know making others envious is not the primary reason why people are focussed on things perennially more expensive than there means- that’s just the psychology of advertising at work. The truth is, whether its a sail boat, a home, a car or a kitchen appliance we’re all under enormous pressure to not embrace the passion available in this world, but to become the dream of the next world. That’s where the non-attachment comes in. You can’t be truly passionate about anything if you are not willing to exercise the freedom that comes with non-attachment. As the fourth century desert father Evagrius Ponticus once reflected- the kingdom of God is the apathia or non-attachment of the soul. And it is in fact reflected in much of the writing of Eclesiastes of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament when Jesus talks about the treasure buried in the field or the pearl of great price. Buddhists have it easy since non-attachment is the principle subject of the eight fold path.

Take marriage, child raising, and home making for instance. As it turns out, to have a passionate long term marriage, or to even become married at all, you eventually learn that not only were your previous ideals too idealistic, but that if you lived within them for the whole of your life you would become as stagnant as a snapshot frozen in time. Those ideals were other people’s ideas of a happy marriage anyway. Likewise, in life we find out to have a happy family with happy kids, you have to love them for the people they are turning out to be, the wonderful kids you feel this world needs. As it turns out, to fall in love with your home has more to do with doing well with what you have- you know, those slow remolding and gardening projects, and less to do with “selling out” to buy that home you think other people would envy. When passion is no longer about doing what we love but as we fall victim to advertising psychology, about making other people envious about what we are apparently loving, we begin to lose our souls.

As with passion, non-attachment and naval architecture, in order to be really be happy about something, you have to let go of that great hall of mirrors and think about that which truly brings you joy in this life you are living right now. Well it’s time I left this office for the day and headed out on the bay. The ever changing sea is calling and asking that I keep tabs. Hope to see you there- I always have room.

Vern Wright
"Hajime"

97 Catalina 250 TR/ WK
Hull #301
Attleboro, MA

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 12:27:13

If I ever find myself in Attleboro, MA on a Sunday morning, I think I know where I'll be. I think this might make an interesting sermon (or maybe a Mainsheet article?). But, for a simple guy like myself, you might want to simplify the language. Maybe explain the non-attachment concept a little more.

In any event, interesting article for those of us that sometimes suffer from 2(5+) foot-itis when it's really never going to be in the cards. That's without that big lottery win you spoke of.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 17:38:20

I think Vern is right...that said being yet another attachment..the need to be funny. I can not tell you how much the boat represents letting go to me.

As I walk out the fingerling of a dock from the land. To cast off the lines, escape the order of the marina..past the row of bouys. Night Swimming... to jump off the boat and dive deep into the cool clear water..and let go.

To sail anywhere the wind takes you...not where you want to go... to be contained in that one small little world of a boat with the infinite sky and water surrounding you..

Edited by - redeye on 07/23/2012 17:39:56

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 17:52:00

<< Welcome to the world of American sailing. >>

We volunteered for the national park system on their big truck driving out to the beach on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia and Axed and sawed up Styrofoam and wood rafts strewn on the beach. Homemade sailboats held together with bailing wire and rope, wondering all the time if their craft had made landfall with their crew. Talk about casting off...

Edited by - on

sfsmith
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2012 : 07:03:59

I experience sailing as a form of meditation. Like any other form, it is vulnerable to distraction, but worth the effort. As a Buddhist, I try to maintain non-attachment through self awareness and an acceptance of the impermanence of this life and its physical surroundings. As a sailor, I maintain my boat for my own pleasure and the potential pleasure of its next owner.

Edited by - on

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2012 : 16:22:04

Vern, thank you for this post. It is well-written, unique, interesting and entertaining, intellectual, emotional, inspirational, loving, humble, and kind. I hope you will not only submit it for publication in the Mainsheet, but also in Sail Magazine, Cruising World, Sailing Anarchy, mainstream publications too numerous to iterate, and publications related to your own line of work of which I am not familiar. My opinion means little, but I agree with you on all points.

My wife and I have 5 children (12-1). So therefore it warms my heart to learn of your multi-day cruises on your 25 with your relatively large family. While we are a little cramped when we all stay on our boat, we enjoy making it work. In a year or two, I hope to have a compatible trailer and an old Suburban to pull it, and take the boat to the Florida Keys for a multi-week cruise (intend to throw kids off the boat on little islands or shallow waters during the day). On most days I can avoid the "two-foot-itis" and I enjoyed reading about your own active avoidance and enjoyment of your boat.

When I remember to love mankind and forgive their faults as I love myself and forgive my own faults, I also wish everyone could experience sailing too. When others are inconsiderate and I forget to love them, I'll admit that I find myself reluctant to share how easily available this joy can be. Your post encourages me to remember to love mankind, faults and all, and encourage them to sail by divulging the deal I got on my own boat and the relatively low cost of sailing, and how I have much less money than they presume.

Thanks again and happy sailing.

Edited by - sethp001 on 07/24/2012 16:22:43

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2012 : 17:33:42

I tell people I got into sailing, because it is cheaper than golf.

As to Vern's post, I've read it a couple of times now yet I'm still scratching my head???

Edited by - dlucier on 07/24/2012 17:37:04

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2012 : 07:13:13

Thanks for the supportive input. In order to meet the requirements for a column in my local paper I have honed my original article to the following:

On Passion Non-Attachment and Naval Architecture

One of my life’s passions is sailing. With all things passionate I am reminded once again of non-attachment...and of course you were probably thinking about it too- naval architecture.

I own a 1997, 25 five foot Catalina. I made the purchase after much research and found that it was the best vessel for the dollar. Dollars are important because as a main-line, protestant pastor they come few and far between. It is by all “yachty” accounts a small, poor vessel, yet I find it big enough, and seaworthy enough for taking my family of five (with children ranging from 15-7) on five day cruising adventures around Narragansett Bay, the Cape and the Islands. In addition I have been know to entertain an occasional confirmand, deacon, or council member under the great silvering sky.

I wish everyone knew just how affordable and wonderful cruising with a family can be. For the price of a mediocre used car, millions of people could be bonding their family out under sail, experiencing for themselves the majestic swell, the indescribable ecstasy of being powered by the wind and the magic of hooking on to new mooring at dusk. For some reason they don’t.

As it turns out, there is a reason why so few people know the pleasures of sailing. They are “programmed” to consider it something way beyond their needs. According to eminent naval scholar Howard I. Chapelle, the sailing industry had been held captive to the Universal Rule (which in turn influenced the contemporary meter rule) producing, expensive, slow, overly seaworthy craft which are great in a race in the North Atlantic in winter, but not so great for most cruisers and racers who sail in more sheltered coastal conditions. The true brains of naval engineering gets left to those who produce internal combustion craft, where the sailing industry is all about servicing the arbitrary whims of consumers (1 Howard I. Chapelle, The History of American Sailing Ships, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1935, (New York, pgs. 354-358)). In other words, the real world needs of many sailors, who may not need to circumnavigate the globe, are left out in the cold.

Though my more affordable boat is not fit for an ocean crossing, it is perfect for coastal cruising. Yet when someone thinks of a cruising sailboat the image which comes up in their head is a far more expensive ocean crosser. How can a person of middle income possibly sustain a dream of the sail driven sea if their only options are boats which cost as much as a starter home and are about to easy to finance as well...a hole in the water?

I wish I had known how capricious naval architecture was at the outset. I think it’s sad that passion of sailing is not about the true thrill of the immense horsepower of sail and the water, but functionally making others envious about your life as they watch you flit past in some impossibly expensive accessory. I know making others envious is not the primary reason why people are focussed on things perennially more expensive than their means- that’s just the psychology of advertising at work. The truth is, whether its a sail boat, a home, a car or a kitchen appliance, we’re all under enormous pressure to not embrace the passion available in this world, but to become the dream of the next world.

And yet, you can’t be truly passionate about anything if you are not willing to exercise the freedom that comes with non-attachment- the discipline of letting go of the “trees” in order to see the forrest. As the fourth century desert father Evagrius Ponticus once reflected- “The kingdom of God is the apathia (or non-attachment) of the soul.”

Take marriage, child raising, for instance. As it turns out, to have a passionate long term marriage, you eventually learn that not only were your previous ideals too idealistic, but that if you lived within them for the whole of your life you would become as stagnant as a snapshot frozen in time. Likewise, in life we find out to have a happy family with happy kids, you have to love them for the people they are turning out to be, not the wonderful kids you feel this world needs. When we fall victim to advertising psychology and passion becomes perfection rather than joy, we begin to lose our souls.

As with passion, non-attachment and naval architecture, in order to be really be happy about something, you have to let go of that great hall of mirrors and think about that which truly brings you joy in this life you are living right now.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5369 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2012 : 07:26:28

Vern
Well said. As for non attachment and passion I always go back to my teen years in the 70's reading the Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu and mystical Christian texts from which I created my own world view.

The first chapter of Tao Te Ching explains it for me:

Chapter 1

The Way that can be spoken is not the constant Way
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders

I guess that's why I'm a sailor and kayaker, and not a Stinkpotter!

Edited by - on

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