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Date Posted: 09:45:56 03/04/09 Wed
Author: Bill (Don't assume that engines are reliable)
Subject: Re: Engineless Sailing Motto
In reply to: Jack C 's message, "Re: Engineless Sailing Motto" on 08:33:06 03/04/09 Wed

Hi Jack,

I enjoy disusing this topic. But I must say that your definitions of engineless verses using an engine are exactly the way the engine as a safety device idea gets started.

You stated

When engineless I:

1. Make sure I have no time limit,
2. Go with the current,
3. Stay flexible about destinations.

When engined I:
1. Can always get back to a deadline,
2. Can go against the current,
3. Can get to a certain destination predictably.

I feel that everything here is completely false and sets up the engine as a requirement. Let's start with the engineless assumptions.

1. Make sure I have no time limit

This is the first thing I hear when I talk about sailing engineless. People say that is great that you have the "free" time to sail without an engine, but I have work to do or a schedule to keep. Sailing is about skill. With skill comes competence and with competence comes the ability to plan a day sail or a cruise in such a way that you have a pretty good chance of being were you want to be when you want to be there.

2. Go with the current

I just don’t see how this statement can be so black and white. With about 8 kts of wind I can sail my boat close to her hull speed of 6 kts. So depending on the conditions (wind strength and direction and currents) I have a lot of choices on where I choose to sail.

3. Stay flexible about destinations

The real cool thing about sailing for me is the challenge of reaching a destination. It is a planning and execution thing. I personally feel that somebody out there could find a way to plan and sail my boat anywhere. So if I fail, it motivates me to work harder developing the skills to succeed next time. So I don’t start with flexible destination. I do, however, keep track of the place to duck into should the need arrive.

As for you engine assumptions:

1. Can always get back to a deadline,
2. Can go against the current,
3. Can get to a certain destination predictably.

They are all predicated on the same pretext. That the engine is 100% reliable. Otherwise you are putting yourself into a situation that you are not prepared for and lack the skill to do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be using the engine in the first place.

The reply that I often hear is that I could sail if I wanted to but I am in a bit of a hurry.

During the summer up in the San Juan Island’s I sometime play a game called

“catch the motor sailor, the one with their mainsail cover on”

I bring this up because if you are motoring, you aren’t sailing. And if you aren’t sailing you aren’t learning to sail.

The whole point of my early post, and my blog post, is just how unreliable an engine can be. I read a number of forums and cruising books and there is a lot of talk about engine reliability and troubleshooting yet somehow the engine allows you to “safely” meet a deadline or go against the current and reach your destination. I just don’t get it.

All this aside, boating is a choice. If someone wants to motorsail that is their choice even if it is not mine. But let’s at least be honest with each other and not call one the same as the other.

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