WHAT RETIRING ON A BOAT “REALLY” LOOKS LIKE…BY Janice Anne Wheeler
WHAT RETIRING ON A BOAT “REALLY” LOOKS LIKE…BY Janice Anne Wheeler
The only thing marring this stunning sunset
is Steven R Uhthoff and his headlamp working on the outboard motor for our dinghy at just under 30 degrees. This is one of the many unexpected projects that are really just an everyday part of our liveaboard lives.
When I took each of these photos I was reminded of a WSJ article that Jeri Mattics sent to me in November, and how much that piece truly DIDN’T depict the reality of life on a boat.
Not too many vessels have those fancy champagne flutes or the refrigeration to chill those bottles. Mother Nature rules our lives and determines our schedules. Cruising cannot be learned from YouTube. It is physically and logistically challenging. Novice boaters can and do endanger themselves and others because we live by the rule that one “must render assistance” at sea.
We love this life but not how it is assumed or portrayed to be easy and carefree. I’m guilty, too…because I share the beautiful peaceful sunrises and not the 10-foot green wave crashing over the bow and running down all 56 feet of deck while the whole rig shudders above you. I don’t tell you about the seasickness or the constant battle with mildew on the ceiling.
Everyone has challenges bigger than these, I know that. All we request is that people truly experience cruising before diving in. Read books and articles by experienced sailors, don’t listen to scantily clad videographers. Just because they have followers doesn’t mean they are sharing reliable, practical knowledge.
I, Janice Anne Wheeler, am still constantly learning and the curve is very big and very steep…it takes a lifetime and I started late. Becoming competent to live and travel on the water has been the most humbling experience of my entire life, and I’m no idiot. I’m healthy and strong and happy and sailing can bring me to my knees. The amount of knowledge and tools it takes is astonishing and can be overwhelming to say the least. And then you make a choice based on a weather forecast which is wrong and endanger yourselves and your most valuable asset.
It’s a beautiful life, it’s not easy, and to appreciate it completely you have to pay some big dues. The crew on ‘Steadfast’ just wanted to share these thoughts as we constantly meet people who tell us how fun it looks and that they’re thinking about buying a boat without ever setting foot on one.
Don’t do it.
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