So one thing anyone who knows anything about sailing can tell you is this. There is no instant gratification involved in it WHAT SO EVER. Everything takes time and work, it's not suited to the now generation at all. Patience is key to being able to appreciate sailing. Maybe thats why not to many of younger years are interested in it. I cant really blame em. I mean i cant even count the amount of times Ive been on a boat, watching the sails luff in the wind, looking at a destination in front of us and just thinking, "Gosh can we just turn on the engine and get there all ready!"
But i have to admit, it has forced me to learn about something that i am honestly not to well versed in. Patience. Supposedly there is a saying that goes, "All good things come to those who wait". Is this really true? Is it the case that if we wait for something then that means that it will automatically do some good for us?
Frankly I don't know, maybe, maybe not. But what I do know is that in a world chalk full of instant gratification, when someone actually has to wait and work for something, they ultimately appreciate it more. How many kids do you know that ask, nay, demand something of their parents and have to wait a whole day to get it, and just as soon as they do it's already on the ground getting trampled on and disrespected. But had that kid had to wait for that toy, or better yet, work and wait for it, would it still lay in the same condition as it does now?
Which brings me to our trip on the water today. After mooring at monkey point, we set sail east for Jost Van Dyke. After raising the sails, we sat there and watched them luff in a soft slow tail wind, all the while rocking back and forth in the ocean, feeling like we were getting nowhere. Things got so bad that Mike asked if i would go out on deck and use the boat hook to push out the genoa so it would catch more wind (a technique called a wisker pull, notice the pic). This agonizing pace went on for a good 2 hrs before we even got to our mid day stopping point. Honestly at times I felt like " Man! we arent ever gonna reach! Impatience rising, Now generation tendencies growing……!!!" And after all that time, after moving so slowly and working so hard to raise, tighten, ease, trim and lower these sails, all i had to show for it was one of the most beautiful deserted islands that i have ever seen (ok lets be honest, ONLY deserted island Ive ever seen!)
Sandy Spit was its name, and apparently a spit is an isle even smaller than a Cay. As we approached i saw a rim of bright blue and turquoise water like i have yet to see in all the beauty already encountered. The snorkeling was great, i saw an octopus and many beautiful fish. And the isle followed just in line. Bright white sands contrasting the light blue waters. Large choral formations just off the beach. And some of the coolest lil shells that have ever crossed my sight. Pelicans dive fishing just off shore. And a ray threw itself out of the water breaching twice in a row right in front of my eyes!
After leaving Sandy Spit we set sail genoa only past Sandy Cay (also gorgeous) and turned north west around the point into Little Harbour of Jost Van Dyke (isn't that a cool name for an island!?!?) As soon as anchor was set we loosed the Main Halyard from the Main Sail and turned it into a Tarzan rope, which was pretty fun! Little Harbour is home to a well known beach front restaurant called Sydney's Peace and Love (again, with a name like that how can you NOT wanna go there?!?!) Throw in the fact that they make some mean BBQ and you know Da Gabestaaa is there!
Now i don't know if all of these things wouldn't have been as good of an experience for me if i had just hopped in a car and went down the street to see them on a movie screen or in a local aquarium, rather than me journeying half way across the world and sailing miles to encounter them. But what i do know is that humans seem to appreciate things more when they have to wait and work for them. And i think Sheryl Crow said it best when she said "Its not having what you want, its wanting what you've got"
So in the words of those darn bud light commercials… Heres to you sailing, for teaching me a lil something about patience and appreciation. When you truly understand and can live with sailing, i think you have come to realize that life's not just about the destination, but rather its also about the journey.
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