My father once commented that my mother was like Imelda Marcos. Thankfully, he was referring to a love of shoes, rather than a penchant for dictators and a bad dye job! So when fellow sailors give me a cheeky grin and ask what boat I'll be sailing next week, I smile politely and explain that, while some women have a thing for shoes, 'I have a thing for trailer-sailers'.
But just quietly, I think my 'thing' is a little out of control. I stopped to do the maths the other day; I have owned 8 sailboats in the last 7 years. And I have loved every single one of them ...in the beginning! But invariably I've always felt the urge to go 'shopping' again, and convinced myself that it makes sense to upgrade/downgrade/move sideways to a new boat (well, a different, old boat).
It wouldn't be so bad if, over the last 7 years and 8 boats, I had amassed hundreds of hours of sea time and become a gun sailor...but I haven't. Or if I had managed to make a little bit of money each time I bought and sold a boat...but I haven't! In fact, the opposite is normally true - just don't tell my husband.
I blame the tanned and sprightly looking woman with grey hair whom I saw disembark from a large keel boat at Muddy Creek Marina in Maryborough, Queensland, about 20 years ago. She looked so fit and healthy - peaceful, yet radiating energy - and I started to fantasise about what it would be like to be so self-reliant and resilient; to live on the water and work with nature on a daily basis.
But the dream was out of reach at that point in time, and over the years remained out of reach for various reasons - non-sailing partner, work, children, money - the normal things. As well as the fact that I knew next to nothing about sailing!
But then I discovered the world of trailer sailers - including their affordability and availability - and realised that I could have a smaller version of the dream ...the rest, as they say, is history.
In my quiet moments, I do wonder if it is an abstract concept/lifestyle I am in love with, rather than the real nitty gritty of sailing (does that make me an abstract sailor?)!. But when a lengthy amount of time has passed without me getting on the water, hoisting the sails and hearing the chuckle of water past the hull, - and I can think of nothing but getting back out there - I know that my love of sailing is genuine. I'm just still looking for my perfect boat!
At the time of writing I am without a sail boat for the first time in 7 years.You know what that means don't you? It's time to go shopping! ;-)
