Thank you Fliss, that's very kind of you. Your kind compliment is very encouraging, I've really not had much confidence in poetry, and it still feels like there is a lot to learn but I love writing it :)
Alexander, I'm the same but the thing about poetry, and art, is that it's all completely mad and diverse and there are no rules (really) so whilst there is still alot to learn about both, feel confident that what you write has its place.
I actually think you express your ideas with honest feeling and so you can't go wrong :)
Thanks Dave! I can answer very technically and precisely since I have logged every single sailing trip as part of my RYA logbook. Over 5 years I had done 74 days at sea covering 2300 nautical miles as crew on 7 different sailing boats! I started sailing briefly in 2018 but then properly in 2022.
That is to say a good amount of experience as crew on other peoples boats but very little as skipper and sailing single handed. I knew my way around a boat and I knew how to sail, and I had spent the winter prior learning how to fix my engine and electronics and rigging, so I felt confident I could figure out all the things I had yet to learn!
Deep thanks for the excellent and comprehensive answer! It reassures me.
I am not a blue water sailor, at all, but I have done enough sailing to know that being skipper of a boat like Kismet, in the voyage you undertook, is a very serious undertaking indeed. You were clearly very well prepared. :)
My apologies if you have given this background previously - it's hard to keep up with all my reading. I think it's great to explain it though because people do sometimes set out on similar adventures with the assumption that they can just wing it.
I have a good friend who - many years ago now - purchased an ocean going yacht with no prior experience. After 1 day of practice in enclosed waters, with the previous owner, he set off to sail around the Australian coast with one crew member who was equally lacking in any sailing experience. That very evening they were wrecked on a wild shore but fortunately - and only just - escaped with their lives.
Even with your solid experience, Alexander, that was an impressive voyage my friend.
Hey, apologies for late reply, playing catch-up this week after a busy birthday week :)
I haven't really shared my experience before actually, but thinking it's worth detailing (I did mention briefly in my latest essay thanks to this question!)
Like you, I worry over many people on social media who start sailing without any experience, without knowing what they don't know and the potential dangers.
I consider sailing pretty safe if you plan well and know what you are doing, but things at sea can go wrong very rapidly, as your friend must have realised.
I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been for them, I'm glad they got away ok from it all!
How incredible! I'm so looking forward to following along. I can only imagine how much awe and wonder you felt throughout this entire voyage. I also love the poem that you wrote and shared at the start. I love not knowing what lies beyond the horizon.
Thank you Marielle, I really appreciate the kind words 💙 It truly was a trip filled with wonder and awe, I hope I can share just a fraction of it well enough! Thank you for following along :)
The sea is home to some of us, even when we live on land. I can feel a little of that nostalgia in your words — not sadness for what ended, but gratitude for what changed you. What you lived out there is yours now; no return to shore can take that away. And perhaps the journey is not ending at all — it is simply changing form. Fair winds, Alexander., I hope to see you on a 33-foot sailboat with a new camera. See you soon
Thank you for the thoughtful words, you are very right, I feel a very string sense of gratitude to have been able to go on this voyage, and the memories that stay with me, and the journey is still ongoing and changing form as you say. And so far it's been amazing! See you out on the water hopefully! Fair winds :)
How lovely, your writing is beautiful
Thank you for you kind words, Lara! And thank you for joining along :)
Pleasure, I'm on my own mental health journey so excited to read along
looking forward to reading all of it Alexander, you write beautifully. I especially love your poetry.
Thank you Fliss, that's very kind of you. Your kind compliment is very encouraging, I've really not had much confidence in poetry, and it still feels like there is a lot to learn but I love writing it :)
Alexander, I'm the same but the thing about poetry, and art, is that it's all completely mad and diverse and there are no rules (really) so whilst there is still alot to learn about both, feel confident that what you write has its place.
I actually think you express your ideas with honest feeling and so you can't go wrong :)
Very well put Fliss, thank you! I really appreciate the vouch of confidence as well 💙
That is an impressive voyage, Captain Gunnarsson!!
How much sailing experience did you have before setting out?
Dave :)
Thanks Dave! I can answer very technically and precisely since I have logged every single sailing trip as part of my RYA logbook. Over 5 years I had done 74 days at sea covering 2300 nautical miles as crew on 7 different sailing boats! I started sailing briefly in 2018 but then properly in 2022.
That is to say a good amount of experience as crew on other peoples boats but very little as skipper and sailing single handed. I knew my way around a boat and I knew how to sail, and I had spent the winter prior learning how to fix my engine and electronics and rigging, so I felt confident I could figure out all the things I had yet to learn!
Hey my friend
Deep thanks for the excellent and comprehensive answer! It reassures me.
I am not a blue water sailor, at all, but I have done enough sailing to know that being skipper of a boat like Kismet, in the voyage you undertook, is a very serious undertaking indeed. You were clearly very well prepared. :)
My apologies if you have given this background previously - it's hard to keep up with all my reading. I think it's great to explain it though because people do sometimes set out on similar adventures with the assumption that they can just wing it.
I have a good friend who - many years ago now - purchased an ocean going yacht with no prior experience. After 1 day of practice in enclosed waters, with the previous owner, he set off to sail around the Australian coast with one crew member who was equally lacking in any sailing experience. That very evening they were wrecked on a wild shore but fortunately - and only just - escaped with their lives.
Even with your solid experience, Alexander, that was an impressive voyage my friend.
A wonderful achievement!!
Dave :)
Hey, apologies for late reply, playing catch-up this week after a busy birthday week :)
I haven't really shared my experience before actually, but thinking it's worth detailing (I did mention briefly in my latest essay thanks to this question!)
Like you, I worry over many people on social media who start sailing without any experience, without knowing what they don't know and the potential dangers.
I consider sailing pretty safe if you plan well and know what you are doing, but things at sea can go wrong very rapidly, as your friend must have realised.
I can't imagine how terrifying that must have been for them, I'm glad they got away ok from it all!
Thank you for sharing Dave!
How incredible! I'm so looking forward to following along. I can only imagine how much awe and wonder you felt throughout this entire voyage. I also love the poem that you wrote and shared at the start. I love not knowing what lies beyond the horizon.
Thank you Marielle, I really appreciate the kind words 💙 It truly was a trip filled with wonder and awe, I hope I can share just a fraction of it well enough! Thank you for following along :)
That's so amazing and sailing was something I always wanted to try. Can't wait for your next newsletter about your trip!
Thank you Jessica! Trying sailing is brilliant, I only started sailing in my 30s because I went on a short trip out of curiosity :) highly recommend!
I tried it once for 10 minutes with help of course. But definitely need to try a full day! Sounds amazing though
I already a little seasick just thinking about the voyage but very much look forward to your words of adventure.
Thank you! I'll try to keep the rocking to a minimum :) but I'll admit there were some pretty stormy days out there!
I'll just hold my computer screen away from my body and walk to avoid the sway. 🌊
The sea is home to some of us, even when we live on land. I can feel a little of that nostalgia in your words — not sadness for what ended, but gratitude for what changed you. What you lived out there is yours now; no return to shore can take that away. And perhaps the journey is not ending at all — it is simply changing form. Fair winds, Alexander., I hope to see you on a 33-foot sailboat with a new camera. See you soon
Thank you for the thoughtful words, you are very right, I feel a very string sense of gratitude to have been able to go on this voyage, and the memories that stay with me, and the journey is still ongoing and changing form as you say. And so far it's been amazing! See you out on the water hopefully! Fair winds :)
So be it (amen), ;)
So lovely. Here for it.
Thank you for being here Penny! Hope you enjoy :)