Is Sailing Really That
Essential?
Let’s take away all the boats.
Not the ships engaged in essential commerce, not the barges hauling goods, not
the net boats catching fish. Keep those. And the Navy, of course, keep that.
But all the rest can go.
Now, imagine as we look out
over the waterfront we see no skiffs on the bay, no dinghies along the sore, no
sloops or schooners on a sunset sail.
This arrangement, if it
persists, could have dire consequences -at least if you believe French
philosopher Michael Foucault:
“In civilizations without
boats, dreams dry up, espionage takes the place of adventure and police take
the place of pirates.’
(From Practical Sailor, June
2020)
