“What kind of people actually go on your sailing trips?” a friend asked us recently. Good question. But we had to think about the answer for a moment.
In fact, it’s often the most diverse types of people who come aboard with us. Some you recognize from afar (sailing jacket, sunglasses, outdoor pants, and athletic shoes). Others you’d expect more as a cruise ship passenger than on a sailboat (dress pants and shoes, ironed shirt, tie, and straw hat).
Young people who are on vacation alone for the first time come aboard, as do older people who have dreamed of this sailing trip their entire lives. Some have many nautical miles under their belt, while others have never sailed at all.
And once we’ve been at sea for a day, all differences disappear…
Little by little, we discover the passions of the ‘ironed shirt’ type, and the motivations of the ‘outdoor pants’ type. Our 18-year-old-on-their-first-trip turns out to be able to bake a fantastic apple pie (even on a rocking ship), and the older lady acts as a rock in the surf during the night watch.
Meanwhile, the seasoned sailor notices how wonderful it is to enjoy the passing landscape from the foredeck. While the one who has never sailed before takes the helm with full dedication.
You might never have picked them out together, but after a day or so, they form a close-knit group, share their life stories, and hoist the sails together.
The ideal traveler? That’s every single one of them.
And you? On which trip will we find you aboard?
