I got to thinking about scales after my last blog.

Getting into the ocean cruising life, sometimes referred to by those who've never done it as, “living the dream”, follows a series of natural steps. Progressing up the scale if you like, all the time building experience and skills. Or, at least it used to, pre YouTube. Cruising also has a finite lifespan, largely influenced by Stuart's patented Scunnerrometer. (See post from some years ago!).

This latest scale, which is still a work in progress is as follows….

1. Dinghy racing
2. Keelboat racing
3. Coastal Cruising
4. Ocean cruising
5. Motor homing
6. Gardening
7. Care homing.

Millennials, are whatever you might call the YouTube cruising generation; “BIGGEST waves I've ever seen” or “I was SCARED for my life” etc…. skip the early levels jumping right in at Level 4. Mind you, if they were that scared, maybe they shouldn't have skipped levels one to three. (Said the old guy clutching his Cadet Section Knots badge).

Some cruisers, reluctant to let go of the water add in Trawlering between Ocean cruising and the motor home. These folk enjoy the absence of sails, ropes, pulled muscles and the like, motoring around when and where they like irrespective of wind direction and tides but suddenly find they're not in the most environmentally responsible form of cruising and also simply dread the prospect of arriving at the fuel dock, not to mention the engine packing up. Said trawlermen then essentially transform into Level 6 the gleaming trawler now providing the function of garden shed whether at the marina or conveniently at the end of the garden. (In British Columbia perhaps?!!!).

Others rediscover their youth, fitness, energy and Lycra, getting back into, or even starting road cycling, travelling farther in a day than they ever would have by yacht.

And finally of course, heaven forbid, there's always golf.




Stuart & Anne

Our Tracker (cut and paste)
https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/TimeBandit/

Follow the blog: www.TimeBandit.Co.Uk
YouTube: SV Time Bandit