Tis' a fool who fears not the Ocean

In our quest to live aboard a sailboat, the thought of being alone, just the two of us, somewhere on the vast ocean is a little frightening. With the current news reporting tropical storm Issac just to the southeast of the U.S., in the prime sailing waters of the Caribbean, can make any sailor wonder what they would do if they were there and if they could make a protected cove or harbor before it hits.

I have sailed in the ocean twice so far and both times we have had fair winds and calm seas. I have no experience with rouge waves and unpredictable rollings seas, and yes I am afraid of them. Fear can do two things to a person; it can cause you to seize up, roll into a fetal position and pray for safety, or you can use it to your advantage and learn from it, push it down inside of you and soldier on. Respect for the ocean is a no brainer, there are too many lost souls under the waves not to have respect.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to trust your training and judgement, the second is to trust your boat. Boats, properly maintained, can take a lot of abuse before they fail, but don't be over-confident. Confidence is a killer of men, and not just at sea. My first sailing instructor asked our class "when do you reef your sails?" (reefing is reducing the size of the sail) The answer was "the first time you think about it", and it makes sense. If the weather is turning and you have enough concern to think "reef"; its time to do it, before you have to stand on top of the boat and shorten sail on a pitching and rolling deck.

The ocean is very much like a mermaid; beautiful and mesmerizing in one instance, and just when you think she loves you, she turns into a demon, pulling you down into the abyss. The ocean floor is littered with countless wrecks of  boats and ships from antiquity to today. If you hold the favor of the Gods of the seas you will have fair winds and calm seas.

Martina and I hope to be coastal cruisers and don't plan to sail the open ocean unless we have to get from one island to the next, but we will be prepared and carry the respect for the water that is due for:

Tis' a fool who fears not the Ocean.