PHILOSOPHY OF A CRUISING YACHTIE

by Peter Canham "Seamist"  (a non-racing yachtie)

                                           
© Peter Canham - July 1994

As a Cruising Yachtie,

I've read a many tome.
But here is MY philosophy,

Easy reading as a poem.

A Cruising Yachtie's what I am,

'Tis the wandering life for me.
Excitement and adventure,

Myself, my yacht, the sea.

Up at 4 to lift the pick,

But according to the sked.
It's blowin' 40 knots out there,

So I'll just stay in bed.

There's a few small jobs need doing,

Ahh..next week what the heck.
And by then Social Security,

Will have sent another cheque.

I'll only buy flares - out of date,

And the reason that I choose 'em.
Is I'm such a competent fellow,

And I'll never have to use 'em.

My relaible old SATNAV,

It always gives me smiles.
I can get my position TWICE a day,

And accurate to 20 miles.

In Coastal Navigation,

My theory is quite bright.
Remember when heading south,

To keep the Eastcoast on your right.

In running with this theory,

And proving I'm quite deft.
When conversely heading north,

To keep the Eastcoast on your left.

Celestial Navigation,

Now that's another must.
But it's hard to find my sextant,

Beneath an inch of dust

Adjust the slides and lenses,

Display to all my finess.
But will secretly soon head below,

To check the GPS.

Monohull or Multi,

On that subject we're divided.
But one hull, two or three,

You'll at some stage be chided.

A multi's much more stable,

And this line's always got'em.
I'd rather be upside-down on the surface,

Than right-way-up on the bottom.

Or, when your boat grows up,

You'll know just how it feels.
To really do real sailing,

Without those training wheels.

Ferro, Steel or Alloy,

Plank, GRP or Ply.
It really doesn't matter which,

And here's the reason why.

"Mine is best and yours is less",

That is what they'll say.
But the best material will be found,

On the yacht you own today.

Well, now we're really Cruisers,

And we have been for years.
Sure we've had our good times,

But we've also had our tears.

"I can lay back and do nothing",

They're the words I've often spoke.
But the truth is I've no option,

See...I'm a Cruiser, and I'm broke.