There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
Wind in the Willows is right in this regard, as humans have had an inseparable love affair with travelling across water on boats since ancient man decided: “Hey, this wet stuff is handy for all sorts of things but, boy, it is hard to move through. Let’s lash some floaty things together and see if we can’t get by a little quicker on top of it.”
“But I’m not a boat person!” I hear you cry. Not to worry, unless you have hydrophobia or an incredibly acute sense of motion sensitivity, there’s a boat person inside you ready to burst out and start hauling sails (figuratively of course, not in an Alien-esque kind of a way)
Consider the myriad opportunities for messing about in boats, either alone, in a couple or with a bunch of close friends.
Drinking It In
The very simplest of the pleasures of sailing, yachting, pleasure-boating or any other form of aquatic negotiation you care to mention is that the view is almost always stunning. There’s a reason why waterfront property is so hugely expensive, and so is maintaining boats in general. It’s because bodies of water bigger than a puddle or filled bath have an intrinsic beauty to them.
Kicking Back
Who said you had to be hands-on? The steady swell of the sea or gentle rock of the river on the boat was what hammocks were made to accompany. A snooze, a compelling book or just your own thoughts will round off the laid-back recipe.
Getting Stuck In
If maxing and relaxing is not your thing and you do want to expend some energy, then learning the ropes (literally) might be for you. From tying knots to hoisting sails you’ll be up on the sea-dog slang in no time. Just mind the boom (big old heavy crosspiece spar) as it swings about, you don’t want to catch that full in the face, or anywhere else for that matter.
A Mini-Boat to Call Your Own
When the rigours of sailing begin to tire you out, in this case it’s best to think smaller rather than bigger. A jet ski is the very finest in white-water thrills, because white water is what you’ll be kicking up behind you, and plenty of it.
Standard jet skis, ie: non-professional ones, can easily hit the 40-50 mph mark, providing you with a fast-paced ride without the worry of heavy traffic. Often available to hire for a couple of hours in touristy havens, they aren’t too pricey so they won’t put too much of a dent in your cheap holiday to Turkey or Thailand.
Flipping Cards and Chip Stacks
Throughout history, sailors – be they merchants, pirates or part of a navy – have always had a keen fascination with gambling. It’s understandable really given the long periods of time sailors would necessarily be at sea. To while away the hours, money would change hands over a friendly (or not so friendly) game of cards or dice.
Why not relive the spirit of sailors who have gone before you and pit your wits and luck against your fellow seafaring friends. Whether it’s for money or just for fun, historical mariners will be giving you a hearty thumbs-up from the past.
Simply Watch the Sun Sink
As the Sun dips lower and lower until it touches the horizon, it would be hard to miss the majesty that is inherent in the relatively simple succession of another day passing into night. A quiet time; a reflective time; a time to remember all the best parts of your day spent messing about on boats.
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