Gee mate. Why do we breath ? Because we have to. Once you have it in your blood it's hard to shake it. I'm well over 60 and bought my first sail boat when I was 16. It was a VJ skiff and I taught myself to sail on it. I then joined a club and found out all the things I was doing wrong. I have a few passions in my life. One is motorcycles and there has never been a time since before I got a license that I have been without a bike. I still enjoy long distance cruising on the bike. Another is the outdoors and when I'm not on the water I am usually in the bush somewhere. To this end I have a good 4WD, camper trailer etc and love getting away. My main passion since I grew up in a remote area of western Queensland has been the water.
I have raced, cruised, lived and generally bummed about in boats for as long as I can remember. Not counting skiffs and small cats I am now on yacht number four and my wife already wants a bigger boat.
WHY, I don't really know. I just love being at see, day or night. I love tinkering with the rigging, servicing the diesel, painting, cleaning, maintaining etc, etc, etc. THEN there are the places that only a boat can take you and the challenges that come at 2 AM. or whenever. The constant challenge of being on course and where you want to be. Of setting the anchor and making sure it's set and then doubting yourself when the wind kicks in. Double checking tides, charts, fuel, the list goes on.
I sail because it's the one thing I like to do that makes me feel that I am constantly being challenged and the feeling of satisfaction I get when I meet the challenges.
Above all it's enjoying the lifestyle and constantly being reminded that no matter what, the sea always dictates the terms.

i think its like a lot of activities , while engaged , we must concentrate on that alone . so while doing that we forget about other crap in our lives .

other similar activities........... surfing, [ tick and cheaper !] , base jumping [ no way ] rock-climbing [ nfw ] , boxing [ not a chance ] .....................

As a 16 year old on a reach sailing a Quick Cat there was a heat haze in the distance with a quivering palm tree, From there its where your boat can take you to isolated places to enjoy nature and its wild life.
I used to do the same think with a VW no mud guardsno reg in the middle of Australia. Id be having a beer after woork with the boys and was asked what are you doing this weekend Id say going bush they would laugh your in the bush you silly BuG#er
Ran in to a Army servival team once about 200 mile from no where cam over a rise and there they were. Some time you would come over a rise and find a beautiful oasis nice big water hole and not a sole to be seem for miles and miles. Loved it my kids are the same. They all have partners but they love to get away on there own and go walkabout. So Im looking forward once I retire to find nice places and get into photography and enjoy swinging off anchor

All of the above - I've always had the theory that some people have a primeval connection with water. I know I have - I love being in it, on it, under it, near it. When we walk the dogs on the beach, my wife tolerates me waxing lyrical how great the water looks today, I just can't help it..
Add to that the total mental absorbtion of sailing, surfing, diving - it'll keep me interested as long a I live!
rgeards,
Allan

Lots of reasons for me, that came together over time. I like being anywhere that gives me a good view of the horizon......sooths the soul. I was born by the sea and was fishing as soon as i could and grew to love surfing in my 20's. I also have an attraction to all things wood, starting with guitars, working for Maton and as a player. I restored a few put puts so off and on have had a boat for the past 25 years, and have spent some time on friends yachts. Finally this year I purchased my own motor sailer. It has been something i have worked towards for years and am really only at the introductory stage of sailing my own boat and it's doing me the world of good.
I see no sense in having a motor clacking away when the wind can get you there in silence and peacefully, but from the little i know, sailing requires attention to detail and constant vigilance.

It has something to do with unshackling the chains of society !

Freedom ,thechallenge, the thrill of doing something without the reliance of modern technology, the peace of mind and satisfaction ,I am always amazed how fast 7knots feels when on a reach with a flat sea. plus all of above

Go to isolated places you can't get to unless you are in a boat and if you happen to come across another of the species, they are like minded.

mangrovefrog said..
Off on another tangent, before earth turned, recreated and got modified... the story behind the burning of books and other witchcraft related artifacts, eradication of entire civilisations, persecutions!? Not to mention slavery, mutilations and wars. If only you could see other parallel worlds where one could see for oneself how we have twin moons and varying chunks of rocks levitating on magnetic fields... that story, i say the 'door was left open' for 'residents' of those levitating citadels caused to drop on the rolling seas... this is how i entered the plastic tub business.

Sorry mangrove, I missed something, can you translate please

One day, someone will publicise a video documentary what would explain what happend and how we got here.. until then, damn safer to pretend we are mere sheeple in this matrix. No offence but i have been hounded by so much bad luck, threats and attempts to destroy me..
Still, i wouldnt have able to get a yacht if that door wasnt open..
Regards

Meg1122 said..
Same reason dogs stick their heads out the window and let their ears flap in the breeze.....cause I like it

Ill go along with that