Cruising (maritime)

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Image:Cruiser at Green Island Panama.jpg Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living full-time on a boat while traveling from place to place. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages. Cruising is done on both sail and power boats, although sail predominates over longer distances, as ocean-worthy power boats are considerably more expensive.

Many cruisers are "long term" and travel for many years, the most adventurous circling the globe over a period of three to ten years. Many others take a year or two off from work and school for short trips and the chance to experience the cruising lifestyle.

Dinghy sailors may also be "cruisers", and in this case the word refers to someone who sails just for fun, maybe to go from A to B, but equally likely just to sail around for a few hours - in fact, any sailing activity that does not involve racing.

"Cruising" may also refers to trips on cruise ships, and those who take frequent cruise ships vacations (multiples times per year) may be called "cruisers".

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History

Image:Dugout in San Blas Islands.jpg One of the first people to carry out a long-distance voyage for pleasure, and who inspired many others to follow in his path, was Joshua Slocum, who circumnavigated the world between 1895 and 1898. Despite widespread opinion that such a voyage was impossible, Slocum, a retired sea captain, rebuilt a derelict 37-foot sloop, Spray, and sailed her single-handed around the world. His book Sailing Alone Around the World is still considered a classic adventure, and inspired many others to take to the seas.<ref>Sailing Alone Around the World, Captain Joshua Slocum; Sheridan House, 1954. ISBN 0911378200</ref>

Other cruising authors have provided both inspiration and useful instruction to would-be cruisers. Key among these are Lin and Larry Pardey, who in 1969 set off on a short cruise from the USA to Mexico, which turned into a circumnavigation of the world. They wrote a series of books about their voyage, as well as several reference books on cruising.

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Techniques

As well as normal sailing and seamanship skills, cruisers use a variety of equipment and tehniques to make their voyages possible, or simply more comfortable.

Image:Solar panels on yacht at sea.jpg One of the key areas is providing the electrical power to keep the boat's systems (lights, communications gear, etc.) running. Although most boats can generate power from their inboard engines, and some carry generators, carrying sufficient fuel for these over a long voyage can be a problem; and so many cruising boats are equipped with generating devices such as solar panels, wind turbines, etc.

While it is quite possible (and, until relatively recently, normal) to cruise without long-distance communications equipment, such gear is becoming more common on cruising boats. Many boats are now equipped with satellite telephone systems; however, these systems can be expensive to use, and may operate only in restricted areas. Many cruisers still rely on the older short wave maritime SSB radio stadard, which has no running costs, and can (with suitable equipment) allow sending and receving of email.

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Further reading

  • Elbert Maloney, "Dutton's Navigation and Piloting"- a classic, professional reference, continuously updated.
  • Nathaniel Bowditch, "The American Practical Navigator"- A classic, prefessional reference, continuously updated.
  • U.S. Naval Institute, "The Bluejackets' Manual"- the navy way; the authority on Morse, flags, courtesies, fire-fighting at sea, jury-rigging, ship handling and basic sea law.
  • Lawrence and Lin Pardey, "Storm Tactics"- A must-read book.
  • Linda & Steve Dashew, "Offshore Cruisers' Encyclopedia"- expensive but so useful it has been compared to Bowditch and Dutton. Easy to read.
  • Eric Hiscock, "Cruising Under Sail"- just the facts, a classic.
  • Lawrence and Lin Pardey, "The Self-Sufficient Sailor"- The Pardey's message is wonderfully encouraging: Go simply, go cheaply and in a small boat, but go.
  • Lawrence & Lin Pardey, "Cost Conscious Cruiser"- more hints and tricks
  • Michael Carr, "Weather Prediction Simplified"
  • Steve and Linda Dashew, "Mariner's Weather Handbook"
  • Mary Blewitt, "Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen"- just the facts.
  • Merle Turner, "Celestial Navigation for the Cruising Navigator"- some theory.
  • William F. Buckley Jr., "Atlantic High"- an amazingly well-written account of an Atlantic passage. Not a shred of politics.
  • William F. Buckley Jr., "Racing Through Paradise"- etc. about a Pacific passage.
  • Don Casey "Dragged Aboard: A Cruising Guide for the Reluctant Mate"
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See also

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References

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External links

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