Brian Hancock has been producing daily reports for the Oryx Quest. Unfortunately it’s not been much of a race. Still Hancock is a fine writer and has produced interesting reports. After Doha 2006 crossed the line to take 1st Hancock wrote about the attraction of around the world racing.

Hancock writes movingly about how ocean racing brings focus, simplicity, a measurable goal, and freedom.

Here is an excerpt:”There is something uniquely addictive about racing a boat around the world. It’s about focus…. It’s only natural to accumulate things, but one by one each possession adds clutter to our daily lives. When you head out to sea for a lengthy period you leave behind most of those things. Your life suddenly becomes much more simple… There are watches to keep; meals to make and a boat to race. You also have a fixed goal; to race the boat as fast as you can and as safely as you can around the world. For many people having a very real and tangible goal is an exhilarating experience especially when you can see each day just how much progress you are making towards your final objective.

Then there is also the simplicity. After two weeks at sea you suddenly realize that you can no longer remember any advertising jingles. The inside of your head is free from noise and it’s an amazing sound…”

While I have not raced around the world as Hancock as done and have little multi hull experience unlike the Doha 2006 crew I can attest to the fineness of the rhythm of sea.

If you’ve not gone offshore, which I’ll define by saying a passage of a week or more, you should. It’ll clear the head space!

I’m particularly attracted to the simplification. The idea that you keep your watch and get your rest and you have satisfied your requirements can be much more attractive than a multi faceted on land to do list.

Many boats run on a 3 watch system. There is an on watch, a standby and an off watch. The on watch is steering, trimming etc. The standby may help with sail changes etc., but may also rest if things are easy. The off watch is below in a bunk.

Perhaps this simile is a bit of a big sail for this breeze but the on/stand by/ off model might be a good one in general. Work or parenting is on watch. A movie or a stroll around the neighborhood is stand by. Sleeping, napping etc. is off watch. Maybe this can bring some of the desired simplicity home when we step ashore.

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