Watching the preparations
Free as the breeze; more than a slogan, and far from reality. Quebec is in full preparation for a departure. Sometime next week (OK, the date and time are public knowledge), some very expensive and high-tech sailboats will depart for St-Malo in France. Only an ocean away.
My budget might permit me to purchase a short length of cordage, or a brass bolt or two. These teams have vessels that remind me (like the slogan about your father’s car) that sailboats aren’t stuck in the 17th century. Although the exact time required to make the crossing is still dependent upon prevailing winds and currents, someone managed to “do it” in less than eight days back in 1996. I think we visited the port area that year, and spent time watching some very colourful sails pass by from the shoreline on Ile d’Orleans. This year, I don’t know if I’ll get down to catch a glimpse.
Doesn’t matter. Everything evolves, and technology now allows the interested (vicarious) to observe things “live”, with webcams and apps and satellite tracking. In theory, I can keep a better “eye” on the various sailboats during the 5300 kilometer trek than I can on my own children in the back yard. Small exaggeration… tiny exaggeration.
I’m not likely to ever cross the Atlantic in a small boat. My ancestors took care of that duty, more than a century and a half ago. What I can do is appreciate that everything changes. Today’s sailors won’t be eating salt beef and maggoty biscuits, unless they want to.
