Bob Bitchin
The Common Bond I envy people who are just getting into sailing. I really do. Every year at the boat shows Jody and I talk to thousands of boaters, but the ones with the most enthusiasm, the most joy, are those who have just discovered what the sailing lifestyle is all about. I think that the time between when you first discover what cruising and the lifestyle can mean, and when you finish your first major voyage, has to be the best time. For those of you who have been sailing, just think back a bit. Remember all the great firsts? The first time you actually pulled out of a slip on your own? The first time you popped the headsail and felt it fill the sails, wondering if the boat might, indeed, flip over? Those memories are intense and will be with you forever, but they can not be relived. Then there’s the things that drive you nuts after you’ve been sailing awhile. All of a 261
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