CONTEMPLATION

HAVING RACED WITH THE BEST, A LEISURELY PACIFIC CROSSING GIVES CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON OCEAN SAILING

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Christian Williams, now 81, is alive, well and going strong in California. To get a handle on this remarkable man, watch A Gale of Fire Turns our World to Ash on his YouTube channel, Christian Williams Yachting. His home of 30-odd years is totally destroyed in the well-documented Pacific Palisades firestorm. The measured seaman’s response to what for many would be a catastrophe gives us an insight into the author of Philosophy of Sailing, Offshore in Search of the Universe. Williams was editor of The Washington Post during the Watergate scandal and went on, among many other things, to become a successful TV producer.

We join him on passage from Los Angeles towards Hawaii, sailing the same route as the Transpac race. where he begins to ponder on the real differences between cruising and racing. And he should know. In the book, he’s taking life as it comes on his Ericsson 38 which he loves, but in 1979 he was with Ted Turner on Tenacious, winning the most dramatic Fastnet race of them all.

Day 11, 1000. Competition

We are cruising, not racing. We move across the ocean purposefully, seamanlike, in accordance with the gift of the day.

And this day is good: a following breeze, moderate seas and distinctly balmy air. We're making 6½ knots at the moment, which seems pleasingly fast. I set the table for breakfast with a knife, fork, spoon and napkin, and carried eggs and bacon there in a tray. Here to serve, and notice the Tabasco I have put out, should we choose a burst of red pepper to wake up the day.