Non-sailor's day

Mastering the gentle art of sailing gently

- Marsali Taylor

The golden autumn days of 2019 were the last chance for my non-sailing spouse (NSS hereafter), Philip, to have his annual sail.

Taking out NSSs isn’t as easy as you’d think – taking them out for fun, I mean, as distinct from them crewing at the regatta, which Philip only does as a Husbandly Duty and for the spectacularly good lunch.

For a start, the day has to be carefully chosen: a light wind, enough to keep the boat moving, but not enough to tilt her, which makes it strictly under 10 knots in the gusts. Direction matters too; cold northerlies or easterlies are best avoided. West means a nice reach both ways, and a southerly means I can hoist the mainsail in an orderly fashion in the marina berth. Sunshine is also good, but here in Shetland your chances of both sun and a southerly-westerly practically flat calm are low, so it’s optional. Any suggestion of rain makes it a no-show.