On Swimming

From Dave

“Swimming to me is staying alive when I’m in the water”
Paul Stookey

Many people think that, as a boater I probably love to play about in the water. This is not the case. In my view, the whole purpose of a boat is is to keep me OUT of the water. A dinghy or tender is a small auxiliary rowboat whose purpose is to convey the boater from boat to dock without having to get wet—at least that’s the idea.

We have an 8 foot pram for this purpose. On Saturday it failed to do its job. (In fairness to the dink, I am not the nimblest nor the most seamanlike of sailors and I’m sure this vessel would be just fine for a younger, abler and thinner man.)

NONETHELESS, I wound up clinging to the side of the dock with the dinghy totally filled with water. They always tell you to stay with the swamped boat. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT. I’ll clutch the side of a dock any time. There’s at least SOME prospect of getting up on the dock.
Meanwhile, I’m looking at unsinkable inflatable dinghys.