What drives someone to row across the Atlantic or sail, single-handed, around the globe? What does it feel like to be a human, alone, in the middle of a huge ocean?
Sailing – it's an unpredictable and dangerous activity and yet it has woven its way into the hearts and souls of many for centuries. So, just what is it about sailing that makes it so appealing? What meaning and value does it have as a sport or hobby and are there lessons that we can learn from this most ancient of crafts? In order to answer these questions and more, Sailing brings together a collection of stimulating essays from a range of contributors, all of whom have a personal engagement with sailing.
"The mystery of the sea is shared by all sailors, even (perhaps especially) the most technically gifted masters of the craft." -John Rousmaniere
With articles from a range of contributors, all of whom sail, and covering topics that include the beauty of the sailing experience to the meaning of the boat, what this fascinating collection reveals is that sailing is as much a lesson in life as it is a journey on the high seas. Sailing is about freedom and commitment, fear and joy, belief and transformation, mystery and the stripping away of the distractions of modern life. It is about pitting your wits against Nature's fiercest elements - wind and water - and putting yourself into life-threatening situations that require swiftness of thought and resourcefulness rarely demanded in the lives of landlubbers.
Out on the water, connections with the larger human drama are made. Meaning and value grow. For the philosophical sailor, sailing becomes bigger and more real. Demonstrating how philosophy can help us grasp the meaning, aims and satisfactions of sailing, this is the perfect book for anyone who has had a moment on a boat when time stood still and they discovered another world...
About the Author:
Patrick Goold is passionate about sailing. As well as crewing for others he captains a small day-sailer and a cruising boat of his own. As well as sailing his home waters, he has sailed the length of the east coast of the United States from Hilton Head to Long Island Sound, made a Bermuda crossing, participated in club racing in Brittany and cruised in the Lesser Antilles. When not sailing, Patrick is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Virginia Wesleyan College, USA.
Patrick Goold is available for interview by phone. If you would like to arrange to speak to him or would like a review copy or sample chapters from Sailing, please contact Michelle Martella at mmartella@wiley.com
About Wiley-Blackwell:
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