Philosophy of Sailing: A Book Review
Philosophy of Sailing: Offshore in Search of the Universe
by Christian Williams, 2018 East Wind Press
Sailing solo from the breakwater of Marina del Ray to the leeward side of Oahu, and back, Christian Williams skippers us through an Offshore Inquiry.
The sturdy ribs of Philosophy of Sailing are the ship’s log which, for me, read like the titles of poems:
“Day 7, 0400 hours. Voices” or “Day 12, 1945 hours. Whisker Pole”.
Not a sailor beyond zig-zagging over a Minnesota lake atop a 14' Sunfish, I savored how deftly Williams transitioned from the minutiae of single-handedly piloting a 38' Ericson to poetic and occasionally profound observations about the living, our loved ones, and our place in the universe.
With day and night interchangeable it feels like living forever.
– Ch 7, Vigilance — Small sounds, big ocean
Stowed in the galley of Thelonious II, Williams’s books and music become our loyal companions.
When not abovedeck tending to fouled rigging, Williams is below deck ruminating on and conversing with philosophers like David Hume, Bertrand Russell, and The Magliozzi Brothers (The lovable lug nuts of NPR also known as Click and Clack).
Becalmed in the Pacific, Williams calls upon legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk to inform us of the mystical power of the space between notes.
Our boat’s patron, Thelonious Monk, heard the gaps between notes so clearly that his notes had to wait for permission to talk.
Here, now, this moment, we’re in the space between notes.
Let’s stay a moment.
– Ch 29, Interval — In the space between the waves
My Goodreads bookshelf has a category I’ve labeled Inquiry. I’m not much for Philosophy, but I’m a sucker for Inquiry. Philosophy collects dust. Inquiry is adventure.
Philosophy of Sailing is Inquiry at its best. This book harkens to another Inquiry favorite, Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Williams and Pirsig use the transport vessel as their literary base camp for launching metaphysical search parties.
Williams reminds us to allow time for offshore inquiry. George Gershwin’s Fascinatin’ Rhythm is a toe-tapper onshore. But only offshore — wherever one’s offshore might be — do we allow ourselves the contemplative space to recognize the figure and ground of Fascinatin’ Rhythm where, as Williams notes, “the exuberance is in the pauses”.
Highly recommended.
5 of 5 stars.
