The Problem with Schedules

You hear it all the time. “The most dangerous thing on a sailboat is a schedule.” For a rendezvous “you can pick a time or a place, but not both.” A new friend’s parting words were “No strict dates! That’s the key!” After just 2 weeks aboard I’m realizing how right they are.

We set a goal of July 15 to move on to the boat. It was a push, especially with my participation in the 1-2 race taking up most of June, to be ready in time. But that was a land-based goal and not subject to the considerations of life on a boat. We transferred this goal-oriented schedule to boat life when set the goal of getting north to Maine straight away. We didn’t think we’d be able to hide Ruby’s birthday present so we shipped it to Maine, thereby creating a hard date of August 2 by which we needed to get to Portland. 

There are plenty of reasons we want to get to Maine. Our first summer with the boat we made three family trips to Maine so we have our favorite places. We have friends and family there. A new friend is up there on his boat. But having a schedule put pressure on us to keep moving and maybe we did so before we were ready. 

Keeping a schedule requires organization which we have not yet achieved.  We cannot go sailing with stuff lying all over the place.  During our first few days on the boat stuff was piled everywhere for lack of places to put it. Storage on a 36’ boat is limited and much of it is under couches.  We have spent a lot of time just figuring out where things should go, which things should go in easy access places and what can go in deep storage. This process is still evolving. We are devising clever storage ideas like hanging bags on hooks within cabinets.  In the mean time, however, we need to look ourselves extra time to get ready to travel and that was not built into the schedule.  

Keeping a schedule has also hindered our ability to enjoy where we are.  I had not anticipated the beauty of the coast between Mystic and Maine.  We had simply set our sights on getting north.  We did discover some great places but sometimes felt we were rushing through them. 

Most importantly we need to allow ourselves time for thoughtfulness so as not to make mistakes as well as time for recovery after we’ve made them.  On our first night off our friend’s mooring in Noank we were not thoughtful and went through a narrow channel at low tide.  We were confused between the red and green buoys and we ran aground, not hard, but still disconcerting.  In Menemsha we were not thoughtful about checking the weather.  We then needed a couple days to regroup after our rough day at anchor.

From here on I am determined to make the weather and the temperament of the crew the primary deciding factors for travel.  We really cannot commit to being at a certain place at a certain time.  While we greatly value meeting up with people and to do so we need to name a place and a time, but I am attaining an appreciation for how difficult that is..