STORMS COME AND GO
Cruising is about focus.
It’s all too easy to focus on the storms of life and worship at the altar of fear. It’s easy to forget that storms come and go, but dreams can last forever.
In more than fifty thousand miles of offshore sailing, we have had winds to fifty knots on only three occasions. That makes about six days of gale force winds during an eleven year sailing voyage around the world. I think that our experience is fairly typical for people who do trade wind circumnavigations. If you stay out of the higher latitudes and don’t sail in hurricane season, it’s unlikely you will ever encounter a storm that poses a significant threat to your yacht. That’s the real world of sailing.
The fear mongers would have us live in a very different world. This year, they predicted that hurricane season would be one of the worst on record. There would be more storms and storms of greater severity than at any time in recent history. Fear makes you tune in to the Weather Channel so that you can listen to their forecasts of doom and gloom. The Apostles of Fear would have you believe that we live in a dangerous world, because fear is big business. Capitalism has embraced fear and wants you to buy their particular antidote to fear.
I am not buying what they are selling. Whether I am on land or sea, I am not afraid, but I am tired of listening to the fear mongers. I wish they would go away or go silent. They are boring me with their negative and toxic palaver.
I listened to the fear mongers tell me how dangerous it was to live in the Middle East, and contrary to their prophecies of doom, I lived in Saudi Arabia for sixteen years without a problem.
I listened to the fear mongers tell me about the perfect storm and how dangerous it was to sail the seven seas, and contrary to their predictions, in eleven years, I never sailed in winds over fifty knots.
I listened to the fear mongers tell me that catamarans were dangerous to sail offshore, and I sailed one around the world without a problem.
I have figured out that when people tell me that I should be afraid, they either don’t know what they are talking about, they are trying to control me with fear, or they want to sell me something as an antidote to the fearful world that they are trying to cultivate in my mind.
I’ve got my mental ear plugs in, and I’m no longer listening to their gospel of fear. I won’t let them control the focus of my mind or steal my dreams.
Instead, I’m focusing on my dreams. I’m projecting my dreams onto the motion picture screen of my mind so they can expand into my life. I know that life is good. I live in the Land of Possibility, and I sail on the ocean of my dreams where there is no limit to how good my life can become.
I have been tested in the crucible of life, and I know the truth. There is nothing to fear, and focusing on the storms of life is a waste of precious time. Storms come and go, and they are few and far between. Dreams are different. They go on forever. That’s why I focus on my dreams. That’s why I live as if my dreams are possible and work each day to make them happen. That’s why I’m an Unstoppable, Consistently Positive, Endlessly Persistent, Doer of Dreams.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
