Editorial: The Power of the Ocean

February-March 2005

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alan Wilson

The recent tsunami tragedy in South East Asia was a stunning example of the power of nature, the fragility of life, and a reminder that we should never take the ocean lightly. We’ve now heard from our clients in the region and are relieved to report they survived and are managing to carry on. The tremendous response from around the world is encouraging, but long term survival of these communities will only be guaranteed if visitors return to the area and help to restore the normalcy of ecotourism commerce. The odds of another tsunami there anytime soon are extremely low and the area remains a beautiful, warm winter destination. In the meantime, you can give via one of the major charities such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, Care, etc. to help the region rebuild. We found that giving to the Red Cross online was a simple procedure and we had a tax receipt emailed to us within short order. If you haven’t yet given, now’s the time.

MOTHERSHIP PADDLING

When my wife and I got together, she was a boater and I was a kayaker. That melding of our lives brought a new evolution for both of us. We bought a former fish boat and a couple of compact kayaks, and became one of the few private motherships then on the water. It quickly proved itself a winning combination, as we traveled up and down the coast, dropping anchor in out-of-the-way places and exploring by kayak. Since then we’ve seen a huge growth in the number of private boats carrying kayaks.

Once in your kayak, your focus shifts away from the technology of ‘big’ boating, to a more direct and intimate experience of your surroundings. The shallows you dread in your big boat, eyes glued to the depth sounder, are suddenly a source of pleasure.

Paddling is quieter than putting around in a dinghy with a noisy outboard, it’s more pleasurable than rowing because you face forward and have the ease of maneuvering with a rudder. It’s also good exercise. No wonder that today we see motherships everywhere. And as this issue of WaveLength makes plain, mothership paddling is applicable to boats of any size, from private boats up to cruise ships.

Even if you don’t own a boat, you can experience mothership paddling by taking passage on one of the many commercial motherships available. And by the way, if you’re in the market for a boat of your own, let us know. We’re selling our boat and looking for a new one with a bit longer range, as we hope to find the time to undertake longer expeditions in the near future.(See our ad here)