The Flow State of Sail Passages

Our massive downwind wing on wing rig—perfect for crossing oceans in trade winds

One of the best things about publishing Escape from the Ordinary and Crossing Pirate Waters has been connecting with readers. Giving talks to sailing groups, joining discussions w book clubs and answering emails from my website has been the biggest joy since our voyage. One question keeps popping up: Don’t you get bored on long sailing passages?

Quite the opposite. I loved crossing oceans. The three longest passages lasted 21 days - our magic number. Some of what kept me busy I described in the books; watch keeping, napping, reading and the fact that even simple cooking and cleaning tasks take longer on a boat. But there is one thing that I did not include, and I wonder if any other sailors out there have the same experience. 

Time seemed slippery on long passages.  I spent hours sitting on the mizzen deck in the shade of the sails, mesmerized by the waves or just watching the pink plastic squid fishing lure dragging through the water off the stern.

The closest thing I ever came close to that “flow state” before we took off sailing was running in formation in the Army.  Maybe it was singing in cadence or moving in unison with others, but the running was effortless, almost like floating, and miles slipped away.  That kind of mental state felt too right brain to discuss with my mostly male Army buddies, so not sure if that was a common feeling.

Watching waves for hours

That flow state was true for both Glen and me on our boat.  Maybe I did it so often that watching the waves became a trigger for the thinking part of my brain to disengage. A way for my mind to take a break.  I was focused on the waves, but not really thinking about anything.  It was a pleasurable experience and when it was time to get up and do something else, I felt happier for that private time.  If what was happening on board allowed, I would write in my journal with renewed inner clarity.  Perhaps it was a form of meditation which I try to do these days as a ten-minute break from writing.

It’s not just the adventures and beauty I miss. I yearn for that flow state again. For me the opposite of boredom was true, and often I was not quite psychologically ready to make landfall when we neared our destination.  Have you ever experienced that flow state?