by Ray Jason
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| Dinghies at rest as the tribe holds a council? |
“I
believe that if there is a near extinction catastrophe, a sea gypsy tribe has
the best chance of both surviving and replenishing the human population in the
wisest manner.”
For those of you who may not have read that article, I
encourage you to do so before continuing with this one. THAT piece provides the “why to” background
information for my belief that economic, energy and ecological disasters are
very possible in our near future. It
then suggests that various sea gypsy tribes scattered about the planet provide
an excellent survival and re-seeding option.
THIS article provides the basic “how to” information for anyone who was
inspired by my message, and would like to join our movement. My sense is that there are three potential types
of candidates. I refer to them as
Seekers, Converts and Recruits.
The Seekers are skilled ocean sailors who are already out
there cruising, but who are searching for more meaning in their vagabond lives. The frenzied, hollow, shop-til-you drop,
electronic doo-dad hologram that modern life has become, was no longer
tolerable; and so they sought the comfort and authenticity of Mother
Ocean. Hopefully, my essay awoke them to
the probability that there are many other liked-minded sailors out there, who
are also looking for their tribe.
The second category is the Converts. This group is also already out there enjoying
the cruising life in their ocean-ready sailboats. But their basic philosophy is very different
from that of the Seekers. Here is a good
way to describe the conversion that would be necessary for them to be drawn
towards the sea gypsy tribal value system.
If they previously thought that The American Dream was good for the
planet, but now realize that it is extremely destructive for the planet, then
they are ready to hoist their Earth Flags and join our clan.
I classify the third group as Recruits. They have no sailing experience, but they are
mindful of the lunacy of modern life and are searching for other, more
fulfilling paths. Many of the core sea
gypsy tribal values resonate with them.
They understand that infinite growth on a finite planet is
delusional. They sense that the vast
problems caused by too much technology cannot be fixed with more technology. And they do not want to contribute their
energy and vision to an increasingly more Orwellian police/surveillance
State. They are fed up, and they wish
they had a boat and knew how to sail it.
The main purpose of this essay is to convince those Recruits
that they CAN learn how to sail and they should buy a boat. Also, I wish to reassure them that this can
be done much more quickly and affordably than they might imagine. As for the Seekers and Converts, my purpose
is to help them upgrade their cruising sailboats into state-of-the-art,
ocean-going survival pods. Let’s begin!
*******
LEARNING TO SAIL
The vast majority of sailors are NOT wealthy yachtsmen. They are regular people who learned their
skills without spending a fortune doing so.
Your local Parks and Recreation Department will often have low cost
sailing instruction. Don’t be put off if
it looks like the lessons will be conducted in tiny boats, because it is
actually best to learn in small craft, since they are so responsive to the
moodiness of the wind.
There are also low-cost sailing clubs in many towns as well
as programs offered through community colleges.
The back of most sailing magazines will list programs where you can
learn sailing. The costs range from
reasonable to extravagant. Just hitting
the docks at your local marina is a very inexpensive option. Most sailors are pleasant, easy-going
people. If you express an interest in
learning, and offer to swap some help with boat projects, you have a good
chance of picking up some free instruction.
Volunteering to crew on local racing boats is another option. You will initially be given simple tasks, but
if you pay attention, you can swiftly learn a lot. There are many “how-to”
books that provide excellent instruction on the basics of sailing. Many libraries will carry some of these. Otherwise, they can easily be googled up.
So, as you can see from the preceding inventory, there are
lots of ways to learn basic sailing.
Once that is achieved you will need to acquire “cruising skills.” In a way, this is even easier, because the
sailing magazines run a steady stream of articles dealing with topics such as
anchoring, dinghy selection, outboard motor repair, food provisioning,
navigation and various potential emergencies at sea. A couple of inexpensive subscriptions to
sailing magazines would provide you lots of valuable information. And many libraries have current and back
issues of these periodicals. Another
excellent, inexpensive resource is the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. They offer many free and low-cost courses in
such topics as safe boat handling, first-aid and coastal navigation.
*******
BUYING A SAILBOAT
Just as there are many options for learning how to sail, there are also
lots of ways to find a suitable boat that can be both your joy and your
protector. When friends ask for
suggestions, I recommend fiberglass boats in the 30 to 45-foot range. My preference for fiberglass is because they
are light but strong. They are also low
maintenance and since they are the most prevalent on the market, they are
reasonably priced. There are certainly
merits to the other hull materials – steel, aluminum, wood and ferro-cement –
so if that is your preference, indulge it!
My size recommendation is based on the fact that the majority
of the sea gypsy community is likely to be couples. Less than 30 feet and things get a bit
cramped. And when it is more than 45
feet, the vessel becomes difficult for just 2 people to handle because of all
of that weight and power. Additionally,
the 45 feet size should adequately take care of the needs of families with
kids.
While you are learning basic sailing, you will probably start
noticing boats that appeal to you.
Owners love it when a stranger approaches them and says, “That sure is a
fine looking boat…what kind is she?” By
window shopping your nearby docks and by paying attention to the boats in the
magazines you can become fairly knowledgeable quite swiftly.
Here is another important tip for quickly increasing your
knowledge. Go to a website called
www.yachtworld.com. Then click on their
“brokerage” section and type in specifics such as “used, sail, fiberglass, 35 to
45 feet and under $60K.” Most of the
listings that pop up will have multiple photos of the exteriors and the
interiors as well as the “specs” or specifications for that vessel.
Once you have a better sense of your needs and wishes, you
can get serious in your search. Start
locally by walking the nearby docks and searching for boats with “for sale”
signs. Check the classifieds in your
local newspaper and also in any free “shopper” papers. There are also regional editions of Sailboat
Trader which can usually be found at convenience stores.
Many sailboat designs have “owners’ groups” who find each
other on the Web and exchange information about their boats. So, for example, if you found yourself
desiring the venerable old Pearson 424 design, you could google up their
owners’ page and see if they know of any sister ships for sale.
There are many listings in the back of the sailing magazines.
Besides the glossy national publications,
there are several regional ones that are published on newsprint that are also
very helpful. Latitude 38, which
originates from San Francisco is a good example of one of these. Almost all of these are free and almost all
sailing magazines have complimentary online versions.
And, of course, there are also professional boat
brokers. These folks are quite different
from the typical used car salesman who is trying to close the deal while you
are there on the lot. Brokers realize
the magnitude of your purchase, and they don’t try to rush you into a
decision. Most marinas will have some brokerages nearby or you can locate them in the yellow pages or online. And speaking of the differences between
buying a car and a sailboat, you’ll be happy to learn about professional yacht
surveyors. This is a specialist who
carefully examines the vessel and then makes a thorough written report of its
strengths and deficiencies. Banks and
insurance companies require this. But
for “cash and a handshake” purchases, this is not necessary. However, considering the value of the
investment, a yacht survey is usually well worth the expense.
*******
OUTFITTING YOUR
BOAT Hopefully, my suggestions will help you find your
dream boat. When that happy day arrives,
your focus will then shift to preparing her for the rigors and joys of the open
ocean. There are a few excellent books
to help guide you through this process.
My favorite is READY FOR SEA by Tor Pinney, because it is well written
and contains a wealth of information that is understandable even to a novice.
It is important to emphasize that ocean sailboats are complex
creatures. There are MANY systems that
are vital to a sea boat that are not needed in your house, apartment, condo or
yurt. Here is a list of some of them:
Anchors/autopilots/bilge pumps/diesels/dinghies/GPS/ham and
SSB radios/life-rafts/outboard
motors/radars/roller-furlers/solar panels/winches/wind generators/and windlasses
Now I realize that this might seem daunting, but most used
boats on the market are already equipped with many of these systems. And more importantly, that less-complicated
but stationary house will not help you escape in the case of a societal
meltdown. Now I could devote thousands
of words to arguing the merits of any of these pieces of gear, but it is far
better for the novice to research this on their own. Pore through the magazines and “how to” books
and ask other sailors on your docks.
Another excellent source for information on properly outfitting your
boat is the West Marine Catalog, which is available free of charge from this
nationwide nautical hardware store.
Scattered within its pages are short “advisors” on just about every boat
system you would desire.
*******
SPECIFIC SEA GYPSY
TRIBE PREPARATIONS Everything that I have described thus far
would apply to anyone who wanted to wander the wide waters on their own
sailboat. Now I will outline some
specific preparations for long-term self-reliance in case civilized society
starts to unravel. I emphasize that my
hope is that this will never occur, nor am I claiming that it will occur. But there is much wisdom in “hoping for the
best, but preparing for the worst!” This
is the portion of this essay that is directed not just to the “Recruits” but
also to the “Converts” and the “Seekers.”
The most vital needs in a survival situation are probably:
WATER FOOD SHELTER PROTECTION
COMMUNICATIONS
WATER A human can survive for weeks without food, but only for a few days without water. On a sailboat there are two basic ways to stay supplied with drinking water. The low cost option is to “catch” water directly from rain showers. I call this sky water and it is delicious. I use an awning that dips towards its mid-point and funnels the rain through a hose directly into my tanks. I let the first couple of minutes of rain wash the awning clean, and then hook the hose up to the tanks. Then a foot-pump down at the galley sends the water to a Brita pitcher which then filters it. In my decades of cruising I have never run out of water and that includes ocean passages of up to 30 days.
The second option is a reverse-osmosis water-maker that
converts sea water into fresh water.
There are both manual and electric versions. The electric ones only need to be run for a
short period each day, in order to produce far more water than you need. They are low maintenance and some of them can
also be pumped manually if there is a problem with your ship’s electrical
supply. As for the problem of oceanic
acidification, I have not heard any reports from my friends with water-makers,
saying that this has become an issue. I
also assume that the manufacturers are paying close attention to this and
beefing up their filters.
FOOD Non-perishable foods are the mainstay of a survival
vessel. Most sailboats do have
refrigeration systems that can be powered by solar panels and/or wind
generators. But these fridges are mostly
devoted to lengthening the edibility of perishable foods such as meat, dairy
products and vegetables. On an extended
voyage, or if supplies ashore are cut off, there will be no food left to
cool. So the fridge will just become a
glorified beer cooler.
Nowadays, many more boats are using freezers, which greatly
increase one’s perishable food capacity.
These require far more energy, and usually necessitate running the
diesel or generator for an hour or more each day. But since this essay foresees a world without
readily available petroleum, a sizable solar or wind generation capacity is
required to keep a freezer functioning.
Because I have always been on the impoverished end of the sea
gypsy financial spectrum, I have mostly sailed without refrigeration. But I have not suffered because of this. A quick inspection of my ship’s cupboards
reveals the following wealth of long-term foods that are readily available from
any grocery store:
Almonds/beef stew/black beans/Bragg’s liquid aminos/brown
rice/canned beef/canned chicken/canned clams/canned fruits/canned salmon/canned
shrimp/canned soups/canned veggies/cashews/cereal/crackers/dried fruits/egg
noodles/fruit cocktail/garbanzo beans/gouda
cheese/honey/jelly/lentils/long-life bread/long-life milk /mac and cheese/mayo/nutritional
yeast/oatmeal/paella mix/pancake mix/pasta/peanut butter/powdered/eggs/powdered
milk/protein powder/red
beans/salami/sardines/spaghetti/sugar/tea/tofu/TSP/whole wheat flour/etc
This inventory should demonstrate that eating aboard an
ocean-capable sailboat is not just beans and rice drudgery. Furthermore, I supplement these supplies with
freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. I
have dozens of the large #10 cans filled with such treats as beef stroganoff,
chicken teriyaki and dehydrated broccoli.
A little water and a very short cooking time and you have delicious
meals.
I also keep a supply of canned bacon, cheese and butter
aboard. If you google up “survival
foods” you will find contact info for purchasing these extremely valuable
products. Growing my own alfalfa and
mung bean sprouts has been a tradition aboard AVENTURA for many years. A large jar of these tiny seeds will provide
you months of tasty sprouts that are alive with nutrition.
There are also old sailors’ tricks for extending the life of
perishable foods without refrigeration.
For example, potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage will last quite some
time if stored in cool, dark locations.
Raw eggs can be coated in Vaseline to extend their usability and I wrap
apples, oranges and zucchinis in aluminum foil to help keep them fresh.
An important component of the onboard, long-term food supply
will be fishing and foraging. Fish,
lobster and crab from the sea and clams, mussels, and oysters from the shore
are all mighty fine and nutritious foods.
Seaweed is also something that will prove very valuable although I
personally need to learn much more about identifying and harvesting the best
types.
Food drying, especially fruit, seaweed and fish is also an
area that requires more of my attention.
I look forward to increasing my knowledge and therefore my food
independence as I research this. Thus
far my web surfing has failed to locate a good, affordable solar food
dryer. There are plenty of electric ones
available, but since they must run for hours, they are a huge drain on the
ship’s electrical supply. However, there
are nice solar ovens and cookers already available and one of them is high on
my wish list. Sun-baked bread is
reportedly quite delicious.
In concluding this vital section, it should be emphasized
that a well-provisioned sailboat can be an island of comfort and safety as the
food procuring situation dangerously deteriorates for those stranded on the
land during any severe catastrophe.
SHELTER A person in his or her sailboat is like a turtle in its shell
– you bring your own house with you.
This also allows you to bring along a nice supply of creature comforts
as well. My library is a constant joy
for me and positioned beside it is a nice selection of movies on DVD which I
can watch on this very laptop. Plus I
have plenty of music CDs onboard as well.
And for high-end boats with water-makers and propane water
heaters there are hot showers even a thousand miles from land. And if there is no longer any propane, they
can shower as I have contentedly done for years, by using a very low-priced but
efficient solar shower.
Being able to move your comfortable shelter is probably its
greatest feature. If I was in the U.S.
and some sort of societal meltdown began, I could depart in a matter of
hours. I keep my diesel fuel, water
tanks, propane supply and food always topped off. I would bid farewell to my local friends,
email my more distant ones, go buy fresh fruit and meats and veggies, check the
weather forecast online and get underway.
I would then set a course for one of my favorite Third World
countries – probably in Central America.
There are well-considered reasons for this choice. Because their basic infrastructure is LESS
reliable than ours, they have adjusted to disruptions and can handle them
better. Because of previous problems
with the transportation of food, they usually have a supply stock-piled, so
they won’t become violently upset by the trucks not arriving. And they don’t have the “entitlement” issues
of the citizens of the wealthier countries that make them so dependent on
governmental assistance. Essentially,
these folks have always demonstrated a better capacity to fend for themselves.
PROTECTION In my Sea Gypsy Tribe essay I
emphasized the tremendous danger that starving, heavily-armed MARAUDERS pose to
land-based people. My belief is that the
only real strategy for avoiding this life-threatening likelihood is to
LEAVE. In my carefully considered
opinion, staying onshore and attempting to win a seemingly endless series of
firefights to protect one’s family and food is a fool’s mission.
But what about the hazards that might exist “out there?” Let’s begin by talking about piracy. Most of the attacks that draw a lot of media
attention are directed towards large ships and not at small sailboats. When there are incidents involving cruisers,
the word gets out so quickly through ham and single-sideband radio nets, that
it is easy to avoid the problem areas.
Essentially, there are only a few dangerous regions and since we know
where they are, we don’t sail there. Would
you vacation in Afghanistan?
Many, if not most, countries force you to surrender any guns
that you have onboard when you clear in with Customs and Immigration. Failure to do so can result in fines, jail
time and confiscation of your boat. But
the likelihood of any sort of attack is greater when close to shore than it is
in open waters. So, just when you might
need your weapon, it is locked up in the Customs office. Some sailors deal with this dilemma by hiding
things deep in the boat during the inspection process, and then moving them to
a more readily accessible spot when the authorities leave.
There are legal forms of protection with less stopping power
but still considerable impact. This
would include flare guns, pepper spray, crossbows and spear guns. There are also adaptor kits available that
allow a flare gun to fire a shotgun shell rather than a flare.
One of the hallmarks of my personal defense strategy is that
I would NEVER use lethal force just to stop a thief. If someone is threatening me or a loved one
with bodily injury, I would definitely respond appropriately, but I would not
shoot my spear gun into the back of someone trying to steal my dinghy.
If I felt someone hop aboard my boat I would keep my hatches
shut and blast them with my air horn from down below while switching my deck
lights on and off. If that did not
convince them to leave, I would proceed to more assertive tactics. One protective layer that I still need to
investigate is a simple car alarm style horn that I could activate from down
below if I sensed an intruder. The
motion-activated ones are not ideal onboard because boats are often moving due
to waves and wakes. But a manual one
might be a very effective deterrent.
COMMUNICATIONS Often when there is a severe natural disaster such as an
earthquake, the normal communication systems are completely disabled. The same would be the case in a “grid-down”
emergency. In such situations the first
on the scene reports are usually transmitted via Ham radio operators. The reason for this is because there is no
intermediary infrastructure involved.
There are no cell phone towers or underground cables or bundles of fiber
optic strands. As long as the receiving
and transmitting radios are functioning, communication is possible. And since these radios can easily remain
charged up using solar panels and wind generators, the ocean sailor has a far
more reliable communication system than people back onshore. In a potential collapse situation this is not
just comforting but potentially lifesaving.
*******
CONCLUSION In my two Sea Gypsy Tribe essays, I have attempted to convince whoever is willing to listen, that brutally hard times might await humanity. And I have tried to persuade those open to my message, that the best way to survive such catastrophes is by escaping on a well-equipped ocean-ready sailboat. But besides just evading these disasters, the various sea gypsy tribes scattered upon the wide waters, can also help repopulate the planet. Hopefully as they do so, they can avoid the horrible mistakes that techno-industrial civilization made. My dream is that they will create a Humanity 3.0 that will bequeath us Mozart without the mushroom cloud.