Conversation

I have had many conversations while cruising in the North Channel. Some are repeated daily and others unique. Some are face to face, and more than you think utilize radio waves. We talk about the speed of transit, navigation, weather, and many calls are just to say hello and catch up with fellow cruisers. As a group we will try and meet each afternoon around 5:30 for a drink and banter. It can be on a boat, but mostly it is on a flat rock on shore, that is if one can be found.

The talk is not philosophical, unless we consider the philosophy of boating and the cruising life a valid topic, then I take back what I just wrote. Imagine the commitment that most boaters take on: debt (in our case more than our house), devoting winter months to maintenance and upgrades, and then disappearing for the spring-summer-fall. Anyone that has the nerve to marry, celebrate an anniversary, graduate or schedule any of the other activities that contribute to civil society during cruising season is spurned.

It is common for boaters, be they long-range cruisers or trailer sailors, to have left uninterested or hostile family and friends in their wake. This leads to an instant camaraderie even if they have nothing else in common. No matter if they own an 80-foot sports fisherman, a full-displacement trawler, blue water yacht, Sunfish or bass boat; believe me, there will be something to talk about.

The further afield I get there seems to be an unwritten code not to discuss religion or politics, and not ask about current or former professions. Controversy is not part of the equation unless it comes down to fuel management, the best anchorages or what appetizer to bring to happy hour.

Over the last two years I unknowingly contributed to this banter due to an unexpected gift from a former partner: a pair of family radios. In the past when we traveled with several boats channel 16 on the VHF radio—16 in Canada, 9 or 16 in the US—is utilized to hail the other boats. When we hear our name we response by acknowledging the request and state a different channel to change to because it is against the rules to talk on a hailing channel. I have a label just below my radio to remind me of the channels where unofficial boat-to-boat communications is allowed.

The conversation has a formality associated with it and goes something like this. “Carrie Rose, Carrie Rose, Carrie Rose this is Dolly.” We respond (that is if we have remembered to leave the radio on and tuned to 16), “Dolly this is Carrie Rose.” Now Dolly says, “Switch to 71.” And we say, “71” and switch. Next I usually say, “Carrie Rose” and then the conversation will commence. The discussion that follows is open to anyone with a radio. There is no expectation of privacy. As we cruise we listen to many of these conversations. They range from trivial to informative. Listening is also how we learned the appropriate way to use the radio.

So as I said I was gifted with two family radios and it dawned on me to give one to my fellow boater so we can talk off line. Family radios have none of the above formality. We simply call the other boat and talk, and chances are no one else is listening. Not that it matters much. No state secrets are changing hands. There may be a bit of gossip but mainly it is focused on the task of getting where we are going with the least amount of stress.

Generally we discuss who is going to call the harbor master, which harbor we should stop at, how deep the water is, where rocks are and most important, where is happy hour going to be!