Hi everyone

I saw a copy of this poem and found it very true and funny. It was written for a power boat, so I have modified it to reflect sailing.

They Sailed Away

Mother and Father go sailing you know
August ’97 they just pack up and go
Far from the winds and the cold and the snow
South to the sun and the sea;

I love to think of them sailing there
The blue of the water, the gold of the air
Skimming the white caps without a care
Imagine a life so free;

I build up a picture of sea and sky
Of lazy harbours and bays drifting by
I build up this image of pie-in-the-sky
Till their first letter reaches me.

It says..
Oh!, the propeller shaft is knocking
and the main sail is flogged.
There’s mildew in the lockers
and the hull is waterlogged.
The heat exchange is bunged up
and it won’t exchange it’s heat,
when the tide went down at the dock last night
we lost another cleat.

( But, in spite of all these small incidents,
when all is said and done,
it’s great to spend our retirement
cruising in the sun. )

Mother and Father are sailing you know
Down in the south were the fair winds blow
Basking all day in the warm sun’s glow
While the sea birds circle and dive;

I think of them strolling the silver shore
Small dinghy bobbing, the flash of an oar;
Sleek hull shadowing the oceans floor;
Then a second letter arrives;

It says ..
Oh! We lost both anchors overboard
and now the jib has blown
A connecting rod is broken
And the dinghy motor’s gone.
Some moron ran aground last night
and blocked the harbour mouth;
But we couldn’t leave here anyway
the winds not from the south.

( But, in spite of all these small incidents,
when all is said and done,
it’s great to spend our retirement
cruising in the sun. )

Yes!! Mother and Father are sailing today
Crisp bow cutting a fine salt spray
White sails set as they cruise their way
Through crystal waters clear.

I’d like to think of them browned by the sun
Enjoying the speed of a long clear run
To a still, small bay when the day is done,
But now a third letter is here.

It says ..
Oh! The captain gets quite anxious
When the depth of the water drops,
The head pump is seized up solid
And the bow lines are all in knots.
We hit a small reef yesterday
So now the bilge is full
And he says the blasted bilge pump
Is clogged with knitting wool.

( But, in spite of all these small incidents,
when all is said and done,
it’s great to spend our retirement
cruising in the sun. )

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author – clever but unknown

Shared by Mary Walters, who has been there, done that.

Too true. Hope all is well.

Heather & Murray Rand
aboard Windswept IV
Ham Radio VE3 ZUA