Gilpin observer., 1912-07-04

determination to the utmost from the very start
as well as your power of observation. And 1t will
call Tor the exercise OF more discretion than any
other sport in world that is full of sports No
body can teach you but yourself and you can
teach yourself only by degrees
There is only school for the beginner who
would really become one of the eect-the small
boat You must become waterman before you
tackle anything else. man who can sail
canoe. and sail her properly. in any sort OF wind
or weather. is past master OF his art, and
be safely trusted with any sort of craft anywhere.
Remember that. But begin with small open
boat-the smaller the better-and spend at least
a season poking about In harbors and rivers. or
any kind OF inland water. sailing her when you
can. and rowing when you must.
Never take anybody with you, and never call
any one to help you. II you take amateur
with you he will probaly get frightened and fus-
ter you: and II you take a hired man he will try
to teach you. and will surely teach you wrong.
besides doing things for you that you ought to
do yourself At the end of a season of that sort
of thing you will have found out for yourself
whole crowd OF things that will be Of inestimable
service to you later when you have passed
through your novitiate; your hands will be hard
and horny; your muscles will feel firm and COM
Portable underneath your coat: and your health
will amaze you nearly as much as your appetite
Almost the first thing you will discover will be
that your principal requirement as singlehander
is nerve-a nerve that Is alive. but panic-proof.
II you have that combined with a real love OF ad-
venture and the spirit Of Independence; and II
you start with the determination to do everything
for yourself and do It properly after finding out
for yourself which is the proper way II you en-
10y real hard work IN the open air for your own
amusement. you in fair way to become
single-hander even before you start. But however
good your nerve may be- 1t Will need that pre-
lminary small-boat training before you can trust
yourself safely on the open sea.
Once you are OF yourself. and have mas
tered the first principles of almost the most diff
Hcult art in the whole world that of small boat
sailing the whole world of adventure Will be
at your feet the Seven Seas and all the navigable
rivers are yours 20 explore, and you can put out
on the only remaining trail where nothing is stale
and monotonous and where every wave and hol-
low, every creek and inlet, though as old as the
everlasting ages, is to each sea-borne adventurer
unexpored, aluring and absolutely new, Moth.
ing ever happens twice in the same way at sea.
or ever looks quite the same twice running.
There are no beaten tracks to follow. for the
obiiterates them. It is all new always-yours to
plow up and explore to your hearts content.
But steady! That is what is ahead Of you.
You are no single.hander yet! And II you leave
your small boat in the harbor and 60 sailing on
some one else's yacht, buy a yacht OF your
own that is too big for you to handle by your
SELF you will never be one. The worst thing you
can do is to get into the grip OF the hired man
The next worst thing is to make one OF a yachting
party In either you will learn to believe
that It takes three or four men to reef mainsail
and at least two men to get up anchor; that var.
nished decks things to be desired; that you
should run for shelter when It comes on to blow
a gale of wind. and other heresies OF that sort.
Stick to your own opinions that you have be.
gun to form already as the result Of your first
seasons experience stick to your original inten.
ton of becoming a single-hander. and. above all
things stick for the present to your small boat
Put out TO sea. Practice the sea what you
have already learned to do in the harhor and on