From my house, I get to watch the sailors in the summertime. Little boats, big boats…

Sometimes, they play all together.
And when they turn around to go home, I love the colourful spinnakers.

The next day’s race was scheduled later in the afternoon. The silver afternoon light is just magic.

And sometimes, sailors prefer to work solo.

Sailing by yourself is a special kind of solitude, time to reflect, but also to react quickly to changing conditions. No one else to blame in case of a mistake.

The above sailor looks headed for the US (smile). That little chunk of land on the right is Blunden Islet, at the tip of South Pender Island, in BC. The islands in the background are Waldron and Orcas, in the US.

During the same sailing event, serious sailors competed on bigger boats. Team work and play. Less meditation, more intensity.

And sometimes, things don’t go as planned.

In 2007, on the eve of the Saturna Lamb Barbecue (a July Saturna tradition for over 50 years), the Robertson II ran aground on a reef near Saturna Island, in the middle of the night.  Miscalculation, distraction, too much pre-partying?  Night sailing is demanding and unforgiving.

Oh well.

Back to daytime sailing. And the afternoon light.

I caught the boat pictured above sailing “in the silver”, a couple of days ago. The late afternoon light was perfect.  Then, I played with the filters and colour intensity. I think this is going to be a print. In the meantime, enjoy it online.

And go play outside!