Our time on Earth is limited

As humans, we only know what we know. Experiences form reality, and for English sailors, that must mean misery is okay. The more you endure misery, the more it becomes the norm. That must be why the brutal biennial 695 nm Fastnet Race consistently sells out.

For those that really want to explore the limits of human endurance, the 1800 nm Round Britain and Ireland Race has attracted 33 teams to bid farewell on August 9. Held every four years, the course is legendary for its complexity and the likelihood of extreme conditions, testing crews with everything from Atlantic storms to tidal gates and manufactured hazards.

Tossing the “misery likes company” axiom into the wind, over a third of the teams for the 50th anniversary of the race are doublehanded. More so, they are all Corinthian, so this is their chosen fun for 2026.

If something breaks, they must repair it. If the weather turns hostile, they must manage it. If fatigue clouds judgement, there is nobody else to take over. None of these teams are expected to complete the marathon in less than 10 days and nights of racing and probably more like two weeks.

But as the Curmudgeon has observed, “Our time on Earth is limited. Don’t ‘age with grace’ but rather age with mischief, audacity, and a good story to tell.” Sail on!