Is it the feel of brisk sea air in your face, the disconnection from all the stress, noise, and worries, the sounds of the gentle lapping of the water at the helm and the hum of the wind in the sails, or the deep connection with nature, peace, and serenity?

Hard to point to one reason why sailing is so addicting. Add in the spiritual connection, the profound appreciation for God’s creations when you see joyful dolphins or playful sea lions.

My husband would no doubt describe how sailing makes you feel one with the boat, the wind, and the sea. How he loves the sense of control and skill, the elation of trimming the sails perfectly, the speed, the anticipation of adventure, and the freedom. It’s all that and more.

Whatever the case, I blame our addiction on my father who bought a small sailboat from a friend 35 years ago. We’ve been sailing ever since. A few years ago, my husband and I were fortunate to buy a 1972 25-foot MacGregor for a mere $1000 and some trade work. Nothing fancy, and sure, it needed some work, but it was fun fixing it up.

I’d highly recommend trying sailing at least once in your lifetime for some guaranteed bliss. Last weekend we had two perfect days of sailing which has inspired today’s blog. There’s actually a lot of wisdom in some of these quotes.

So here you go – here are 10 of my favorite sailing quotes along with some sailing photos sure to soothe your soul:

Sailing in Chicago.

Quote One:

“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.”

John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the Dinner for the America’s Cup Crews, September 14 1962

My friend, Cindy, took this photo sailing in the Outer Banks.

Quote Two:

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~Mark Twain

The next generation – my grandson – learning to sail.

Quote Three:

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

— William Arthur Ward

Quote Four:

“hark, now hear the sailors cry,

smell the sea, and feel the sky

let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic…”

― Van Morrison

Quote Five:

“We clear the harbor and the wind catches her sails and my beautiful ship leans over ever so gracefully, and her elegant bow cuts cleanly into the increasing chop of the waves. I take a deep breath and my chest expands and my heart starts thumping so strongly I fear the others might see it beat through the cloth of my jacket. I face the wind and my lips peel back from my teeth in a grin of pure joy.”

― L.A. Meyer, Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber

Oh, all the elegance in those words. Here are five more famous quotes with some sage sailing advice that applies to life as well:

Quotes Seven Through Ten:

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”~Franklin D. Roosevelt

“A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” — John A. Shedd.

“I can’t control the wind but I can adjust the sail.”~Ricky Skaggs

“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day.” Rumi

Yes, today is such a day and always remember that the world is full of beauty. Hope these quotes and photos lifted your spirit a bit. I wish you all a happy day, happy sailing, and a happy life!

My husband, Scott, and I on our boat, the Jules of the Sea, last weekend.