Sailing perspectives

In the sailing world the focus of the news headllines is who can get the most speed out of extreme sailing yachts.
Just off the South Coast, yacht racing for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series gets under way with the home team of Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie’s in second place in the world sailing league table, making a concerted challenge to bring home the famed America’s Cup trophy.\
So by complete contrast life on Britain’s canals is far more leisurely and the navigation of locks like this may be the major concern of the day. No jostling for position on a start line, but purely a relaxed way of life, still on the water.
One friend, an accomplished yachtsman who enjoys taking his yacht racing and cruising in those same south coast waters where the highly competitive catamarans begin their weekend’s America’s Cup racing today, is equally master of his own destiny on a narrow boat.
He tells me that in little more than a week’s time he plans a nartrow boat journey down the Grand Union Canal, and by way of the Paddington Arm, out onto the Thames at Limehouse Basin and then back in at Brentford and return up the Grand Union.
 
Still a life on the water, but a complete contrast between the perspectives of sailing.