To be a yachtie in the first place certain things are required. It's not cheap to be a yachtie. You don't see too many obese yachties, they tend to be slim and terrific, they wear superb fitting sports attire and moreover, handsome men and beautiful women are the hallmarks of this sport (motor racing might come second …. ).
Yachting perhaps is a rich person's sport, but it wasn't always like this as Australia is a sea fearing nation, an island nation surrounded by oceans and seas. It might be an idea to remind ourselves that it was Captain Philip who bought the First Fleet to Sydney Cove in 1788. The nation's history depended on the sea. Wool was shipped to the mother country. Our soldiers sailed to wars far-off. The mighty oil and container vessels keep the nation alive and well.
Yachties are a reminder of this heritage and their love of the sea provides a seed of encouragement to the rest of us that it is to them, our heritage is retained. But it is not all good news.
Have you ever given a thought to those yachts you see on trailers parked in someone's yard. The questions raised are endless.
Have they run out money?
Have they got sick of the sea?
Was this another of those senseless money wasting ideas?
Was someone trying to be a 'tryhard'?
Were they keeping up to the Smith-Jones'?
Or, maybe it was just simply time to move on as to be a true blue 'smell the wind shift' yachtie it is a case of loving the sea beyond all else, and that is simply just not the case for most of us. Me included.
A friend of mine discovered that the yacht meant more work than it was worth. To get the yacht from the house to the marina and then into the water was a three hour endeavour. The reverse journey was worse as the yacht had to be washed down. But for the yachtie these are pleasures to be enjoyed and conversation starters. Have you ever noticed how much yachties 'yack' about the sea.
So it came as no surprise when I noticed that my friend's 'yacht had moved'. The glow on his face was there for all to see.
As I thought about this 'model' of life experience, I could not but help think of the experiences of a person coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The joy on their face of a new life in Christ and a past forgiven and refreshed in the Lord is something for which no amount of words could even begin to fathom.
The look on their face might also be likened – perhaps to the yachtie who sells their spouse's car so as to get their dream yacht!
So with all the jokes out aside, the yachting fraternity have made Australian proud over and over again. Yachting personality Jeanine Treharne (Hugh was the tactician on Australia II) was interviewed on the Australian Missionary news IPTV and can be viewed here – it's a beauty. (www.youtube.com)