A Harbor of Experience
This photograph was taken at Steveston Harbour in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, one of the most historic fishing harbors on the Pacific coast of Canada.
Years at Sea
I have been involved with sailing for more than two decades.
Over the years I have learned how many things someone must understand in order to call themselves a sailor — wind, sails, weather, balance, patience, and respect for the sea.
Sailing teaches you that the sea is never something you truly control.
A Humbling Realization
But every time I walk through this marina and see these complex professional fishing vessels, I realize something very humbling.
I realize how little I actually know about the sea.
Beyond Recreational Sailing
These boats are not simple vessels.
They are powerful machines designed for demanding work, long hours, and difficult conditions far beyond what most recreational sailors will ever experience.
Their equipment, their structure, their strength — everything about them tells a story of experience and survival in the open ocean.
Respect for Professionals
Earlier I wrote about Respect for the Professionals of the Sea, where observing working vessels becomes a quiet tribute to those who spend their lives on the water.
Here at Steveston Harbour, that feeling becomes even clearer.
A Simple Truth
Because the more time you spend at sea, the more you understand something simple and profound:
The sea is always bigger than what we know.
And the more you learn about it, the more respect you feel for those who live and work within it.
