Famous Sailing Quotes
I like famous sailing quotes, they are motivating and inspiring. These are a curated collection of famous sailing quotes and inspirational messages that are important to maintaining focus and why you went out sailing and cruising in the first place. Some days I read these and one or two will stand out as summing up my emotions or attitude. When you have a day of frustration on your boat, something all too common when nothing seems to go right, or stay working, there is always a quote to raise the spirits.
Inspiration comes from many sources and some of these quotes I have pasted into the front of my logbook. Some of these quotes go back to my young childhood days, when I fell in love with sea long before I ever sailed upon her. As I devoured books and read countless tales of the sea I steadily built up the collection. I still add in new quotes when I run across something inspirational, and some come from those amazing round the world yacht racers.
Sailing Quotes – My Favorites
This first group of sailing quotes are very important to me as they define why I embarked on a career at sea and why I still go to sea on my own sailing boat.
“I cannot hold a grudge against the sea, because all that I have the sea has given me” C. Verdean, sailor and writer. It is my first quote as the sea has delivered me a wonderful career and life experience.
“As for me and the sea, she delighted me from the first” Joshua Slocum. The first person to sail around the world solo. Read the book, you can download it free!
“………There is something in the long, slow lift of the ship, and her long, slow slide forward which makes my heart beat with joy. It is the motion of freedom”. D H Lawrence, Novelist. The quote encapsulates the mix of emotions I experience every time I put to sea on a ship or yacht, a mix of excitement, trepidation, expectation and more all in one emotional ball, it is such an addictive feeling!
“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea" Alaine Gerbault. French solo circumnavigator and one of the earliest in “Firecrest” including a 101-day solo Atlantic crossing in 1923.
“There is a witchery in the sea, its songs and stories, and in the mere sight of a ship, and the sailor's dress” Richard Henry Dana Jr, Two Years Before the Mast. (Circa 1860).
"When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land" Dr. Samuel Johnson. English writer and lexicographer.
"The cabin of a small yacht is truly a wonderful thing; not only will it shelter you from a tempest, but from the other troubles in life, it is a safe retreat" L. Francis Herreshoff. My first boat was a 37 foot Herreshoff Neria steel ketch. I still have my copy of “Sensible Cruising Designs” by Herreshoff.
“Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service, and discipline, should really be running the world” Nicholas Monsarrat. “The Cruel Sea “& “The Master Mariner” The Master Mariner is my favorite maritime book!
“It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better” Sir Francis Drake. English explorer, privateer, and naval officer who circumnavigated between 1577 and 1580.
"For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze" Richard Bode. “First You Have to Row a Little Boat”.
Sailing Quotes – Inspirational
This second group of sailing quotes define those desires and motivations to go back to sea when shore life starts to wear thin.
“The sea is dangerous and its' storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore….unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits seek victory over those things that seem impossible….it is with an iron will that they embark on the most daring of all endeavours….to meet the shadowy future without fear, and conquer the unknown” Ferdinand Magellan (c1520) Portuguese explorer, lead the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Discovered the Strait of Magellan (which I have been lucky to pass through).
“Yet my heart hammers now, yearning anew
wanting the steep salt-water road
longing with lust to roam rough seas alone
to seek out some far foreign shore
The mood to wander mills within my mind”
From The Seafarer and one several translations from Old English poem found in the Exeter Book, a 10th-century manuscript of Anglo-Saxon poetry. The poem follows the journey of a sailor who endures the harshness of the sea while contemplating life's fleeting nature and the pursuit of salvation. Recommended reading!
“I must go down to the sea again, To the lonely sea and sky and all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by” John Masefield. English poet and writer. The iconic Sea-fever was written in 1902 and his poetry captures the beauty and hardships of life at sea. This evocative poem expresses the irresistible longing for the sea a sailor has.
"Adventure is any activity with an unknown outcome" Don McIntyre, adventurer, single handed sailor, founder and organizer of Golden Globe Race. He is an iconic sailor and runs inspirational races. Don wrote the foreword for the first and the latest of my book 4th Edition of The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible.
Sailing Quotes – Lived Experiences
This third group shares the emotions of the indefatigable round the world yacht racers who I continue to admire for their resilience, tenacity, skill, seamanship and courage.
"Never in my life before have I experienced such beauty, and fear at the same time” Dame Ellen MacArthur. Solo circumnavigator, world record in 2005 for fastest circumnavigation. Vendee Globe competitor and more. Read her book. it is very inspiring.
"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea" and “A sailor’s joys are as simple as a child’s” and “At sea, difficult moments are not failures, but opportunities for growth. They forge memories and transform sailors." Bernard Moitessier. Participant in the 1968 first Golden Globe Race. Read his book The Long Way.
“The only way to get a good crew is to marry one.” Eric and Susan Hiscock, British multiple circumnavigator. Around the World in Wanderer III their first global voyage from 1952 to 1955 (A good read!).
"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." and "To the question, 'When were your spirits at the lowest ebb?' the obvious answer seemed to be, 'When the gin gave out." Sir Francis Chichester, sailed solo circumnavigation of the globe in 1966–67 on “Gypsy Moth IV”. If in London visit her next to the Cutty Sark. The first person to sail solo around the world via the great capes.
"Prevention is, as in other aspects of seamanship, better than cure" Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. First person in 1969 to sail single-handed non-stop around the world on a 32 foot ketch “Suhaili.”
“…at sea there is no procrastination, there are no lies” Philippe Delamare. Winner of the 2024 Global Solo Challenge, single-handed round-the-world race, non-stop and unassisted.
"Sailing is an activity that is not suitable for impostors. In a boat, you either know or you don't." Eric Tabarly. Iconic French yacht racer. Winner of the single handed Trans Atlantic Race 1964 and The Fastnet.
“The goal is not to sail the boat, but rather to help the boat sail herself” John Rousmaniere. Sailor and author of The Annapolis Book of Seamanship.
"the rough sea becomes ferocious, and takes away at random sailors dreams, work, goodwill and courage, it's really unfair!" Eric Dumont aboard Café Legal during the disastrous 1996 Vendee Globe Yacht Race.
“The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting one’s imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered” Jimmy Cornell. Iconic yachtsman, author of World Cruising Routes (every boat bookshelf should have this), founder of the World Cruising Club, founder of Noonsite.com (absolutely subscribe).
“You probably drive your car with intuition. Most of the time, I sail by intuition. I don’t think about sail trim; I just do it. It comes naturally. Seamanship is mostly intuitive” and "If you are going to do something, do it now. Tomorrow is too late" Pete Goss. Round the world yachtsman, Vendee Globe.
“The art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance” Annie Van De Wiele. Belgian round the world yachtswomen Circa 1950’s.
Practical Sailing Quotes from Sailors
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever” Jacques Yves Cousteau.
“Any fool can carry on, but a wise man knows how to shorten sail in time” Joseph Conrad. Novelist and commercial seafarer. Books include Lord Jim and Typhoon.
“Only two sailors, in my experience, have never ran aground. One never left port and the other was an atrocious liar” Don Bamford. Sailor and writer.
“Mackerel skies and mares tails, soon will be time to shorten sails” Old Sailors Proverb. Mackerel skies are altocumulus or cirrocumulus clouds that resemble fish scales. Mare’s tails are wispy cirrus clouds stretching across the sky. These are indicative of changing weather and storm. In sail days this was a time to reef and shorten sails.
To be successful at sea we must keep things simple” Pete Culler, sailor, boatbuilder and author of The "Spray": Building and Sailing a Replica of Joshua Slocum's Famous Vessel,
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails” William Arthur Ward, writer.
“Anchor as though you plan to stay for weeks, even if you intend to leave in an hour” Tommy Moran.
"The sea finds out everything you did wrong." and "Whenever your preparations for the sea are poor; the sea worms its way in and finds the problems" Francis Stokes. Solo sailor OSTAR transatlantic races and the first BOC solo race.
"A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind. Live passionately, even if it kills you, because something is going to kill you anyway" Webb Chiles. American sailor who has completed six solo circumnavigations. Read “Storm Passage: Alone Around Cape Horn".
“The sea hates a coward” Eugene O’Neill. American playwright and seafarer.
“I have often marveled at the thin line which separates success from failure.” & "Superhuman effort isn't worth a damn unless it achieves results." & "Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all" Earnest Shackleton. Iconic explorer and adventurer. His ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice and eventually sank, stranding everyone on the ice and an incredible tale of survival. (The sunken ship was recently found).
“There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea” Anacharsis, Circa 6th Century BCE. Captures the isolation and uncertainty of life at sea.
"It's remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living” Ernest K. Gann, sailor and writer.
"To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives" Carleton Mitchell, sailor and writer.
“A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be” Aubrey de Selincourt, sailor and writer. “Sailing: A Guide for Everyman”. Do relish that moment when you shut down the engine and satrt sailing, that magical transition period.
“Special knowledge can be a terrible disadvantage if it leads you too far along a path that you cannot explain anymore” Frank Herbert 'Dune'. My favorite science fiction book, a great read. This quote is not about sailing but is very relevant. Don’t over think things when problems arise on board, start with basics.
“Perseverance is not a long race but a series of short races” Walter Elliot.
I hope you enjoyed and were inspired by collection of famous sailing quotes, they are motivating and never get old.