Captains courageous: braving the challenge of the sea

Note: Capt. Kirk is on leave for a while. In the meantime, enjoy a version of this classic from our archives.

In 2011, we took our boat down to Charlotte Harbor and headed toward Cayo Costa. We passed by the mast of a sunken sailboat by the U.S. 41 bridges and decided we’d go back that way to find out what happened.

When we reached the southern tip of the barrier island Cayo Costa, we beached our boat and went for a walk.

The high waves from several tropical systems the week before produced flotsam and jetsam.

For the uninitiated in nautical terminology, flotsam is debris that is floating ashore from the wreckage of a ship. Jetsam describes parts of a vessel or pieces of cargo that have been thrown overboard — or jettisoned — to save the ship or lighten the load. These are two common descriptions of marine salvage.

Another term is “lagan,” which describes cargo that has been thrown overboard and sinks to the bottom of the body of water. Lagan is sometimes marked by a buoy so the cargo can be reclaimed. “Derelict” is another term used to describe cargo or a wrecked ship that cannot be recovered.

The term “beachcomber” was first used in print in 1847 by Herman Melville in his book “Omoo” to describe European settlers on the South Pacific Islands who combed the beaches for anything that could be used for trade. Books such as “Treasure Island,” “Robinson Crusoe,” “The Old Man and the Sea” and Joshua Slocum’s “Spray,” and movies such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the live-action version of “Treasure Island” describe exploring the world in search of the find of a lifetime. Imagination drives dreamers — fueled by the possibility of what could be.

On the opposite side of the spectrum are people who don’t dare to dream because they fear what might happen to them.

On my sailing trip from Oregon to Mexico in the 2000s, I stopped in San Diego. There were nice, seaworthy boats at anchor. Many of the captains — including me — were stocking up on supplies before sailing south of the United States. Others were stopped short because they imagined what might happen to them. Some sold their boats. Others continued to dream of the day they would sail south to exotic ports.

I have always thought that if your plan is well thought out and you are mentally and physically prepared, you will be OK. This is not to say you will be without problems or hardships.

But I prefer to think about “being a thousand miles from land, sailing along at 8 knots with a beautiful sunrise, flying fish skimming the water, dolphin frolicking alongside trying to strike up a conversation with me and the crew” — instead fearing the 50-knot squall and thinking I am crazy to be out here.

Sometimes, enjoying the great outdoors requires some courage. But, in my experience, the the risks (as long as they are well-calculated and not reckless) are worth the rewards.

Fair winds; calm seas. ¦

— Capt. Dennis Kirk and his wife, Nancy, are avid mariners and outdoor enthusiasts. Since the 1970s, their love of nature in Southwest Florida has allowed them to experience the dream of writing about their travels and adventures of sailing, fishing or flying out of their homeport on the Peace River, the old DeSoto marina.

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