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recounted spending his weekends on the water during his 20 some odd years in the catering business. He regards sailing as a completely separate entity from skippering anything else. "Boating is boating, sailing is a sport," Larry told me. "It's addictive." Sailing in essence became his escape from work and daily life, eventually leading him to a career change in 1996 by joining Great Hudson Sailing and purchasing the dealership some years later. Andrew, who was a dock attendant by 14, was obsessed with powerboats in his early years, until he began to do more sailing and realized that it required a much more diverse skill set. Although powerboats can go faster, Andrew says that using the speed of the wind can intensify the experience tenfold. "Sailing is extremely thrilling," he said. "You might only be going eleven knots, but it feels like you're going fifty. It [the Oceanis 55] has a theoretical hull speed, but a good sailor can get it over that." Sailing in essence is about seeking that elation of adventure, while having the knowledge and prowess to embark. To sail is to be at the mercy of nature, but like a sailor of old chasing the horizon, we too can reach the pinnacle of human existence. Today, with a bit more tech, sailing can be more comfortable and streamlined. On the deck of the Oceanis 55, for instance, I quickly noticed how much the lounge and cockpit W W W. V U E N J . C O M 77

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