(Reprinted by permission from Practical Boat Owner)

When night falls some people are leaning on the club bar, or in their armchairs at home, their dinghies safely ashore in the club park.

But I like to be afloat and at anchor, secure in some quiet creek where nightingales in the wood welcome the full silver moon; or to lie behind a shingle beach where the sea murmurs ceaselessly on one side and the sea-fowl on the other make the marshes raucous with their bickering.

Day-sailing is great fun, and I have spent several enjoyable holidays sleeping ashore and sailing during the day. But he who goes ashore o’nights must miss some of the tranquil and inspiring hours that life has to offer.

He also misses the nights of howling wind, when the boat lies broadside on to the seas and she tries to roll you out of your berth.

Yet...that same cold night air can be wondrously beautiful. Especially when the wind fines away and the stars come out. Then you can look across the star-shimmering water to some other sleeping craft — or is there somebody awake over there too, sharing this magical night with you?

Then to wake up to warm sun on calm water, when even the ‘putt-putt’ of a fisherman’s outboard sounds musical, is to have the best that life can offer.

What’s more, there’ll soon be the smell of bacon-and-eggs on the morning air!