SMALL WONDERS

WHAT’S the right size for a cruising boat? There are as many opinions as there are sailors. I’ve done plenty of cruising on boats from 25 to 50 feet, but I’d never considered a 10-foot sailing dinghy for anything more than a daysail. But when I found an autumn week that was free for sailing in San Francisco Bay, this was the boat I had on hand.

I’ve always admired the wisdom of Lin and Larry Pardey’s advice to “go small, go simple and go now.” I wasn’t sure what it would entail to sail and live for a week aboard a small, open boat. But learning was part of the adventure. I prepared my gear, made sure the boat was shipshape, and off I went.

At its heart, cruising is about taking an adventure. It’s about discovering beautiful, secluded anchorages and