I want to write about sailing single-handed. But now I wonder how self-indulgent that might be.

By definition, if I sail single-handed, it’s just me. All other sailing is team-work – (or crew-work).

So who on earth but me would be interested in my version of single-handed? Surely, it’s irrelevant to everyone else.

Writing about it is me imposing my version on the reader. Plenty of other people sail single-handed and enjoy it in their own way. When you enjoy something so personal, to be faced with another person’s assertions invites a defensive stance:

“Thanks very much, but I am confident in my own competence, I don’t need you to tell me this or that is a better way of doing it. Yes, of course, I am always interested, but I want to find out in my own way, in my own time. So write it down if you want, but don’t expect me to want to read it – and certainly don’t expect me to agree with you.”

OK, so be it.