Book SummaryMoving On, by Anthony Edwards

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Moving On

The Author's Sailing and Boating Career and Experiences

This section focuses on the author's passion for nautical pursuits and his extensive boating background. It traverses his early days learning sailing on various types of vessels to his professional captaincy of high-end boats in the Mediterranean, riddled with unpredictable owners, demanding guests, and challenging voyages.

Practical Tips

• Adopt a marine conservation project to connect with the aquatic environment. Even if you're not near the ocean, you can support marine life by contributing to coral reef restoration, adopting a sea creature, or participating in remote beach cleanups through online platforms. This hands-on approach to marine conservation can foster a deeper connection with the nautical world and its preservation.
• Develop a better understanding of risk management by creating a "Captain's Log" for your daily life. In boating, a captain's log is crucial for recording events, weather, and navigational information. You can apply this concept by keeping a detailed journal of your daily activities, decisions, and their outcomes. This practice can help you analyze your actions, understand the risks involved, and make better-informed decisions in the future.
• Develop a sailing simulation game that incorporates various vessel types and conditions. Collaborate with a game developer to create an app that allows users to virtually experience sailing different boats. The game could include challenges that teach players how to handle different sailing scenarios, helping them understand the nuances of each vessel type. This interactive approach can provide a practical understanding of sailing without the need for immediate real-world experience.
• Develop a better understanding of weather patterns by using weather tracking apps. Weather plays a significant role in navigation and safety on high-end boats. Download and monitor apps like Windy or Storm Radar to observe and predict weather patterns. Start making daily predictions based on the data you gather and compare your predictions with actual weather changes to sharpen your forecasting skills.
• Develop a personal contingency plan for dealing with unpredictable behavior in your professional relationships. Start by identifying patterns in past interactions where unpredictability was an issue. Create a list of potential responses and solutions that could have mitigated stress or conflict. For example, if a colleague often changes project directions without notice, plan regular check-ins to stay ahead of potential shifts.
• Create a resource list of local services and attractions for your guests. This can include restaurants that deliver, nearby entertainment options, emergency services, and transportation information. By providing this list, you empower your guests to meet some of their own demands, reducing the pressure on you as a host.
• Embrace a "challenge voyage" mindset by setting a personal goal that takes you out of your comfort zone. Choose something that is achievable yet requires you to stretch your abilities and learn new skills. For example, if you've never run more than a mile, sign up for a half-marathon and create a training plan to build up your endurance over several months.

The Author's Extensive Background in Boats and Sailing

Edwards's life is deeply intertwined with maritime pursuits. He has a wealth of experience with different types of watercraft, from small dinghies to large schooners and luxury motor yachts. He highlights specific types of watercraft and explains their nuances.

Author's Early Sailing Experiences on Sloops, Ketches, Schooners

Edwards explains that his initial experience sailing came in 1966 on a sloop, a one-masted vessel with a main sail and a foresail. He then transitioned to piloting a cutter, a single-masted vessel with two headsails, before finally experiencing the joys of a ketch, a two-masted craft with a mainmast and a smaller mizzen mast. He describes the benefits of each rig: sloops for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, cutters for their ability to balance in powerful gales, and ketches for their versatility and expansive sail plan. Finally, he talks about his fascination with schooners, two-masted vessels favored by pirates for their speed and unique sail configuration, where the back mast is bigger than the front. He describes gaining sailing skills for each type of vessel and the specific challenges of maneuvering them, highlighting his growing proficiency in the art of sailing.

We witness his development from a youthful, eager learner to a skilled captain navigating challenging waters. He doesn't just recount his experiences, he explains the technicalities of each type of vessel, the various sail configurations and the advantages and disadvantages of each, revealing a deep understanding of sailing and ships. This shows the reader Edwards's passion, not just for the adventure of sailing, but for the technical aspects of the craft as well. It's not just about being at sea for him, it's about understanding the nuances of each boat and mastering the art of navigation.

Practical Tips

• You can enhance your understanding of sail configurations by building a small-scale model sailboat. Start with a simple kit and experiment with different sail setups to see how they affect the model's performance in water or even in a controlled environment like a wind tunnel made from a fan and a clear box. This hands-on approach will give you a tangible sense of how different configurations work.

Other Perspectives

• While sloops are generally cost-effective, the initial lower cost can be offset by higher maintenance or upgrade costs if the vessel is used for more demanding sailing activities.
• In some scenarios, multihull vessels like catamarans and trimarans may outperform traditional monohull cutters in terms of stability and safety in powerful gales.
• While ketches...

Moving On Summary The Author's Personal Relationships and Romantic Partnerships

Alongside his nautical journeys, Edwards shares his experiences in love and relationships. This section details his first marriage and its tumultuous end, contrasted with his subsequent fulfilling and loving partnership with Marjie O'Neill.

The Author's Tumultuous First Marriage and Divorce

This section focuses on the breakdown of Edwards's first marriage with Jill. He recounts the hurt and betrayal he felt after discovering her infidelity and the frustrating legal process of dissolving the marriage.

Author's Relationship With Ex-wife's Infidelity

Edwards recounts the emotional turmoil of discovering his wife's infidelity and the ensuing breakdown of their relationship. He describes the experience as devastating, highlighting his feelings of betrayal, anger, and sorrow. Edwards shares how her infidelity transformed her, revealing a side he hadn't known, showing she could lie and be deceitful. He also mentions his annoyance at Jill taking his belongings after their separation, further portraying the bitterness he felt.

The details of the contentious legal proceedings and his resentment towards lawyers add to the reader's understanding of this difficult chapter for...

Moving On Summary The Author and His Spouse's Search for Self-Sustainability

After years of travelling the world and living on boats, Edwards and Marjie choose to settle down and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle. This section details their quest for the perfect property, the challenges they faced in remodeling it, and their unwavering commitment to building a sustainable organic garden and adopting an alternative lifestyle.

Author and Marjie's Acquisition of French Countryside Property

Having tired of the uncertainty inherent in a yachting career, Edwards and Marjie start looking for a permanent home in southern France, seeking sufficient acreage to fulfill their dream of self-sufficiency. The story recounts their purchase of a ruin in France's countryside, highlighting their shared vision of a sustainable and fulfilling life away from the hectic coastal lifestyle.

Challenges In Renovating and Obtaining Permits

Edwards and Marjie face a series of challenges renovating their dream home—a ruin in the French countryside. Starting with the discovery of its filthy interior and hidden issues, their commitment is truly tested when, after sending their plans and navigating bureaucracy, their permit to renovate is denied, leaving them heartbroken...

Moving On Summary Author's Experiences With Italian Culture, Politics, Organized Crime

Beyond his personal journey, Edwards shares his observations of Italian culture and society, interwoven with his experiences navigating political bureaucracy, encountering corruption, and dealing with the unsettling presence of organized crime.

The Author's Observations of Italian Culture and Society

Edwards's time there offers a glimpse into the culture, particularly its bureaucracy, the pervasive presence of organized crime, and the shifting cultural landscape. He shares observations about the intricacies of dealing with Italian officials, the challenges of obtaining services, and the persistent need for bargaining.

Author's Disappointment in Decline of Spanish Cultural Elements Like Flamenco

Edwards expresses his disappointment in the decline of traditional elements of Spanish culture, particularly Flamenco. He contrasts his experiences during the 1960s, when Flamenco was an integral part of everyday life, with his more recent visit, where he encounters a lack of authentic experiences. This observation reflects a broader theme of cultural transformation and tourism's impact on traditional lifestyles. He laments that the spontaneous flamenco performances he once...

Shortform Exercise: Navigating a Near-Sinking Experience

Reflect on Edwards's decision to quit sailing after the schooner sank due to a mechanical failure and his thoughts on contemporary yachts.

How might Edwards's near-death experience have influenced his decision to quit sailing professionally? Discuss the impact of such an event on personal choices.