25 years ago today, I was nearly lost at sea.
It was midnight on the summer solstice in Shetland. My fellow warden and I were coming back from a party on the neighbouring island, and faced a boat crossing on our own.
The weather turns quickly in Shetland. Although there was still daylight, the wind was beginning to whip up the water. The sea looked rougher by the minute.
We were soaked by a wave as soon as we pushed our little inflatable boat off the beach. We started to drift, but the engine wouldn’t start. The current swept us towards the end of the island. To make things worse, the rowlocks were missing, and we couldn’t get a purchase with our oars.
No radio, no emergency beacon, no lifejackets. If we missed the island, the next land fall would be at least 350km away. We were facing a very cold and dangerous North Sea, with little chance of rescue.
The engine caught at the last moment. We steered the boat onto the very tip of a rocky headland, pulled it ashore, and headed inside for whisky and warmth.
We can probably all remember a near miss. Maybe an equally terrifying one, maybe not. But perhaps you can recall an event or situation which left a lasting mark.
The experience left a powerful impression on me. I try not take for it granted when I am safe and warm, or have friends to rely on. The respect I have for the sea and for weather changed dramatically, and I now much better prepared. And the experience deepened my love for the natural world – for all its joys and its terrors.
Shortly afterwards I learned to surf, to better know the ocean I secured my first permanent environmental job. I now work for the Environment Agency and have two businesses that are founded on the principles of nature connection. Nature, and the sea, are an even bigger part of my life.
But finally, it helps me remember to mark the summer solstice. It’s a chance to reflect. How am I becoming more me as I learn new things, and shed old ways. How am I growing, and how do I plan to grow.
What does the solstice mean to you?