The Anarchists give their version of the future. It ain’t pretty.

Yeah sure sailboat technology has advanced over the last 25 years, but what hasn’t? In fact, we’d make the argument that compared to say, auto racing technology, what’s happened in boats is not all that impressive. Whatever.

But since guys like Gary Jobson (who we like in some odd way) and Peter Isler (who we don’t like in some odd way) have offered their prognostications for the future of sailing, we feel it our Duty Now for the Future to share with you our version of sailing in 2025.

First off, nothing looks like it does now, and we’re not talking about infrared binoculars or bow light sensors. No, when you look around in 2025, you won’t see much, because there isn’t much to see. Given the devastating effects of a national and consequent global economic depression, there is a virtual shut down of new boat building and buying. Those fleets and boats that are left, sit, mostly left completely unattended because the owners no longer have the dough to maintain them. Those that aren’t chained to the dock by creditors are growing to the bottom.

Of course since there is virtually nobody left to buy sails, the Big Guys, namely North Sails, have gone completely belly up. Strangely, only Peter Conrad from Sobstad, by now a complete recluse and nearly insane from constantly chanting the mantra “Whidden must die!”, is the only guy building sails. They are of course, Genesis sails that have not advanced one whit in the last 25 years. He still manages to hobble out to the mailbox, waiting for the check for treble damages from  North in the lawsuit that he won 25 years ago. You won Peter! You won!

Your big fancy yacht clubs have all been boarded up – again no dough from the members. The few races that are left are now run by a rag tag group of ex yacht clubbers, B.N.’s and others. But ya gotta pay ‘em first. Trophies and post race festivities have, like much in sailing in the year 2025, gone the way of the dodo bird.

Oh there are still some Big Playas left, but in a world that has now become even more of a “Have’s versus the Have Nots”, they are completely inaccessible.  They essentially race amongst themselves, in a fashion very reminiscent of Formula One. A small group of the disgustingly rich, travel a limited global circuit with their paid crew. Since by now all designers as we know them have been forced to seek employment with Hunter, the only remaining production builder, this rich group hires them away for a new boat project every couple of years or so.

Small One-Design, Olympic and Junior programs have all vanished. Again, no funding. And truthfully, nobody cares anymore. All the prognosticators of the year 2000, who predicted great things for the sport, have been proven totally wrong. TV went away because nobody watched – most notably killed off by the numbingly boring America’s Cup. Of course, with no TV, and virtually no other surviving media (save www.sailinganarchy), advertisers completely disappeared. No audience, no sponsors, no media equals no sailing.

 There of course is another huge problem in the year 2025. It’s this thing that you may have heard of: Pollution. As it turns out,  the energy crises of 2000, resulted in 20 years of unprecedented offshore oil drilling, nuclear power plant building and increased tanker traffic. The damage to the world’s oceans has been nothing short of devastating. The oil spills caused by oil rig and tanker disasters has killed 50% of the ocean’s animal life. And the nuclear accidents and waste have rendered much of the ocean completely inhabitable for man and animal alike.

 Much of the sailing that is left, is done in yellow Devo pollution suits, complete with oxygen masks. Communication as simple as, “Ease the traveler” is now done through wireless, and people are identified by the numbers on their back.

A pollution-infested wave over the bow, in the wrong part of the world, can result in a host of illnesses, even death. Foredeck, anybody?

 There’s our view of the year 2025. Is it bleak and cold and unforgiving? Of course it is.  Get used to it.