Are you a sunset freak? I am.
Living on land, I wasn’t as attuned to nature. I’d notice sunsets if I happened to be driving then, or out camping or on the water. But not as an everyday thing . . . a ritual, really.
Cruising, sunset is much more meaningful. It’s the end of light for a passage. It’s when the stars come out and (hopefully) put on a magical show. And it can be stunning sky paintings.
And cruisers have developed a number of traditions for sunset.
The Conch Horn
Here, in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas, you’ll hear the conch horns blowing as the sun slips below the horizon. The first to blow are usually beginners, a little wobbly in the tone. But right as the top edge of the sun passes out of sight, the “pros” will chime in with incredibly long, constant tones.
The first time I heard the conch horns, I was taken by surprise. Over the years, I’ve come to love sitting in the cockpit and listening to the “end of day.” After Hurricane Irma last year, which just devastated Boot Key Harbor where I’m based, no conch horns sounded for at least three weeks after the storm. And then, one night there was finally one — a bit trembling, sort of like our lives right then.Nonetheless, it was the talk of the net the following morning: a little return to normalcy. The next night, a few more joined in . . . and each subsequent night had a few more. Who knew that a simple horn could mean so much?
Sunset Alert
The Sea of Cortez, where we cruised for 6+ years, is known for stunning sunsets due to the dust in the air from the desert Baja peninsula. There, we didn’t hear conch horns (not many conch left there) but if there was an especially stunning sunset, you’d be sure to hear the call on the VHF: “Sunset Alert!” It was the signal to drop whatever you were doing and go out on deck if you weren’t already there.
The Green Flash
If the sky meets the sea where the sun sets (that is, no land between you and the horizon), there’s a chance of seeing a green flash right as the sun slips below the horizon. They’re rare; I’ve never actually seen one, and I’ve only seen pictures of a couple. But it’s always fun to look for them if you’re in a location where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon and anchorages with such a view tend to have daily gatherings to watch for one.
Dinghy Drift
A dinghy drift is essentially Happy Hour on a bunch of rafted up dinghies, almost always timed to coincide with sunset. Everyone brings their own drinks, perhaps a snack to share, and good times and laughter ensue with someone suddenly pointing out the sunset.
Fire-breathers aren’t too common, but definitely capture everybody’s attention when they do appear! Glow sticks add a fun atmosphere (watch for them on post-Halloween sales or buy on Amazon) as do colored Luci lights (Amazon).
Sunsetters
Finally, almost everywhere has some sort of tradition of drinks (alcoholic or not) at sunset. It’s a common time to get together with friends, new or old, and chat about the day and make plans for the future. Even if it’s “just” your family or partner on board with you, it’s still a great time to relax and share dreams.
I can’t tell you the number of major decisions we’ve made at sundown: to go ahead and sell everything (twice — on two different boats), where we’re headed next . . . or that we need to deal with medical issues, to undertake various boat projects . . . or not. How often have we pulled out the chart books and planned ahead? Or just sat in silence and enjoyed the life we’ve chosen to lead?
And a gorgeous video (by drone) of Boot Key Harbor right at sunset. Turn your speakers on to hear the music accompanying it! (BTW, that’s our catamaran at the bottom center of the thumbnail below.)
Quickly find anchorages, services, bridges, and more with our topic-focused, easy-to-use waterproof guides. Covering the ICW, Bahamas, Florida, and Chesapeake.
Explore All Guides
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Tami says
This was taken just northeast of y’all at Pigeon Cay (the one north of Tavernier)
https://youtu.be/d5ThI_qD9uQ
Green Flash where you’re planted ha ha
Charlie Jones says
fondly recall the conch horns in Boot Key. Haven’t been there since 1983, but my conch shell horn is sitting on the coffee table in the living room still.. I still sound it once in a while
Megan Schwartz says
Love this, Carolyn! We are out cruising, just over 2 years and almost 20k nm now. My Dad died unexpectedly at the end of January. I decided to start posting nightly sunsets on Instagram (sailing.zephyros – I love that you follow! 😎) as a reminder to take a timeout and be thankful everyday.
I’ve found it to be a wonderful experience and a metaphor for life. They aren’t all spectacular and it can be more challenging to appreciate the rainy ones or the ones on tough passages. Also, friends and family back home tend to believe cruising is all beautiful sunsets so the project has been interesting to show some normality rather than the picture perfect tendency of social media.
I’m now thinking I might have to modify it a bit though or I might not make my goal of a year – we are in Chile and the days are getting loooong. Sunset is at 9pm and will just keep getting later and we are continuing south!!! 🤣