Champagne Destination

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 25 FEBRUARY '25

Continuing last week’s YouTube channel-inspired themes, I regularly watch a few sailors. These weekly or bi-weekly videos feature couples (and one family) who are mostly traveling around the world, sailing (although one is currently in Spain undergoing a complete overhaul of their boat while another is building one from scratch). I watch sailing-related content.

There’s a term used to describe those perfect days on the sea when the winds are strong and the seas are calm. It’s called “Champagne Sailing” - you get the idea.

One couple spent a decade traveling the world and finally reached the Greek Islands in the Mediterranean, a place they’ve long desired to visit since they started sailing. After island hopping, their overwhelming joy in the place ignited their creativity, leading them to coin a new phrase, “Champagne Destination” - a place that exudes an undeniable sense of perfection.

Upon hearing this phrase, I couldn’t help but think of endurance sports. Some of us find joy in the process itself, while others are more drawn to the competitive aspect of the race. For those who relish the process, it’s those moments of breakthrough performance that keep them coming back. Perhaps it’s the sense of accomplishment after completing a challenging 4+ hour bike ride or the euphoria of experiencing a runner’s high after a beautiful day outdoors.

For those who thrive on racing, it could be the exhilaration of pushing themselves alongside others in constantly changing destinations or the empowering feeling of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

There’s a third category of athletes as well. They are the ones who find joy in both the process and the racing aspect. They may not consciously identify as lifestyle athletes, but they embody this lifestyle in their daily lives.

I suspect that most of us experience a constant shifting back and forth from “Champagne Process” to “Champagne Races” throughout a season. If so, perhaps we are all lifestyle athletes in some way?

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the shackles. Sail away from the safe haven. Embrace the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, and discover.”

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Gratefully, 

MarkCEO Team MPI