In the Offing

The stretch of sea from just beyond the shoreline to the horizon is called ‘the offing’. It is a nautical term and the phrase ‘in the offing’ was used in the past to describe the imminent arrival of ships at the ends of voyages because they had been sighted and would be expected to reach the safety of harbour before the next tide.

I find images of ‘The Offing’ endlessly intriguing, whether in the warmth of southern Europe or the colder light of more northern climes. These photographs are always simple, because they embrace just two elements, but the interaction between the two - and not just at the ends of the day but at any time - is almost always thrilling. The light from the sky shines down and the sea answers back. A simple but delightful interaction that seems to catch the essence of why almost all of us enjoy being by the sea.