The hobby that saved David Crosby’s life: “A mystical experience for me”
David Crosby epitomised the essence of the countercultural hero. As a profoundly artistic musician, he played pivotal roles in both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young while also making a significant mark as a solo artist. His life mirrored the quintessential hippie dream, filled with psychedelic escapades, passionate romances, and its share of challenging moments. Known for his humour, bold declarations, and unwavering support for progressive causes, Crosby remained a steadfast symbol of the vibrant era from which he arose, continuing to champion its ideals throughout his life.
As proven by his legendary exploits, which included the Californian rubbing shoulders and collaborating with an assortment of icons, ranging from his all-star bandmates to his ex-lover Joni Mitchell, Crosby was right at the heart of the countercultural period. From his musical contributions to being a vociferous advocate for free love, the tales of his impish free spirit rank as some of the best from the era.
Crosby may have ruffled feathers with his relentless hedonism and outspoken nature, leading to numerous conflicts, including notable rifts with former bandmates Graham Nash and Neil Young. However, it’s undeniable that he was deeply committed to the countercultural spirit. His actions, even the controversial moments like his awkward performance with The Byrds at the Monterey International Pop Festival—where he interspersed songs with support for various JFK assassination conspiracy theories—were always rooted in genuine conviction.
Even his comically exceptional and often perplexing hot takes on Twitter were coloured by his fierce hippie spirit, using the internet and the algorithm to disseminate his ironic 1960s humour. This included posting a picture of his aged self with a huge joint, judging fans’ doobie rolling skills, and calling out musicians antithetical to his perspective, such as Mike Love and Ted Nugent.
Regardless of his propensity to divide opinion, Crosby’s free spirit continued to endear him to fans in his later years. What was also fascinating about him was his tendency to surprise. He was a multifaceted character who had musical loves and hobbies that you wouldn’t necessarily expect him to. Blending his love of adventure and general free spirit, his favourite hobby was sailing. Being on the ocean offered him a sense of serenity that land never could, and more importantly, a sanctuary from the drug and alcohol-laced madness that would push his life to the brink on several occasions. He was in no doubt that his schooner, The Mayan, saved his life.
In the CSN compilation, Crosby said: “Sailing is a mystical experience for me. The Mayan represents everything healthy and positive for me, and has quite literally saved my life on a number of occasions. It gets me out of the whole scene. The ocean doesn’t give a damn, it’s never heard of you.”
Not only did The Mayan and sailing offer Crosby a means of escaping the trappings of celebrity, but also a creative hub where he could write with a free mind, inspired by the expressive waves and extensive mythology of a life at sea. Describing the boat as his muse, he would pen some of his best-loved tracks aboard it, including ‘Wooden Ships, ‘The Lee Shore’, ‘Page 43’ and ‘Carry Me’, as well as sail thousands of miles and have adventures with his closest friends that rivalled those from the novels that made him first stoked his fascination with the ocean as a child.
