Time moving on without me sucks

[dangerfield55]

When I was 20 and lost my keys, I thought I was tired. Now I worry it’s early dementia. As we age we compare ourselves to younger and probably more idealized versions of ourselves. I was out this weekend in 15 knots and was the only boat with sails up. I think you are doing just fine.

[sailstoo]

There's a saying, "Trawlers are an old sailor's power boat" and now that I'm 76 I understand it.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by sailstoo

There's a saying, "Trawlers are an old sailor's power boat" and now that I'm 76 I understand it.

I "get" that and having moved to BC for N California, I see more and larger M/Ys.


I'm surrounded!!!


What I HAVE noticed that the OP may NOT know is that my trawler with a stick is much more stable. On passage and at anchor. M/Ys of a certain type do tend to roll, moving or not, compared to our stick fogeys.


I have personally seen it at work. I admit to not having been aboard one. But some sure are pretty boats.

[RaymondR]

An active mind is a great help to the aging.

Two solutions to the maintenance problem; get a cup of tea and sit down and recollect all the stuff which used to bug you when you lived ashore, leaves in the guttering, pruning plants, mowing lawns, leaky taps, the neighbors dog etc. (the boats working it's way up he druthers list)

The second is to learn to allow chores to self prioritize. I used to worry about things until I learned that the two important items on a boat are hull integrity and the engine starting when you need it. Pretty well everything else can be left to self prioritize ie. you fix it when it gets to really annoy you or you really need it.

If you keep your mind active by continuously comparing the things you hated about suburban life with those you love about living afloat and making up brilliant excuses and rationalizations regarding all the un-done boat maintenance issues it will keep you from getting depressed.

[dcstrng]

Originally Posted by Rchido

I need some help here. I am 75 and still, mostly solo, day sailing my S2 9.2. Some health issues but nothing extremely limiting. The maintenance is getting to me. I am being a wuss and avoiding the 10-15 k gusting to 20-25k days. The dreams of crossing oceans are just that. Ain’t going to happen...

Yep, I'm with ya -- and the crew that used to be available for those escapades, seems to have grayed even more... what the heck happened...

[svHyLyte]

Our Club in SoCal--Alamitos Bay YC--had a great remedy for aging sailors, the "OFSC" (or Old Farts Sailing Club) aka "Geritolers". Those under 65 needed not apply. The group, both male and female--and it was fairly large--met on Monday's, when the Club was otherwise officially closed, brought bag lunches and beers, and sailed a minor fleet of Opti's and El Toro dinghy's (aka "Bull Ships", hence the shovel sail emblem) out of the Club Basin and into Alamitos Bay. Handling those little boats required more skill than strength and it was amazing to see how well the old codgers did and how much laughing there was. Our Club in NoCal--Richmond YC--has a similar group although they'll allow youngsters as well, and runs a race from Sausalito YC to the St. Francis YC every year (although that can be pretty demanding and is too dam cold for me!). Sometimes a little boat is all the boat one needs, eh?

[lateral]

Great thread....an inspiration.
Easy to doubt, as you get older, that you are up for it.
Recently i cajoled myself to go up the mast to do repairs. It took a few trip
to feel comfortable and now its a buzz and are happy doing it solo.
I have to remind myself of this and approach other things the same way.
Walk through it in my mind before doing it and that " i'm not up for it"
diminishes to where it should be.

[hpeer]

Why not get a young gal who wants to learns to sail?

Might be fun?

At 72 a “young gal”!covers a lot of turf. And looking around, an ambulatory guy is a rare fish.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Why not get a young gal who wants to learns to sail?

Might be fun?

At 72 a “young gal”!covers a lot of turf. And looking around, an ambulatory guy is a rare fish.

Non ambulatory is not exactly the non that friends 75 kid about when speaking of young gals. Sad but true.

[MarkusK]

Before I bought our boat, I needed some experience, so I crewed for a 76-year-old gentleman on his Tanzer 22. He had one bad eye and needed some help with lines and the hank-ons. I also helped him with masting and dis-masting when it came time to launch and winterize. He was more than happy to share his time and I was equally happy for the chance to learn. Win-win.

Now what’s this about being a wuss when the wind is strong? I’m not a wuss…I’m cautious!

[Dog Star]

Rchido,


I've had success using the "crew match" section of the local free sailing magazine, Points East. There must be one for the NY/NJ area?

[Davie J.]

I just turned 73 and am planning a solo circumnavigation on a 40 foot cutter. Like you, I have had some issues such as shoulder and knee replacement and I take a handfull of pills every day. But, I'm otherwise in good shape, having been a gym rat for most of my adult years. I too have difficulty doing some of the things I took for granted when I was 30, but I think I'm wiser, more patient and more cautious. Unless you are afraid of making a major mistake, my advise is to go for it. My wife thinks I'm crazy and maybe I am, but I'm going for it anyway.

[rlevin73]

I gotta laugh because I am 77 and just finished ASA 101 snd ASA 118. Going to take the test for ASA 103, 104, snd 105 snd celestial. If you need to sell your boat I promise to give it a good loving home . Getting old simply means you know what you should do but don’t care about the details,

[hjkarten]

Just “celebrated” (?) my 83rd birthday. Down mostly to day sailing on my Tayana 37. Love the sailing, although I do worry about docking if single handing. Not as agile about hopping on to dock. But it’s worth it. Installed all lines-aft about 20 years ago, making sailing easy. Solid boat helps. Who knows how much more time for anything?
Reef early and often.
Harvey

[cradlemountain]

Hello Rchido on Sugaree.
I am in the same situation, with a difference, loving sailing but not owning my own sailboat but not feeling as strong as my youth. There are other sights like CrewFind which for me is an easier sight to find a boat with Captain on who not only take active young folk but seniors who can contribute to their meals, cook which is my active skill, general maintenance and helm etc. I hope always I am not usless on board but have managed to get sails in all sorts of places around the world. This is my life now, until I find my haven to settle on one boat with a man who will find paradise together is my dream. Amaisingly there are lots of boats who say 18 and over or all welcome which is where I apply. My sadness is when older men ask for women only apply between 18 and 45 and the Captain is male and 60/80. Agest attitude is a failer to see those who love sailing and can contribute with other skills. I am attempting the Inside Passage Alaska this year and have a post on 4 web sights to find my sole mate or lifetime friends I can share some sailing with in Tasmania Australia Circumnavigation every two years which is the highlight of my world downunder. I hope the best wishes for you to share and love what you do, don't give up. Sarah