Newbie - Is 57 too Old to Learn how to Sail?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

We just retired so we have the time to learn - but we will be starting at ground zero. How many years does it take to learn to sail?

1 week.

Then you just need to get experience. I did it by joining a club for 3 months, then got my first cruising boat (39') and going slow and doing more and more for a while. I would say after my first season of weekend sailing (and a lot of reading) I was good enough to go pretty far.

In the end sailing isn't hard, but sailing well is and only time can do that for you.

[Time2Go]

Absolutely Not Too Old
I’m turning 60 soon and even though I’ve sailed
and owned a boat before, It was years ago (before GPS) so
I consider myself starting over.
I have gotten some great advice on this forum as I am
sure you will. As long as you’re on the green side of the grass
Full speed ahead and screw all Nay Sayers.
Still Skiing, Still Scuba Diving
Read
Take a course
Do a charter
And You're good to go
Don't get bogged down with making everything perfect,
Make everything safe and JUST GO
For those of us on the back nine, Concentrate on playing the game
and not the stitching on the bag.

[Amapola]

You're never too old. In fact, we meet a lot more seniors along the way than younger cruisers.

[In Training]

There are a lot of dreamers here looking to retire in the next 2-3 years. My husband and I (63 and 62) will be taking our first week of sailing at water sailing">blue water sailing school in St. Thomas next March. Had planned to do it this March but my mom is having surgery so postponing a year. Husband used to scuba and we both plan on doing that once we are on our boat also.

Have noticed that some recommend starting small and gradually increasing size of boat and then there are others that say it is a waste of money. Many have purchased their 38-42 ft. boat right off the bat and learned on it. We are looking at the boat just being a way to get there and figure on spending 95% of our time anchored. The older you are, the less time we have to be buying and selling boats, so we're going to buy our liveaboard boat when I retire. Not close to any ocean, so can't work our way up, no time for it anyway.

Regarding being physically fit. I joined a cross fit gym (Michiana crossfit) and the difference it has made so far is amazing. Weight coming off, strength increasing and all medical lab results tremendously better. Cannot recommend crossfit gyms enough. Trainer there all the time and just a happy, wonderful group of people. Aside from the fact that I don't want to be an embarrassing 200 lb. blob out there, I figure I need to be strong enough to lift the anchor if ever need to manually. Having an absolute blast! Still can't do pull ups, but can do real pushups now (not the girly knee ones either).

Just get off your butt and get moving. You will be so much happier doing whatever you want to.

We may have to do things slower as we age, but we don't have to stop till they put us in the box. Go out sliding sideways!

If everybody out there dreaming really does it, the demand for boats will skyrocket in the next few years.

[La Porte Rouge]

If you're interested in schools, you can check the ASA (American Sailing Association) website. They have schools in many areas.

[capttman]

Easy answer, and the answer is......no never to late to learn to sail

[tuffr2]

Thank you all for your responses - it is appreciated.

I am in very good shape and still athletic. I curently live in Ohio but for the next 8 weeks will be on the Gulf coast of Florida 70 miles north of Tampa.

I will see what sailing classes are in my area and take those as step1.

The term 'sailing' and the term 'cruising' - how are these two terms used?

[onestepcsy37]

When I decided I wanted to learn to sail, I asked a co-worker, who was known to be an excellent sailor, if he would teach me to saiI. I will never forget his answer, and I've passed it on to others who want to learn.

"I can teach you everything you need to know in fifteen minutes, but it will take you fifteen years to become a sailor."

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by La Porte Rouge

If you're interested in schools, you can check the ASA (American Sailing Association) website. They have schools in many areas.

And a plug for US Sailing

[OldFrog75]

tuffr2, if you really have no sailing experience whatsoever I recommend the ASA online intro to sailing course, "your first sail".

It covers most all of the basics and takes about 45 minutes including explanations and review questions. Not only is it informative, IT'S FREE!

All you do is click "Going Here" on the web page, enter a few personal facts, and enter:

Online Sailing Course - Your First Sail from American Sailing Association

Good Luck

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

The term 'sailing' and the term 'cruising' - how are these two terms used?

First off, there is no official, authoritative dictionary for these terms, so different people might use them differently. Here's how I use the terms:

"Sailing" is making a boat go by using the power of the wind. "Cruising" is traveling around while living on a boat. Hence you might be "sailing" and "cruising" at the same time. But there are also people who "cruise" on power boats--trawlers, tugs, whatever. Then there are people who go "sailing" but aren't really going anywhere--they're just out for a day on the water, using the wind for power (and this is often called "day-sailing"). What's more, a "cruise" might last only a few days, or might go on for months and months. When someone has basically moved onto a boat, such that it is now their primary residence, they are usually called "liveaboards."

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Thank you all for your responses - it is appreciated.

I am in very good shape and still athletic. I curently live in Ohio but for the next 8 weeks will be on the Gulf coast of Florida 70 miles north of Tampa.

I will see what sailing classes are in my area and take those as step1.

The term 'sailing' and the term 'cruising' - how are these two terms used?

Drive your butt over to the Miami show 2/13-17... You will curse this suggestion later, as the "fever" takes hold.... I am however, not to be held accountable for your maritime transgressions.... You are a big boy...

[Siege]

I've helped all kinds of people learn the basics of sailing. Never have I had to spend more than a week with someone who wanted to learn. In fact many people can pick up the basics in a weekend.

The younger more agile people I put either in a Sunfish or FJ since you can get instant feedback from the boat and mistakes resulting in capsizing one of those is half the fun.

For older people who don't want to go swimming I either take them out on my 30' or another small keel boat. The larger boats don't have the instant feedback that you get in a dinghy class boat, but they do provide time to think through what you want to do.

I don't teach for money or a living and most instructors that do are much better teachers than me. My advice is to seek one out. You'll be surprised at how fast you pick it up. As others have said, after the basics it's all just experience.

[Capt'n Ricko]

The basic sailing part of it you can learn fairly quickly... the seamanship quality develops over time (multiplied by the stretch factor of the experiences)...

Develop a plan to learn: 1st: Basic Sailing skills, then Chartering smaller than larger boats, and there are alot of resources out there and professional sailors that will take you (for a fee) on a leg of a voyage, to really IMMERSE you in the challenges of cruising...

like: Mahina Expeditions - Offshore Cruising Instruction, Sailing Expeditions Brochure, Expedition Brochure
and John Kretschmer Sailing - Training Passages - Workshops - Presentations - Expeditions - Writing/Photography

Cheers!

[Oregon Waterman]

Originally Posted by Azul

I'm 57 and I still snowboard

Learning to sail isn't rocket science, in fact it is pretty relaxing compared to many hobbies.

Aerobatics: age 46
Motorcycle racing: age 48
Car racing: age 52 (yes gf was a little younger)
First largish sailboat: age 55.

Go for it!

57 is the new 20.
"A body in motion tends to stay in motion"