Back to sea after 22 years in "Dry dock"

[papilunas]

Hello everybody,
My wife and I are planning to return to the sea after 22 years in dry dock. Actually we are retired and looking to sell our ranch in Nevada to buy a small sail boat. We have made 3 Atlantic crossings and have extensively sailed the Caribbean. Now we can't wait to taste the salt water on our lips.

[GreatDanesrule]

Best of luck to you. I am essentially doing the same. Moving slowly out of alaska down to orcas island in the san juans islands of washington state. Congrats on the retirement!

[SaltyMonkey]

Im not retired an not likely to be the way i am going. So, congrats and welcome..now get out there and have some fun for me!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, papilunas.

[Jolly Roger]

My wife and I are doing the same thing after a 30 year hiatus. We taught our own children and now have grandkids to teach how to sail. The most profound change has been GPS, and America was firing their first satellites in the early 1980’s, while we were still wandering about using dead reckoning and our sextant. Other than that, I don’t think much has actually changed on boats, except things have become more sophisticated and electronics have become smaller.
One major thing which has changed is us: We are older, (evidently not much wiser though), and now looking towards equipment which makes sailing easier, on both hands and head—roller furling sails, electric winches, AC, generator, etc., which we didn’t have in our previous boat.
I’m pleased to find I still enjoy pottering about on my boat, especially the woodwork, and I hope you find the same.
Make the transition slowly, because you have been landlubbers for a long time and it’s not that easy to switch to a boating life.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Sooner or later I'll be back out there cruising. Right now I have to be content with sailing club boats and other peoples boats. Ok, but I'd rather be out there on my own boat.
Got some major work to do first.
kind regards,