Sailing and Aging

[JPA Cate]

I'm going to add a PS, here to Jim's post, cheeky witch that I am!

I wanted to add that we treasure the freedom of our lifestyle, and that has tended to make us find ways to make it work for us. Others may feel it is time for more creature comforts.....

Another thing we have done that has made our lives easier is to buy the Milwaukee 1/2" drive right angle drill motor, with the winch bit. My shoulders are pretty shot, and the Milwaukee tool allows me to do speedy winching, both of sails and to take Jim aloft.

Ann

[hpeer]

We are 67 and 65 and just getting started. We haven’t made any kids specifically for aging but to make the boat easier to handle. Which also addresses the aging issue. So far we are doing OK although the Wife is going through some tests for an endurance issue.

We plan for the Eastern Carib this coming season, but that’s pretty non-descript. And God only knows after that. I do most of the real sailing work so to some extent it rests on my physical and mental state. I hope to emulate Jim, you are my role model.

[SV Sailfish]

Jim and Ann... I tip my hat to you both.

Cheers!

[flyingfin]

Have poor grandkids that can take months off work at a time and hang out with you and all you do is pay their phone and bar bill!

[chuckr]

Not sure what old is for you - but we are 73 & 70 and have been underway for 11 years and sail a Jeanneau DS40. At age 71 &68 we sailed from central Turkey up to Istanbul and all the way around the Black Sea and back - it took us over 6months (some of that was visiting inland in each country we visited) and close to 2,800nm - last year was really bad year as we had wx, boat issues and broke a prop so we only got in 1,800 or so nm. This year is a slow year and we will only do 900nm or so and we are taking it easy as we sail down the Turkish coast and across to Cyprus and maybe on it Israel.


We keep fairly fit by walking everywhere (check out of fb page boat svsoulmates) and see us hiking up to a castle among others - we are not great sailors we just do it and if the winds get light the engine goes on - we also watch the wx a lot more


as for medical we get it local with cash - we have had surgery in multiple countries, and see docs for general medical check up, dermatologist, eye and dental at least yearly if not every 6 months -


It is getting a bit harder getting into tight fitting places as I don't bend as well as I use to and we are having more of the maintenance done by others. After screws put in both shoulders it is really hard to sand the bottom so we now get it done (and I don't like it one bit but accept it). I still go up the mast on occasion but the admiral really gets up set over it.


We did not put anything extra on our boat for our aid but we can run the entire boat from the cockpit except dropping the hook. As for costs we publish our costs in the forum every year so go to 8 years of cost data and you can see what we spend. Until this year we did this on social security alone but we had to do some major repairs this year so had to dip into savings.
If you get lonely out here you are in the wrong profession - stay home. We have made friends everywhere we have gone. People are simply great and all you have to do is reach out and say hi (AND STAY AWAY FROM POLITICALS) - people will respond in kind regardless of the language - how many people along the Black Sea coast do you thing speak English and Volgograd we joke we met both people who spoke English but the people were great and helpful.


So what else do you want to know?? Age is not a reason it is an excuse for not coming out here -

[p435]

Aging - we all face this issue, and yesterday the same time I was 24 h younger, thus we cannot stop aging. But what we can do is to slow down the effect of aging by keeping our bodies in good shape.

My wife once told me that sports is "body maintenance". Since then I don't do sports anymore but body maintenance.

This can also be done on a boat, not necessarily in all sea conditions.

We are lucky because we have a catamaran (Privilege 435) and had the idea of larger soft mats to cover the largest area of the side part of the deck. (But if you look around you will find enough space to also do it on a mono hull.)

Here I am doing a fitnes program as often as possible. Typically 5 times a week and depending on the sea conditions. My wife joins me.

I started this program 3 years ago at home and it will be for me the most crucial health related part of our planned looong voyage of 5-10 years. On the other side, I am aware that a health problem can stop our voyage anytime.

For me as a person who did sports all his life, it was strange when a friend recommended me an app. I don't know why, but I bought it. Investment of about 500 JPY was the best investment of my life. I am now in my 60s but feel in better shape than in my 50s.

For all who are interested. the app is available for Android and iOS phones/tablets.

Author: Mark Lauren
App: Body weight training

In did not bother about body weight, but got my body in an excellent shape which, as a unintended side effects reduced my weight from 85kg to 75-76; I am 184 cm tall.

[arsenelupiga]

here is hint for anyone, if you do not know already:

Nourish your passions, whatever they are. They are true gifts from god. They are the reason you feel alive and will keep you out of trouble, old or young.

See Kate couple (above) for example - love sailing & voyaging.

Sitting in apartment and eating cookies and posting on CF is NOT passion. It is time waster.

[JPA Cate]

It's not always "easy." So far, it has seemed that while moving ashore might provide some creature comforts, or make some things easier, I ask myself if life would be better for me without the boat, and I would bring all my physiological troubles to land with me, and without the pleasures of the lifestyle. Hmmmmm! I also think the lifestyle is very important for Jim, my pal, the one I promised to honor and cherish. How could I ask him to give it up, even if I wanted to?

Ann

[angelfish2]

Almost 40 years ago, my hubby and I stood on the deck of a brand new Westsail 42 with stars in our eyes, thinking and dreaming about going RTW. Today, we have downsized to a condo and sail our little IP 32 pretty much in local waters, anchoring out or catching mooring balls.

I think you can have fun at any age but with considerable wisdom as to what works for you. I still stare at horizons and dream of long passages but reality sets in and at our ages (70 and 74), it would be very difficult. My hubby has serious health problems and I do most of the sail work. How much longer I can manage is a mystery.

Things we have done to make it a bit easier are:
Install a Strong Track for raising the main.
Install a really good windlass (Lighthouse)
Put a float tub around our Walker Bay dingy.
Install extra blocks on our davits to make hauling up water jugs easier although installing a water maker would be a better idea.

I can't think of others right now but probably will at 3 in the morning.

Mostly we move a lot more carefully and slowly. I always think things out ahead of time before acting. Oh, and we are very careful about weather conditions. Burying a lee rail on an Island Packet just isn’t as much fun as on a Santana 21!

[Emmalina]

Can't remember where I read it but apparently the human body loses 2% of its flexibility a year after the age of 40 or was it 50 ? Anyway decided years ago when I can;'t get myself up the mast its time to sell !

[Tetepare]

My 23 year old anchor has gained weight with age. I could use an electric windlass.

[Capt Phil]

I was in my early 60’s when an experience aboard my sailboat suggestedthat in an emergency situation, I might not be up to the challenge, strengthwise or reaction time.
Not ready to give up ocean cruising and liveaboard, I switched from sail to power which added many years to my oceangoing lifestyle. Even started a successful charter business in Southern CA!
We lived aboard in SD in a marina for many years then at age 75, finally sold out and moved to the mountains. Actually walked inland with an oar over my shoulder and where some one asked me what it was, that is where we settled!
All in all, it has been a great life and wouldn’t trade a moment of it for anything. Still get asked to crew occasionally or just asked my opinion about anything to do with boats.
Cheers, Phil

[JPA Cate]

Someone else wrote about keeping flexible.

We have two friends who do yoga, one of whom swims almost every morning of her life, as well. Those two, the first kept her mobility past 80, the other is only about 62, and extremely flexible, and slender, with it, hey body the shape of a lissome teenager's.

There's a lesson there, for those with the heart to follow it.

Ann

[Amnesia II]

Originally Posted by atoll

a friend of mine sailed to the philipines and now has a much younger philipino girlfriend,she sails the boat,does all the cooking and boat maintanance....he just supplies the cash and instructions..........

Good on him!

[El Pinguino]

72 and a bit...

Last trip had pain behind my port knee... suffered a bit - mainly at night - before seeing my GP back in 'Straya some three months after it first manifested itself.

Was starting to think my 'out and about' days were over...

Doctor says X-ray = Arthritis.... pop 2 Panadol Osteo twice a day... problem sorted....

And also.... keep exercising!!! So - back on the campo - a 4k walk with the dogs each morning before brekky..... ( which -Jim and Ann- is why I'm not on the net as often as I should be )

Given that I sail a long way from home I accept that things could go pear shaped... which is why I keep up my 'Strayan health insurance , have some semblence of travel health insurance - how good is it? - dunno...... and ship a registered nurse... specialising in heart and intensive care.. as first mate

Sundry other health issues over the last 10 years have involved 5 6 general anesthetics.. I was on first name terms with the gas man