Introduction

[Crosis]

Greetings,

I am 50 years old and about to retire. I grew up in yacht clubs and my father was the dock master for the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) in Miami in the 70s and early 80s. I started sailing in prams around Dinner Key and in fresh water lakes at the old age of 8. I sailed prams, lasers, sunfish, and several other small boats while growing up. We owned a beautiful wooden 36' Crocker Ketch that I cruised the Bahamas in for a summer. Later moving up to a Seafarer 38 Ketch which my father lived on. We did many years of blue water and bay sailing in that. As I hit adulthood I helped my father build a 48' Slocum Spray replica in Vancouver. He owned that boat until he was 80 then had to give up sailing. He passed away 2 years ago.

As I ready myself for retirement, I find the ocean pulling me back to it. The problem I have is I have been out of sailing for 20 years now because my career took over. I want to one day find another Seafarer 38 ketch and sail for months at a time if not live aboard. The problem is whats the best way to get back the skills I have lost over 20 years to safely sail a blue water rig? I am 6-02 and 200 lbs so I don't think a sunfish is a good starting point and I don't have room for anything larger than a 18 ft trailerable sailer until I am ready to buy the big boy.


I hope to get tons of information from this forum over the next few years.

[HopCar]

Welcome aboard! You and I grew up sailing and boating in the same area. I just did it a little sooner than you did.

[Crosis]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Welcome aboard! You and I grew up sailing and boating in the same area. I just did it a little sooner than you did.

Ah Biscayne Bay is a treasure to sail in.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Crosis

Greetings,

I am 50 years old and about to retire. I grew up in yacht clubs and my father was the dock master for the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) in Miami in the 70s and early 80s. I started sailing in prams around Dinner Key and in fresh water lakes at the old age of 8. I sailed prams, lasers, sunfish, and several other small boats while growing up. We owned a beautiful wooden 36' Crocker Ketch that I cruised the Bahamas in for a summer. Later moving up to a Seafarer 38 Ketch which my father lived on. We did many years of blue water and bay sailing in that. As I hit adulthood I helped my father build a 48' Slocum Spray replica in Vancouver. He owned that boat until he was 80 then had to give up sailing. He passed away 2 years ago.

As I ready myself for retirement, I find the ocean pulling me back to it. The problem I have is I have been out of sailing for 20 years now because my career took over. I want to one day find another Seafarer 38 ketch and sail for months at a time if not live aboard. The problem is whats the best way to get back the skills I have lost over 20 years to safely sail a blue water rig? I am 6-02 and 200 lbs so I don't think a sunfish is a good starting point and I don't have room for anything larger than a 18 ft trailerable sailer until I am ready to buy the big boy.

I hope to get tons of information from this forum over the next few years.

Hardly anyone who retires to go cruising starts out with so much experience. Most of it is like riding a bicycle - will come back to you right away.

Your earlier dinghy experience is incredibly valuable, but no particular need to repeat it now. I would just buy the boat you want now.

An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore course and qualification would be the ideal way to review and refresh your knowledge, but you could certainly brush up by self-study if you prefer.

[Pelagic]

Welcome to CF
I agree with Dockhead. (You have probably forgotten more than what many out there know).

Trust your instincts, get up to speed on the advances in sailing equipment and think about what kind of boat will serve you best in the next 15 years.

One added idea....buy a solid boat that needs a bit of self repair.... It will quickly bring you back into the realities of boat ownership.

[Scott Berg]

Go sailing
Any boat looking for a hand on passage would be thrilled to have you...I know we would!


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Crosis]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.