How Can a Racer Give up the Fast Life?

[Lazycatzimmerma]

I have raced sailboats for the majority of my life (no one needs know my real age...) I really need to get my head around the fact I need to sell my racer and live aboard...it is a tough one alright. I keep finding races to enter, but then there is that Corbin for sale in Florida...help me.

[daddle]

I have managed. "Giving up racing is easy, I have done it many times."

I cleverly bought a racer/cruiser. I keep the cruising life very light - uncluttered. Live aboard and cruise full time. But can convert to less-than-hard-core racing in a day's work by losing the dodger-like stuff and swapping for the the kevlar race sails. Except the bride seems to be collecting beach sand and seashells. Those are going to have to go ashore...

So it can be done.

[sarafina]

I'm guessing you never had kids and had to trade in the 2 door for the wagon?

Good luck with that ; -)

[delmarrey]

Buy a heavy full keeler ketch. That'll break ya!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

Buy a heavy full keeler ketch. That'll break ya!

Don't laugh. A good friend did it. Spent most of his life as a full on racer; did a couple of Bermuda races, Block Island ever year. Gave up racing and bought a Westsail 32.

[starchaser 2011]

I raced for close to 30 years. Then bought a cruising boat and became a sailor.

[Richard5]

Two boats. Or, talk a good friend in buying your racer.

[SkiprJohn]

You don't have to give up racing unless you want to. Just have to gear back and buy a Laser or Sunfish for racing and get a cruiser to liveaboard.
kind regards,

[sailorboy1]

just race the cruiser and accept the handicap

[Blue Stocking]

Or you could sail something like Bluestocking, and really piss-off the modern boat owners when they follow that transom home

[dugout]

Originally Posted by starchaser 2011

I raced for close to 30 years. Then bought a cruising boat and became a sailor.

This is unquestionably a GREAT observation.
Look forward to the new experience and try not to focus on what you are missing. Been there, done that, so move on, right? focus on where you're going, what's behind you is history.

[Auzzee]

I once was asked about the very high proportion of cruising boats taking part in the annual Darwin to Ambon race. I told the inquirer if you are in the top ten at any time in the event, you are racing. In the next 40, you are rallying. Below that, you're on a booze cruise.

The happy consequence of longer offshore races is that your status is likely to change several times during the course of the event.

Happy days!

[donradcliffe]

Its tough, but doable. Get a performance cruiser and enter the liveaboard class.

The harder part is to turn yourself into a cruiser.

[Celestialsailor]

It's ok...We'll support you on the Corbin. But as soon as you dawn the Hawaiian shirt and drink fruitie drinks with tiny umbrellas in then, then we'll call a Therapist.

[Surfer Girl]

It's not so much the boat that needs to change but your state of mind! Instead of pressing the boat and sacrificing comfort for boat speed, instead of keeping more canvas up or flying a chute in a strong breeze on the downhill leg....
you reef earlier, buy heavier, more durable sails that will last the distance, have more comforts onboard, instead of pressing the boat you look after the boat, you don't want to or need to shred a sail, rip a standing block out of the deck fitting, bash into a head wind for hours and hours, etc ,etc. Because you're not trying to win a race - you've already won! You are cruising and living the dream, meeting like minded people, enjoying the destinations, the anchorages, the culture, the food. The boat has become your home...
But yes, in doing that you will become a complete sailor and not just a sailor who races....racing is all about constantly maximising boat speed, beating the other competitors and that's a lot of fun. When you cruise there's no one to beat except yourself - because you sure won't beat King Neptune. So you wait for weather windows, you sacrifice a half knot for comfort, you feel the rhythm of sea and blend with it, you reef early and don't fly chutes at night (unless conditions are perfect). The finish line isn't the goal, the lifestyle is the goal....

Having said that, I would never own a traditional, full keeled yacht. Because I do like boat speed; I'm just not fanatical about it.