age and giving up the boat

An inspiring thread. A welcome tonic in the first days of a new year at a point when plans for another sailing year are in hand. Idle thoughts of how many more seasons can be managed are placed in perspective by these posts. My yacht Ragna R is 80+ and so am I. I might even look forward to the first varnishing session when the weather turns! CBT
 
It's interesting, and inspiring, that most people on here plan on keeping sailing! Age-wise I'm middle of the road at 77 and have no plans to slow down sailing or maintaining our boat.
 
I gave up three years ago when after a hard days racing, three races, two general recalls and to and from the race course, I hopped into the tender to be taken ashore and had to walk up the ramp doubled over. I was also finishing up to leeward quite often when keeping the helm at the right angle tacking and gybing, and needed hauling up to windward.

That evening thinking about it I realised that in our fleet with over a hundred crew racing regularly I was the only one over 70! It was time I accepted it and grew old gracefully. Mind you two people had told me they had clocked 22 kts to our max 18kts an SB20 is a little different from the yachts generally talked out in this thread.
 
I'm approaching 65 and beginning to doubt that I have another 10 years of sailing left in me. We moved the boat about 20 miles along the coast earlier this week and I felt like I had crossed the Atlantic afterwards. I think I need to talk to Stannah to see if they can offer a stair lift that fits a Bavaria companionway!
 
mjcoon said:
Maybe they do MOB recovery kit, too... (I'm expecting my holiday insurance to have surged now I'm 75 and have a pacemaker as well as heart valve surgery!)

Mike.
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Now there's a rip-off, pay for holiday cover and they tell you to go to public hospital and use EHIC! We've saved enough in unpaid premiums over the years to more than cover cost of repatriation. Cremation often cheaper outside UK so why bother sending a stiff back?
 
Graham376 said:
Now there's a rip-off, pay for holiday cover and they tell you to go to public hospital and use EHIC! We've saved enough in unpaid premiums over the years to more than cover cost of repatriation. Cremation often cheaper outside UK so why bother sending a stiff back?
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My view exactly.
 
Graham376 said:
Now there's a rip-off, pay for holiday cover and they tell you to go to public hospital and use EHIC! We've saved enough in unpaid premiums over the years to more than cover cost of repatriation. Cremation often cheaper outside UK so why bother sending a stiff back?
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I"m more concerned with my living body being repatriated, thankyou!
 
maby said:
I think I need to talk to Stannah to see if they can offer a stair lift that fits a Bavaria companionway!
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The reminds me that the design features of different boats can play a part - in either direction.

I don't really need it yet, but thinking how I am only going to get less agile in the next very few years tilted me in favour of my current boat, an LM27 (which I'm not promoting, but giving as an example).

Its unfashionably low freeboard and pronounced sheer means stepping aboard amidships is easy because it's at a similar level to a pontoon and not far above a dinghy, and there are also handrails on top of the wheelhouse at this point to hang on to. It does not have a bridge deck to clamber over, or steep steps between saloon and cockpit: just one shallow step down from cockpit to wheelhouse/galley, then two shallow steps down from there into the saloon. I wasn't particularly looking for a motor-sailer, but it provides the choice of either sitting in the heated wheelhouse in an upholstered seat at the wheel, with kettle within arms reach (pipe and slippers optional); or being out in the cockpit, steering by tiller (souwester, full oilies and thermals optional ;) ).
 
LittleSister said:
The reminds me that the design features of different boats can play a part - in either direction.

I don't really need it yet, but thinking how I am only going to get less agile in the next very few years tilted me in favour of my current boat, an LM27 (which I'm not promoting, but giving as an example).

Its unfashionably low freeboard and pronounced sheer means stepping aboard amidships is easy because it's at a similar level to a pontoon and not far above a dinghy, and there are also handrails on top of the wheelhouse at this point to hang on to. It does not have a bridge deck to clamber over, or steep steps between saloon and cockpit: just one shallow step down from cockpit to wheelhouse/galley, then two shallow steps down from there into the saloon. I wasn't particularly looking for a motor-sailer, but it provides the choice of either sitting in the heated wheelhouse in an upholstered seat at the wheel, with kettle within arms reach (pipe and slippers optional); or being out in the cockpit, steering by tiller (souwester, full oilies and thermals optional ;) ).
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Good example of identifying the barriers to continuing sailing and finding a boat that removes most, if not all of the barriers.
 
Topcat47 said:
I"m more concerned with my living body being repatriated, thankyou!
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The cost of repatriation alive for one, can be about the same cost as three years premiums for decent long stay cover for two people in their mid to late 70's or older. I prefer to carry my own risk as long as within EHIC cover for treatment. Holiday insurance won't cover those of us away for long periods and the high cost of long term cover can be out of budget for many and another consideration when deciding whether to continue sailing into old age.
 
Graham376 said:
The cost of repatriation alive for one, can be about the same cost as three years premiums for decent long stay cover for two people in their mid to late 70's or older. I prefer to carry my own risk as long as within EHIC cover for treatment. Holiday insurance won't cover those of us away for long periods and the high cost of long term cover can be out of budget for many and another consideration when deciding whether to continue sailing into old age.
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I was not impressed when Bishop Skinner (RYA partner insurer) politely but curtly told me that my multitrip insurance was no longer availablie just because I had reached 80. Similarly Topsail (CA Insurers) will not do multi trip for over 80,s. I suspect failing to try other underwriting syndicates is probably illegal but since Staysure have covered me I haven’t bothered to make a fuss although I don’t think I am covered more than 12 miles offshore.
 
Kurrawong_Kid said:
I was not impressed when Bishop Skinner (RYA partner insurer) politely but curtly told me that my multitrip insurance was no longer availablie just because I had reached 80. Similarly Topsail (CA Insurers) will not do multi trip for over 80,s. I suspect failing to try other underwriting syndicates is probably illegal but since Staysure have covered me I haven’t bothered to make a fuss although I don’t think I am covered more than 12 miles offshore.
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Well Kid you have had an epic day imho. Not many would have done a day trip from the West Midlands to the East coast & back , "just to check the boat" Bravo Kid.
PS are you dinghy sailing tomorrow :disgust:
 
There is a gentleman of my aquaintence who as very recently crossed the bar at 101. He gave up sailing his Flying Fifteen after his 100th birthday, but carried on sailing his model yachts till the bitter end. There's hoe for us all !
 
michael_w said:
There is a gentleman of my aquaintence who as very recently crossed the bar at 101. He gave up sailing his Flying Fifteen after his 100th birthday, but carried on sailing his model yachts till the bitter end. There's hoe for us all !
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There was a Westerly Owners' Association member who was single handing his Centaur on their summer cruises across the channel well into his 90s.
 
Been pondering this for a couple of years with arthritic and other issues advancing. Decided I would carry on for as long as it's still fun. When the fun stops is the time to take stock and see if I can identify and avoid whatever is spoiling it.

I remember an old boy, retired Naval type, who sailed a very nice wooden FB. He always seemed to have an amazingly pretty crew of decorative young ladies aboard! One autumn at lay up time he told us he was selling up, as the Doc had told him he must come ashore for his health. he died three months later. We were never quite sure whether the Docs advice was because of the sailing or the crew!

Reckon too that if I ever find Im going down the Dementia route, I would go sailing - as long as I can remember why I went out. I might be enjoying myself too much!
 
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oldharry said:
I remember an old boy, retired Naval type, who sailed a very nice wooden FB. He always seemed to have an amazingly pretty crew of decorative young ladies aboard! One autumn at lay up time he told us he was selling up, as the Doc had told him he must come ashore for his health. he died three months later. We were never quite sure whether the Docs advice was because of the sailing or the crew!
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Probably the stimulus that was keeping him alive - much too dangerous to give up like that!

Mike.
 
Some years ago we were sitting in a club abroad, probably Flushing, and got chatting to a fellow Sadler29-owner at the next table. He was in his 80s and in his crew he had his daughter who was a doctor and another family member who was an undertaker, so he felt well-covered for all eventualities.
 
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