At what age do you start sailing less miles.

[Skylark]

I’m dead impressed by some of the annual mileages done by some of you retirees but it sounds a bit too macho for me. ?

Providing I’m still enjoying myself, I don’t care how near or far I travel. I’m in my sixth year of retirement but haven’t at all followed my “master plan”. Life has a habit of throwing a curved ball. I never planned to do so but I started sail training in my retirement. I qualified as a CI and then as a YMI and derive a lot of satisfaction from this. It’s never too late to try something new, maybe put something back into our sport.

 

[rickp]

I'm guessing that was 2020 based on the fact that Victoria - the 'Plague State' - was totally avoided and the rest of the country was 'business' as normal'.

Not really. NSW was definitely the 'plague state' rather than Victoria. Additional bureaucracy to enter Tasmania (couldn't be done more than 3 days in advance, go direct Hobart), WA (hardest of all - we squeaked in after crossing the bight), NT and QLD. I think the only states we entered which didn't need anything was NSW (entered the day before the northern beaches outbreak) and SA.

 

[blush2]

I retire in 9 months , My amount sailing will increase vastly..

I thought that. Retired in 2018 and moved house at the end of June 2019 so not so much sailing as usual due to settling in. Lifted out at the end of the year and got trapped by Covid. Eventually decided to keep the boat ashore for a year.

Last year we didn't go far, France was mostly out because of a combination of Covid and Brexit. Local areas were overrun by staycationers or the weather let us down.

Now lifted out but had to wait for space in the yard. Both of us are now finding the shorebased side of things a struggle rather than the sailing.

The boat is a fast passage maker so we hope to go further this year while we can.

 

[2Tizwoz]

This is a very uplifting thread. In truth, life is a series of choices.

It's never too late to make a change.

 

[oldharry]

Looking at it from the wrong end of getting old, I reckon most of us have around 10 years from retirement before old age and general decrepitude starts to set in and interfere with the annual seamiles tally. Thats a massive generalisation: for some, a vital body part plays up/ gives up and abruptly forces us off the water, while others seem to be able to carry on well into their 80's

Attitude of mind plays a big part. If you or your other half, your kids, or your mates start telling you must stop, as you are 'too old to do that sort of thing' often enough, you are at risk of starting to believe it, and the rot sets in. Sea miles begin to drop.

I at one time knew an elderly high ranking naval officer in his late 80's. He had a beautiful and immcalately maintained varnished wood folkboat. He was invariably accompanied by a crew of nubile nymphets, all equally immaculately maintained! He came into the boatyard office one day comlaining he had to sell the boat as his doctor had told him he must come ashore. It wasnt safe for him to be afloat any more. We did wonder whether the Doc was referring to the old boy or his crew, but that's beside the point. If it was the crew, the Doc was many years too late anyway... Three months later we supported his family (and many of his former crew) at his funeral. They were adamant that had the Doc not told him to give up his boat, he would have had several more years.

 

[The Q]

At our club I've raced against 100+ year olds and 8 years olds in the same race, I'm intending to be close to the 100 years olds in age before I give up..
Choosing the right type of boat and sailing is also a decider in how long to continue sailing.

I like racing, in particular I like the 1 hour races (up to 5 in a day) most Broads clubs do. Prop up the bar / T bar between races, use the club facilities.
A most civilised way of sailing ,rather than pounding your way across the sea for hours.

As for the type of boat I can't afford the bigger open Keel boats like a Yare and Bure, so I'm moving down to a home build boat similar in sailing style to an International 2.4mR, if the disabled can sail something like that, then I can when I get decrepit.

 

[Birdseye]

For me, mileage is a chore and not an objective so racing is much more fun than passage making. That said mileage does decline with age whether by boat, toy car or motorbike. I see the same thing happening to my pals.

 

[Frank Holden]

Not really. NSW was definitely the 'plague state' rather than Victoria. Additional bureaucracy to enter Tasmania (couldn't be done more than 3 days in advance, go direct Hobart), WA (hardest of all - we squeaked in after crossing the bight), NT and QLD. I think the only states we entered which didn't need anything was NSW (entered the day before the northern beaches outbreak) and SA.

I ended up losing track. I live 50km south of the Vic/NSW border in what was a 'border bubble'. One week you needed a permit to get into NSW - the next week you would need a permit to get back into Victoria.
I was in Canberra when one closure by NSW was announced . On the drive back down the Hume Freeway ( main Sydney Melbourne road for them as unfamiliar with the geography) from Tarcutta to Chiltern - 170kms - I saw about a dozen vehicles - it was all a bit weird.

 

[AndrewB]

This thread inspired me to look back at my own record. When I had my first real 22ft 'yot' 50 years ago keeping a regular log was essential to navigation, and I've kept up the habit ever since, "just in case".

It turns out I've sailed, in my own boats and those I've chartered, exactly 1,000 miles for each year of my life. And last year I sailed 1,000 miles. But in fact about half my total mileage was in the seven years following retirement. So good luck to those who have just reached that point!

 

[capnsensible]

This thread inspired me to look back at my own record. When I had my first real 22ft 'yot' 50 years ago keeping a regular log was essential to navigation, and I've kept up the habit ever since, "just in case".

It turns out I've sailed, in my own boats and those I've chartered, exactly 1,000 miles for each year of my life. And last year I sailed 1,000 miles. But in fact about half my total mileage was in the seven years following retirement. So good luck to those who have just reached that point!

In that case I will still be sailing when I'm 170 years old.