Learning to sail - age etc

[Ripster]

We went from Power to sail about 6 months ago and are in our 50s without much sailing experience. We went from a 33ft powerboat and bought a 37ft sailing boat - cruiser.

First thing - our sail boat is far easier (IMO) to move about in a marina as it goes where you steer provided you have half a knot of momentum and decent keel and that is in either direction. Its as easy to steer astern as it is to make way. I had a BT fitted in case, but hardly ever use it - and if I do its me being lazy. Even SWMBO can berth this one - she would not have ever attempted the MOBO (which had two engines, shafts and BT).

The sailboat is far easier than our drifty powerboat which was unforgiving if you got the judgement wrong. So if you can mnvr a Powerboat around at close quarters, a sailboat should not be too much of an issue, once you get used to the length and feel.

Hauling modern sails up and down is really very easy. We have never struggled. The winches are very forgiving and using the jib and main sails only, it can all be done from the cockpit. The only time we "need" to go up the sharp end out at Sea (if its a bit lumpy) is to use a jib pole and in most cases, if its lumpy the pole isnt needed!

Go for it and have fun - as others have said.

 

[Ripster]

Mean't to add. Best to have one large spade type rudder (as we have) and perhaps avoid a twin rudder set up. The single large rudder is what makes steering so easy. I have heard that twins can be a tad awkward at slow speed. Many (not all) cruisers under 40ft will have a single.

 

[Tucepi]

Age is just a number and in many cases the more active you are the better you are.
We have just move from motorboats to our first ever sailboat so like you I wondered if we would like it. My wife and I tried a sail weekend and loved it and next we bought a 42ft Sailboat. Yes its well equipped for just the two of us with bow thrusters, inmast furling etc. Since we had been used to 37ft Motorboats we did not want to compromise with comfort as we do spend a lot of time on board so 42ft is ideal.
I decided that own boat tuition was more valuable to me than some of the RYA courses especially if you use a RYA instructor. Lots of skills are transferrable and the RYA theory I did many years ago is still valid. I recently attended day skipper for sail but have to admit that did not enhance my sailing at all but improved my confidence.
My advice would be just do it. Find the boat that you both like and then learn to sail in her and enjoy the whole journey.

 

[dhobyb]

WE moved from Power to sail last year, very little sailing experience, but I wanted something with some range.....
We bought a 42ft boat, which to be honest is a little large, but we manage, if I had the choice again I might go for something about 37 - 40 ft.
We spent a week with an instructor basically learning to sail and get a Day Skipper (sail) which begets an ICC, handy for Europe.......This year we sailed around the UK, took 4 months and was great fun, next year we thinking of going to the Med for the summer....

By the way I am 64 and the wife slightly less.......

 

[Ron5]

Wow what can I say, a wonderful welcome and great responses that have really put my mind at rest. So first a big thanks to you all.

I think I may have given the wrong impression regarding the age and fitness question. Bear in mind I know nothing and I mean nothing about sailing so I genuinely did not know if age was a barrier so I certainly wasn't discounting the idea merely asking. Just reading posts on this forum tells me I will have to learn a second language i.e. sailing terminlogy!

We intend to spend the next 12 months learning to sail and looking for a boat. During this time we will be doing several courses out in the med that will be at least RYA Day Skipper and Competent Crew, possibly more.

Looking around the boat show at the weekend, my wife wants something between 35 & 40' because of the room and comfort and likes the style of the Sirius 35DS because of the higher cabin. Not necessarily that boat but similar and almost certainly used. I could possibly buy in the USA as I import from there already and have quite a few contacts.

So their we are, let the adventure begin.

Cheers, Ron

 

[wotayottie]

The big question that needs a serious answer is are we too old to learn to sail?

Only if you think you are. Get on with it!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Age is in the mind. Sailing is fun and for young guys like you. Go for it; we only live once.

 

[Retired in Crete]

Age is in the mind. Sailing is fun and for young guys like you. Go for it; we only live once.

Age is certainly in the mind! I cannot believe how old I am! ('till I look in the mirror and ask "Who is that old git?")

I have not checked out the boats you like but, if you are coming to the med, my advice would be to make sure it has a "sugar scoop" stern. My current boat has one and I would not change it. Far easier to get aboard from the dinghy or from a swim.

I currently sail an early 28ft Benetau first which was an ex flotilla holiday boat. (I liked the holiday so I bought the boat!) As I mostly sail single handed I felt that this was as big as I could handle alone and gave me ample accommodation for my needs. Being an ex flotilla boat it is fully equipped with H & C running water, 2 showers (one in the heads and one on the stern), VHF radio, fridge, cooker with oven etc and even came with a six man liferaft and a dozen life jackets. I have added a chart plotter and auto pilot.

I have also bought longer winch handles to make sail raising and trimming a bit easier but I take my time at this, my sailing is for fun, it is not a race! I also now do not venture out alone in anything over a force 6, again, I have no wish to battle with the elements. The challenges here are mooring stern to on a pontoon with a 25 knot cross wind!

If you are too old to start I had better sell my boat!

By the way I am 70 next birthday but don't tell anybody.

John

 

[robyonfrome]

I sold my sealine 29 ambassador last year after moto boating from the age of 30 and Im now 60 and bought a Jernneau 32 sun odyssey lift keel, We got the sailing bug after 3 flotilla holidays in Greece, but thats all the sailing experience Iv had, we hired a similar boat to mine to see if we liked the layout etc, which I would recommend. Its much harder work, but it’s as hard as you make it, we have in mast furling and I can sail single handed very easily, probably not text book but that dosnt bother me, the only thing I miss is the cockpit comfort and space. I have had an experienced friend out with me which was a great help to my confidence. Live your dream and go for it while your still fit enough to do it.