pondering giving up

[wotayottie]

Mrs wotayottie ( should it be wotatotty - she was 40 years ago ) and I have begun to talk about giving up the boat. Problem is the empty space that it would leave in our lives.

We are both in our mid 60s so handling our 35 footer and moving about it at sea are becoming more difficult. Mrs wota is not interested in sailing in the rain or when the wind is more than about 15kn. I'm not the slightest bit interested in single handing so put these two things together with the UK climate and you can see that our opportunities to go cruising in gentle warm weather are very limited.

Currently we keep the boat on the south coats during summer and back at home base for racing with the lads in winter. This involves two delivery trips per year which are tedious and stressful for me and whoever I can rope in.

And for all this we pay maybe 5k per annum out of pensions. But TBH its the stress of feeling under pressure to use the boat and wanting to avoid unpleasant conditions that is getting to us. Too many debates of the "shall we go, shall we not, we are missing the season etc" type.

I know that we are not alone in this. So the question is, have others found a more successful less stressful was of pottering about in a boat in their later years? Trailer sailer? Dinghy? Mind you even these are problematical as SWMBO is definitely not into camping

 

[25931]

There are many people who keep their boats in the Algarve and find that they can gat down here very cheaply, stay on the boat and even manage to sail from time to time.

 

[Lakesailor]

Am I being silly in suggesting you try a year with the boat at home base and see if you get more use with less hassle? Is the sailing decent near Swansea?

 

[Reverend Ludd]

There are many people who keep their boats in the Algarve and find that they can gat down here very cheaply, stay on the boat and even manage to sail from time to time.

Sounds like a plan

 

[MarkG]

Giving up

Funny you should bring this up, SWMBO and I have just decided to sell our share, for the reasons you have set out + I have a feeling the wind is stronger these days. I have set out a plan that we will try and sail in warmer climes by chartering in the Med, then after 2 years if we still want a yacht we'll have another look, but see about one thats able to handle heavier weather than we currently have.
I can also see that as the yacht is such a large part of our lives it will be sorely missed. One point in favour of you keeping it is that its an active pasttime and going into retirement that can make a positive difference to ones health.
Personally I'd look at keeping it in different marinas/ports around the coast, afterall, thats the best bit about having a boat and cruising.Good Luck

 

[Mrnotming]

Thinking of giving up?

We gave up having a boat at our home port as it was really becoming a garden shed meeting place.Our own fault for buying an AWB and trading in the half-tonner after 14 years of expensive sail buying and putting the odd trinket on the mantlepiece!
In much the same physical frame of mind now as regards cold, wet, and grey skies, plus diminishing strength.
So the move down the French Canals in 2003 opened up a whole lot of wonderful experiences which we are still enjoying.If in the UK it is so much easier to access your boat in some nice location.
Have a look at Grehan's website or Jim Baerslemanns (google) Sorry Jim if I misspelt you name.
Any more help needed with this concept and you will get lots of help here from other happier boaters!

 

[Talulah]

This is one of those subjects that I dread bringing up but know that someday the subject will come off the back burner and more and more to the front.
(It may not. There may be some disaster but under normal circumstances there will reach a point where the subject can no longer be ignored.)

It could be as a result of loss of interest, costs, ill health etc but the big regret would be if I hadn't fulfilled my dreams.
To give up the boat, no matter how impracticle to keep it, would be to give up the dreams and to do so would be the head ruling the heart. Without the boat in retirement there would be a big hole but others have succesfully filled this hole with holidays abroad, grand children etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I just wouldn't rush into it.
My father gave up sailing and he claims he doesn't miss it.

 

[AHoy2]

I seriously considered the use v. cost aspect of the boat this year and then came to the conclusion that I was using the wrong criteria for use i.e. actual sailing trips. In fact I get considerable enjoyment from just having the boat available to lounge on, tinker with or use as alternative accomodation. It also brings an additional dimension to my activities and social life. The sailing days are now a bonus, I take them as they come along and don't ponder so much on "lost days".

 

[Searush]

We too are looking into the future. I currently minimise hassle by keeping the boat in a spot where I can potter in almost any weather (Menai Straits) yet there are interesting places further afield to visit in better weather. We can easily use the boat as a caravan if it's really bad as I am on the quayside in a very sheltered harbour.

I have a couple of dinghies (Laser & GP14) & a Motorhome so we can do "camping" holidays with a dink which allows SWMBO to do her thing as well as me going sailing. If I ever have to sell SR due to my frailty I plan to get something like a Sunspot or Drascombe for daysailing/ overnighting.

I don't mind flying, & love other countries, but HATE airports & international travel (I did far too much of it as an overseas consultant) so a boat on the continent wouldn't really suit me, but towing something behind the M/H might suit us. There again, If I am not fit enough for SR, how will I cope with extended periods driving a truck & trailer?!

On the few odd occasions when I have not had any sort of boat, or perhaps just not had one with me, I tend to stand on the beach, clifftop or harbour wall staring whistfully after passing yachts. So yes I will miss sailing if I ever give it up, but hopefully small doses of small boats will suffice.

 

[25931]

We too are looking into the future. I currently minimise hassle by keeping the boat in a spot where I can potter in almost any weather (Menai Straits) yet there are interesting places further afield to visit in better weather. We can easily use the boat as a caravan if it's really bad as I am on the quayside in a very sheltered harbour.

I have a couple of dinghies (Laser & GP14) & a Motorhome so we can do "camping" holidays with a dink which allows SWMBO to do her thing as well as me going sailing. If I ever have to sell SR due to my frailty I plan to get something like a Sunspot or Drascombe for daysailing/ overnighting.

I don't mind flying, & love other countries, but HATE airports & international travel (I did far too much of it as an overseas consultant) so a boat on the continent wouldn't really suit me, but towing something behind the M/H might suit us. There again, If I am not fit enough for SR, how will I cope with extended periods driving a truck & trailer?!

On the few odd occasions when I have not had any sort of boat, or perhaps just not had one with me, I tend to stand on the beach, clifftop or harbour wall staring whistfully after passing yachts. So yes I will miss sailing if I ever give it up, but hopefully small doses of small boats will suffice.

You would appear to enjoy driving so my original idea of keeping a boat somewhere in the sun still applies but it would be much easier and quicker to drive a car rather than a truck and trailer.

 

[PeterWright]

One option is to sell half your boat. This will only work if you can find a like minded couple with whom you are readily able to agree on the sailing programme, the maintenance programme, berthing arrangements etc.

It works for us; generally each summer the two men, sometimes with help, do a delivery to a new cruisng ground, the ladies join us and we have a pleasant few weeks exploring new ports and the hinterland. Early and late season we do short local cruises in East Anglia.

It clearly halves costs and it's good to share the maintenance work load.

Another option is to sell the yacht and buy a small keelboat. It doesn't have to be a hairy sportsboat - squibs sail beautifully, but are comfortable enough for those of us of more advanced years. You could keep this locally and use it for local day cruising (picnics off Gower beaches) and occasional races. The lower costs would mean less need to worry about not using her every day.

As others have suggested, giving up ownership and chartering in warmer climes will reduce costs. The Dalmatian islands in Croatia are idyllic and not too hot in September / early October, when chartering costs are much lower than high summer, although you do get some high winds in late autumn. Ryanair will fly you there for not too much, if you can put up with their general disregard for paying customers.

Peter Wright

 

[Blueboatman]

Something small with a part/full wheelhouse and a decent engine and heater then, close to base perhaps?

I stopped sailing for 9 years, and when I was ready, jumped back in.

I do have a boat though currently that is more 'gentlemans study' inside than plastic fantastic so when the winds blow it is pretty snug and no evidence of cabin fever. And sails to windward by itself in a goodly wind range...

Handling 35 ft boats is just technique but you knew that.

I would quietly put the boat for sale, where it is and enjoy it till it sells. Then go reward yourselves with a couple of weeks in the sun on something new, decksaloony and with a big icemaker

 

[jakeroyd]

It's easy to have these thoughts given the rubbish weather over what seems the last two forevers.
We live 3 hrs drive from the boat so getting there involves time and money.
I am retired now and boy what I was not going to do with the boat this year.
Sadly this has not been the case.
I can and have sailed singlehanded but not extensively.

Mrs J is still at work , which makes things difficult.
However She is talking about a UK circumnavigation when she finishes work maybe next year.
Her ambitions with the boat might exceed mine which is strange since I am usually the brave one.

Despite all this like others I can not forsee giving the boat up , it has me in it's thrall.

I always say "Never calculate the hourly cost of actual hours sailed , it makes no sense".

Like others I feel the strain when sailing now (I am 58 and it's only a little boat) so I have to make sure sails are within my capability.

Problem is I don't have anything that would replace sailing as a hobby/pastime that gives me that sense of excitement mixed with slight foreboding that I feel everytime I set out

Ramble over

 

[vyv_cox]

We are older than you and, since my accident last year, not as mobile as we were. Our boat has now been in Greece for several years and we intend being here at least another three. We are currently anchored, sitting out a good blow that a few years ago we would have sailed in. We are perfectly happy to be where we are, wearing very few clothes, lovely sunny weather and nice surroundings.

The cost of keeping a boat in Greece can be very low and even in the more expensive places less than in UK. It is perfectly possible to get here in one day from Manchester, without paying a fortune. Once here, living costs are no more than in UK. Bringing the boat here was an adventure, most enjoyable but not too taxing. If you didn't want to bring yours here there are plenty of cheap boats to buy once you arrive.

My uncle is well into his 80s, keeps his boat in Turkey and sails probably more than he did in UK.

 

[Fire99]

If the hassle of Sailing and the need for less physical effort on board, how about.... A Motor Boat?

Yes I may combust for mentioning it. But a modest Motorboat would be comfortable, physically easy to manage and perhaps more pleasurable for your wife should the heavens open..

I bit 'left field' on a Yachting forum but may not be that barmy.

 

[uxb]

Flog the boat you have and buy a deck saloon boat like an Eclipse...

 

[Retired in Crete]

We are older than you and, since my accident last year, not as mobile as we were. Our boat has now been in Greece for several years and we intend being here at least another three. We are currently anchored, sitting out a good blow that a few years ago we would have sailed in. We are perfectly happy to be where we are, wearing very few clothes, lovely sunny weather and nice surroundings.

The cost of keeping a boat in Greece can be very low and even in the more expensive places less than in UK. It is perfectly possible to get here in one day from Manchester, without paying a fortune. Once here, living costs are no more than in UK. Bringing the boat here was an adventure, most enjoyable but not too taxing. If you didn't want to bring yours here there are plenty of cheap boats to buy once you arrive.

+1

I also did a few simple things like buying longer winch handles, an outboard for the dinghy instead of rowing etc.

I also have no lack of volunteers for crewing duties when needed!

John

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Last year we sold our boat principally because my neck (disc wear) would not allow me to do the sailing that I enjoyed and occasionally had to do to return the boat to it's home as we both still work and the sailing that I had planned for my retirement in 3 years which would have been mainly single handed with SWMBO joining wherever I might be. Whilst for the last few years we had the boat we had been weekending pottering up the coast it was not for me and we had used the boat very little but had sat on her in harbour quite a bit Now I have had the discs sorted but will not be able to sail for another year effectively we are looking at whether we should have another boat. The question for us (me) is will I do all that I had planned if I bought another one and the answer is I am not sure. I don't miss the laying up and certainly don't miss the 4 day 10Hrs a day fitting out every year or the 450 mile round trip just to get to her or the 7K+ that we used to spend on the boat every year. I have many other things to do with my time, on the occasions we have been at the coast and I have been looking out to sea thinking I could be sailing I have quickly forgotten and the weather was usually cr*p anyway. Caroline is quite happy to charter for a couple of weeks so that may well be the solution, it certainly won't be in the places I had planned to go but will be different, so it's a possible solution.

Maybe not the answer to your question but a different perspective and set of answers, it all depends on what you enjoy doing, get out of the boat and would like to do without one.

Good luck whatever you choose to do.

 

[JimC]

Because of where I live I have to do most of my sailing on the Irish Sea and I'm finding I don't enjoy being on it like I used to. This could be an age thing (67) but also I agree with a previous poster that the weather is getting windier and generally worse. We've often sailed up to Western Scotland for a few weeks in Spring/Summer but nowadays we seem spend ages holed-up in Whitehaven, Portpatrick or Campbelltown waiting for strings of depressions to blow through. Like the O.P. I'm seriously starting to wonder if the game is worth the candle.

 

[wotayottie]

Am I being silly in suggesting you try a year with the boat at home base and see if you get more use with less hassle? Is the sailing decent near Swansea?

As it happens, we are now using the south coast after years of only the bristol channel.

Have any of you downsized? Is that practical as you get older since a bigger more stable platform is easier to move about on as you get less agile?