Taking up sailing at 60!

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Adrianwool

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I have owned a number of powerboats since the late eighties, cruising widely. I have just sold my last one a Nimbus, because I am brassed off with the ever escalating cost of diesel and engine maintenance costs, and yes being retired makes you watch the pennies closer!.

I will be at a loss without a boat, and it has been suggested that I ought to think of giving sailing a try. This is something to date I have never thought of, the local sea school will do me a 'taster' day out to see what I think, but I would like to sound out this forum as well. One thing I find slightly disquieting is you see many people going the 'other way' at my age , i.e. giving up on sailing and going to a power boat!!. I am not interested in racing but in gentle cruising in a nice comfortable boat , just the two of us, so I thought something around 30 feet or so would do the business. Any advice gratefully received.


Adrian
 
Go for it is my advice. 60 is the new 40! We love sailing, but we just potter about. You can do that, it's relaxing and enjoyable. We leave the extreme stuff to the ones that want to do it!

Our boat is a Beneteau 323 and it's just right for two, and very comfortable. :)
 
If you like it after the taster, next stage might be to do a flotilla holiday where you can get a bit more tuition and a chance to skipper your own boat. Sail Ionian and Sailing Holidays are good bets in the IOnian . Neilson and Sunsail also have packages.

BTW, not too old at 60. Modern boats are easy to sail and low maintenance.
 
The first canard to dispel is that sailing is much cheaper than motoring. Your 30' cruising boat is likely to spend more than half its time under motor burning diesel, though a bit more slowly than your mobo; a couple of sails, probably every 5 years is about £2.5k; more anti-fouling every year; and on it goes.

I'd recommend a dinghy course for the basics of sailing and a shore-based skipper course, unless you have these already. Weather and tides play a much bigger part under sails.
 
My farther is 72 this year, and has just done 2500 miles this summer in everything from gentle island cruising to bashing F9s in the North sea.

So absolutely no reason not to start at 60.

There are a great variety of yachts out there these days to suite all tastes, abilities and styles of sailing. Have a wonder around the Soton boat show to get an idea, not sure on your budget but also pop up to the Oyster used boat event at SYS. (I would suspect that the avergae age of somebody buying a Oyster is north of 50).

Do the taster sail, on a nice day, and see what you think. If you like the taster, do a bit of flotila/chartering to see what you like don't like before commiting to buy a boat.

Being retired will have a great advantage in that you wont need to get anywhere if you don't want to. So if its windy, stay where you are and get another pint; whilst you watch the rest of use bash home in a head wind to be in work on Monday!!!

Have fun, you'll love it. (Just remember not everywhere has horrible weather and tides like the UK) :)
 
Adrian,

I believe Sir Francis Chichester was around or over 60 when he began singlehanded ocean racing in boats many would blanche at today with a full crew !

A good 30' ish boat would be fine, with a roller reefing headsail - it's important and worth every penny to get a good make.

I beg to differ with the earlier remark about fuel costs, I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

A moderately shoal draft boat will give you access to many more places ( including say the French Canals if desired ) and generally reduce hassle.

Just keep to a moderate design and you'll have heaps of fun; the suggestion of a Flotilla holiday is an excellent one, just don't be alarmed if slightly chaotic, that's flotillas not general sailing...

Ditto the idea of getting experience in a sailing dinghy, this is no way extreme, but gives lessons easily and immediately, many life-long cruiser sailors would benefit from this ( though don't realise ! ).

Above all, remember it's supposed to be enjoyable, not an endurance test; Have Fun !

Andy
 
awol said:
The first canard to dispel is that sailing is much cheaper than motoring. Your 30' cruising boat is likely to spend more than half its time under motor burning diesel, though a bit more slowly than your mobo; a couple of sails, probably every 5 years is about £2.5k; more anti-fouling every year; and on it goes.

I'd recommend a dinghy course for the basics of sailing and a shore-based skipper course, unless you have these already. Weather and tides play a much bigger part under sails.
Click to expand...

Hi Awol, I understand what you are saying regarding sail and diesel cost but if you undertake a cruise from say Burnham on Crouch to Weymouth and back (say a round trip of 400 miles), and in cruise you get 2 mpg, (thats 200 gallons of diesel for the round trip), with diesel at 1.15 per litre (say £5.20) per gallon thats a £1040 for ONE trip in a season, throw in a few additional trips and you can easily exceed £2000 per season on fuel. A suit of sales every 5 years is an aggregated cost of £500 p.a. plus a bit of diesel, I would say no contest in the cost stakes, and this excludes sevicing at £1,500 per year!. Still guys this is not the debate I wanted to start so all comments on sailing welcome.
 
As others have said, if you like the taster day the next step is to spend more time on a boat. A course will also mean you learn a bit more and have the opportunity to spend time talking to others about sailing. A flotilla holiday would give you the opportunity to let other family members try it out.

The real question is whether you can live with the slower pace as well as the lower bills.
 
costs of sailing versus motoring

If Adrianwool is happy to travel at 4-5 knots average speed why not just get a slow motor boat? As others have written, with a sailing boat you are likely to spend up to half your time motoring any way. I believe the costs of a sailing boat in comparison to a motor boat of similar size and speed are higher both for purchase and running expenses.

On the other hand, if Adrianwool is not too worried about the additional cost and is ready to pick up the additional knowledge and skills needed for sailing I, as a 71 year old, can thoroughly recommend his giving it a try.
 
I doubt if many yotties give up sailing simply because of age; mobility problems (due to arthritis etc) and other health issues are more likely to limit sailing. If you are sound in wind and limb then go for it.
Sailing in dinghies is excellent for wind awareness etc, but be aware that dinghy courses other than the most basic include capsize recovery, and therefore swimming and climbing on centreboards! actually not difficult and shouldn't be a problem.
I'm 68 and I know many people who sail regularly and are older (at least, I think they are, can be a bit hard to say as they seem to have the energy of a youngster, sailing can do that), my crew is (about) 79.
 
Red Admiral said:
If Adrianwool is happy to travel at 4-5 knots average speed why not just get a slow motor boat? As others have written, with a sailing boat you are likely to spend up to half your time motoring any way. I believe the costs of a sailing boat in comparison to a motor boat of similar size and speed are higher both for purchase and running expenses.

On the other hand, if Adrianwool is not too worried about the additional cost and is ready to pick up the additional knowledge and skills needed for sailing I, as a 71 year old, can thoroughly recommend his giving it a try.
Click to expand...

The cost of purchase and running a 40ft motor cruiser would be much more costly than a 40ft yacht , both in maintenance, fuel, insurance and capital spend, I can speak from first hand experience of both.
 
blackbeard said:
I doubt if many yotties give up sailing simply because of age
[...]
I'm 68 and I know many people who sail regularly and are older
Click to expand...

I'm 29, and I agree. Age per se is no bar. Sailing as Watch Leader on Stavros (500 ton square rigger) I once had a 72-year-old in my watch who was the most effective member of it. If something needed doing, immediately, and correctly, and 120 feet above the deck at the fore-royal, then Jim was the man to send.

Pete
 
I have a friend who has just started sailing with me - a complete beginner. She loves it.

She's 80 years old. :)
 
The chap that taught me to sail had his final trip on his own from Plymouth to Southern Britanny in his 2.5 ton Hillyard (he had downsized) at the age of 84.
At the time he boasted 2 replacement hips, colostomy, and a pacemaker.
It is with regret that I have to report he died the following year - I think the loss of his hobby was responsible. I miss Peter greatly
 
I have meet many a old timer arriving in port single handed, and just loving every minute of their time at sea, making me jealous at times with the amount of time they have to go sailing. adrian just go for it, try it first with a couple of tasters and maybe a holiday on a yacht for a week. and being 60 should make no difference at all, you will find your own comfort zone in time and wether you sail into the unknown or not, will be up to you.:eek:
 
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