I was reading a Cap'n Fatty article in Cruising World the other day. He said after 52 years of being a liveaboard, he had never actually bought a boat. He acquired them, built one, traded for one but had never actually gone out into the market and searched for one to buy.
Now, at the age of 60, after completing two circumnavigations in his 38' Olin Stephens designed sloop, and logging some 20,000+ miles on the water, he wanted a boat that would take him "from 60 to 80."
That's when it hit me. OMG, I wasn't 30 anymore!
In my quest to finally realize my dream of having my own boat and becoming a liveaboard, I realized I was recalling the bulk of my sailing days, when I was in my 20's and 30's, and the less often sailing in my 40's. I recalled how easily I got around the boat, how easily I handled sailing it, and how natural all that had been for me. Surely I can still do that, right?
But while at the boat show I was surprised to find myself a bit less than sure-footed when getting in, out and around the boats. I passed it off to the lack of sleep from the drive there, and being a little rusty. But Cap'n Fatty had just woken me up. I wasn't a kid anymore.
I now fear I may have missed that opportunity, the one where I can sail a boat like I once did. All that has got me to wondering, "What will it REALLY be like sailing off into the sunset?"
Now, at the age of 60, after completing two circumnavigations in his 38' Olin Stephens designed sloop, and logging some 20,000+ miles on the water, he wanted a boat that would take him "from 60 to 80."
That's when it hit me. OMG, I wasn't 30 anymore!
In my quest to finally realize my dream of having my own boat and becoming a liveaboard, I realized I was recalling the bulk of my sailing days, when I was in my 20's and 30's, and the less often sailing in my 40's. I recalled how easily I got around the boat, how easily I handled sailing it, and how natural all that had been for me. Surely I can still do that, right?
But while at the boat show I was surprised to find myself a bit less than sure-footed when getting in, out and around the boats. I passed it off to the lack of sleep from the drive there, and being a little rusty. But Cap'n Fatty had just woken me up. I wasn't a kid anymore.
I now fear I may have missed that opportunity, the one where I can sail a boat like I once did. All that has got me to wondering, "What will it REALLY be like sailing off into the sunset?"