Does cruising keep you young?

[killarney_sailor]

Had a beer with a couple of cruisers who were both celebrating birthdays. One was 72 and the other 78. After getting to Cape Town, both will be sailing to Europe, one via the Caribbean, the other directly. The older gentleman and his wife, who have been cruising full time for 16 years are going to spend the summer in Ireland and Scotland, leave the boat (Camper Nicholson 48) in the Netherlands for the winter and go back in spring 2014 to go through the canals to the Black Sea before sailing back to the Americas in late 2015. He will be 81 then. They will be looking for a smaller boat to use when they return to Lake Ontario. I was and am impressed.

[awahl]

Late bloomer that I am, almost 52 and never having sailed- owner of a new (to me) sailboat of 32 feet- I certainly hope so!

All kidding aside- that is amazing and what a blessing for them to not only be doing it- but to still be doing it with their partner (presumably of a similar pedigree?).

I am not sure if it's the physical aspect, or perhaps the more meaningful -inner strength, confidence, sense of overcoming the challenge- that makes us go longer and stronger- but hope to be one that finds out.

[Capt.aaron]

I'm a young 42, at my 20 year h.s. reunion, some of my old friends were bald and grey and fat and wrinkly, I was lean and tan and flexable. I attribute it to over 20 years of living and cruising aboard. My grandpa and grandma did it 'till 72, and only stopped because he was hit by a car in the key's, riding his fold up bike towing a little trailer with two jerry cans of deisel back to his boat. I see people like Kilarny mentioned and Trav.Easy, I'm convinced that it keep's us young. Nice to think I have 30 years plus of cruising ahead of me provided my health holds up. A lot of the tug captains in my fleat are 65 and up.

[wingNwing]

Dan was 50 the first time he was on a sailboat - hey, not that many opportunities in Kansas Five years later we were fulltime liveaboards who no longer owned a house. Pix of him climbing into lockers and crawling under tables to install our new hot water heater in my blog (link Life Afloat Archives) Does this man look 65? Agree with Capt Aaron, and awahl - the life keeps your body and brain flexible.

[TQA]

Yes!

[deltaten]

While the physical activity associated with sailng will keep one fit, I believe the longevity is more a result of attitude.
That means that, IMHO, someone who sails (or any other active 'sport') would have a tendency to be of better health and condition anyway.
Un-fit couch potatoes don;t generally participate in extreme sports. A sailor would more than likely be from the active sort gene pool and naturally have a tendency to live longer.

Chicken or egg sorta debate
Better health thru sailing?
or:
Better sailing thru health(y lifestyle)?

$.02

[Capt.aaron]

I hear if you keep on dancing you'll never grow old.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by killarney_sailor

Does cruising keep you young?

Any hobby with some forms of physical activity will good for the body. Sitting at home watching TV or waiting the children to call is not good for the old soul.

May be I should picking another hobby in rock climbing

[Paddyd]

yes it does keep you young , keeps your dreams alive , keeps you laughing , and reduces your needs down to a a reasonable amount , very low stress
Nance and I are like children on our boat and teenagers when we kiss at sunset
Yes Yes Yes cruising cleanses the soul , frees the mind and deepens the love

[Dick6969]

I will be 58 next year and my wife keeps telling me she is tired of raising two 22 year old's. My youngest is 22. It has to be the sailing. Also next week is my dads birthday, he will be 90. It has to be the sailing... That is me and my dad last year. It has to be the sailing.