Sailing in your 80% Healthspan

   My dad is loving his supernova in  his 70s.

He and his partner have just swapped their RS200 for a 2000 to be a bit more manageable. 

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GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Sailing in your 80% Healthspan Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 12:21pm
	My dad is loving his supernova in his 70s. He and his partner have just swapped their RS200 for a 2000 to be a bit more manageable.

Neptune Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neptune Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 11:23am
	It’s an interesting question, I sail at same club as you Tink, and I’m not sure the solo is the answer, too often when they capsize some of the less mobile amongst us really appear to struggle to get back in, I suspect the Ok isn’t much easier, but it guess it’s the risk : stability if you are stable enough you don’t capsize, but when you do it’s a struggle. Oddly, my 300 is a doddle to get back in after a capsize, but you need to be more reactive to make sure it doesn’t in the first place.
	Musto Skiff and Solo sailor

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 10:39am
	I'm 66 and sailing the Blaze and Spice, I may well buy a Solo when I find my current boats too much. Also on the short list would be the H2 and OK (which I sailed in my youth) budget permitting. The H2 was, I believe, designed with the 80%ers in mind and is probably the nearest thing to the ideal old guys boat. It has a deep cockpit and floats with the centreboard at water level when capsized, on paper at least all it lacks is a reduced rig. Edited by Sam.Spoons - 21 Dec 19 at 10:41am
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 9:22am
	Like many clubs we have an ageing demographic and our Solo fleet is pretty well in the 60 - 70 age range. I would agree that capsizing for some is probably the greatest challenge, partly due to a reduction in mobility and balance and also resolving the situations that you can get into when you have capsized. The key is probably to maintain fitness and agility for as long as is possible. Some of our sailors have shorter leeched sails, righting lines and fit crotch straps to their buoyancy aids, all of which help. I suspect that when I am no longer able to sail a Solo, I will need to sail with someone else, probably at the front end of a two hander since I will no doubt be a liability to other harbour users on my own!
	Happily living in the past

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 9:08am
	If close, tactical racing is required, and the ego is willing to give up on speed, then Solent Scows, the Foxer, Hansa 303 plus others are out there. A little faster, the Mirror, and faster again, the Firefly and Solo are also popular amongst older helms. In the Firefly's case, often they are a life long sail. Agree that weather will play a huge part in when people are happy sailing. I also have friends who have decided to grow old disgracefully in such boats as Ospreys and 14s, having a great time. But, what can do the speed of an osprey but the stability of a Scow? I suspect the Weta will get a mention early!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

tink Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jan 16 Location: North Hants Online Status: Offline Posts: 789	Post Options Post Reply Quote tink Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Dec 19 at 8:08am
	Recent, but not specific, topics and other influences have had me thinking how dinghy racing can be accessible for older people. This topic ran and ran on the wooden boat forum but was aimed at self builders casual sailing. There is clearly a very wide spread of fitness as we age so rather than get all hung up on a particular age it is easier to refer to ‘healthspan’ (the part of a person’s life during which they are generally in good health). I don’t believe that a person who has reached 80% of their healthspan has many dinghy sailing options. Speaking very generally the retirees are willing to splash the cash (lump sum from pension etc) but shy away from going out when the wind becomes moderately interesting. I don’t believe this is about ability but that capsize recovery is such an ordeal. The options I believe are: Low freeboard boats that are easier to right but require greater athleticism. More traditional boats that are more stable but even with the addition of righting lines high freeboard and swamped hulls make capsize recovery challenging. Boats with additional stability, multiple hulls and keels, cumbersome on land and generally require additional help. What I think is required is: Light boat for independent launching Good stability and comfortable in all conditions without great athleticism Easy to reef, adjust sail area for different conditions. Recoverable from a capsize with ease. I am sure there are people who believe that they sail the ideal class for an 80% sailor and though some classes have some good attributes nothing I know of is ideal.
	Tink https://tinkboats.com http://proasail.blogspot.com