"Time to say goodbye"

[bwygirl]

You should not need to feel like you have to give up your boat. Our instructor, Ray, just bought himself a new 26M for his 80th birthday present! We can help you set up your boat so that you can use it compleatly from the cockpit. You should not ever need to go up on deck. Things you should have, Halyards led aft, Sailslides, Downhaul, and Roller Furling. We will be showing off our new MacGregor Mainsail Stacking System at the Seattle Boat Show. Give us a call and we can talk! Cheryl, Blue Water Yachts

[Tomfoolery]

We will be showing off our new MacGregor Mainsail Stacking System at the Seattle Boat Show.

I'd like to see that, too, but Seattle is a bit far to go just for a look.

[paulkayak]

Just a thought. My brother was looking for a sailboat and his wife would not let him but he kept looking in Kijiji. (Canadian version of Craigslist) found a retired widower that was starting to have difficulty single handing his 26S and was looking for some company. They met up and have been enjoying there time on the water and they have both made a great friend.

[BOAT]

Sorry about the video – I was not trying to be a downer.

I guess the thing to me is that ever since man stood on the shore and looked at the water he was trying to “get out there”. It’s a really ancient and fundamental human need. It’s like the discovery of fire or the wheel. It sets humans apart from the other creatures who never bother with such things.

Like reading the first part of Herman Melville’s ‘Moby Dick’ where he puzzles on the strange draw that the shore has for the humans. Or Captain Jack Sparrow who says: “A ship, is not just a ship”.

Some people just don’t understand our lives spent on the water – they think we are silly to be so attracted to such a desolate and lonely place. I always like it when literature, or movies, or video’s or books, or whatever people use to convey thoughts appear that confirm our need to be on the water. It just makes me feel better about spending so much of my time and money “out there” when the world it telling me I’m just a crazy nut. We are NOT nut’s – even Jesus went out on the boat to get peace from the crowds! I hope that age will never stop us from getting on the boat, but I was just letting the gentlemen know that I understand if he feels that he has been blessed and is ready to stand down. It's okay.

Just sayin.

[NiceAft]

Don't apologize You did good grasshopper

Someday when I retire, and the Admiral keeps on working as an educator with summers off, we head south on the Delaware River in June, and don't return until September She has already given her OK

Ray

[1st Sail]

By the age of the gentleman in the previous video I present to you evidence that the healh efffects of sitting on our Mac's does not apply to what follows: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp ... &#50428556

One can only conclude that sitting on our Mac's in effect extends our life and health vs. where I am sitting now typing this reply. Negated however by the time I sit in my office attempting to earn $ and time off to sit on my Mac.

Good health and longevity to all!

[DaveB]

Are you telling us, old sailers don't die, they just fade away?
Nonsence, you have a new motor, like wise. Take the mast down and off the boat and you have a great Trawler.
Thats what I do here in SW florida during summers were wind is none or light.
Try it, will get you out on the water when you feel like it as so easy to launch.
Dave

No, not the song by Sarah Brightman but my feelings for future sailing my . Just had 74th Birthday and realized gettin old when I had to take a nap after blowin out all those candles on the cake. Summer Wind rigged for singlehanded sailing on Lake Michigan with exception of climbing up on deck to haul mainsail. Dont have the energy or balance to haul up mainsail on windy days. Is there a way I can adapt a winch near the cockpit or adapt one of the two winches that i dont use anyway to assist. Perhaps replacing the barrell of the winch with larger one or some kind of pulley system? Hate to part with her, just installed new 2013 etec 60 a/c mechanic couldnt clean 4 carbs on 2001 Yamaha 50. Should have got a new mechanic instead of new outboard as 4 bottles of SeaFoam did the trick but unfortunately had already put deposit on the new Etec 60 which: by the way is awesome!

[mastreb]

When I was searching for my next boat and enthralled by Corsair/Ferrier trimarans, I wanted to sail aboard one before I committed to a purchase.

I found an older gentleman on Craigslist advertising for crew. So I responded and met up with him on a Saturday to crew his boat, along with two other random guys.

The Guy was a bit gruff, very much a Captain giving orders, and didn't bother trying to make friends with anybody. Just kind of ordered everyone about, which was frankly necessary because he couldn't do much of the work and nobody else knew how to do anything on the boat. I think I was the only person with sailing experience. Anyway, he helmed the boat, and we managed the sheets.

The sail was pretty much all business. But I enjoyed it, even as I was disappointed by the small cabin and very small cockpit, beginning to realize that the Corsair wasn't going to meet my needs. Gave him my email and he said he'd email me when he was going to setup the next sail. He'd long since given up on trailering his tri, and had it on an end-pier in Oceanside.

Next time out it was me and two different new people from craigslist. I asked a bunch more questions about the boat, and kind of intimated that I might be interested in buying it from him. He said no thanks, it would be going to his Son in San Francisco at the end of the season, to keep it in the family.

We sailed about every two weeks throughout the summer, and after about sail #3 he'd stopped inviting new random people from craigslist and it became just he and I. At the end of the sail, we'd taken to having a beer at the bar on the end of the pier, and we got to be pretty good friends. He told me he was 80, and he'd lost his wife about ten years earlier. His Son lived in SF. He'd bought the boat new about 25 years earlier.

Last time we sailed he let me know he was going to prep the boat to trailer up to San Francisco. After the sail and a beer, we said goodbye and he gave me a hug. He said he wished his Son enjoyed sailing as much as I did, which made me really sad.

Three months ago I got a note from his son letting me know he'd passed on. I guess he'd talked a lot about that last season sailing. The son offered me the boat before he put it on Craigslist for about market value. I let him know that I'd decided on the first sail that it wasn't the boat for me, but that I enjoyed sailing with his dad as well.

Anyway, not much point to this story other than that it seemed apropos to the thread.

[yukonbob]

I nominate this story for an Oscar great story.