Introducing myself

[Giorgio]

Hello everybody, and thank you for being admitted to this group. I can define myself as an aged enthusiastic newcomer. As many of you, I have spent most of my life working hard, with little or no time (and energy) to devote to anything but my profession. But there are always dreams in your drawer, aren’t they? So, despite what most people (my wife included) say, namely: “all sailors start young” “you have to grow up in a family with a boating tradition”, “you can never learn how to sail safely at your age” and so on, I embarked in this project with little or no support. Started (at fifty!) with dinghy courses (FJ mostly), then dinghy races, then with larger boats, then the Italian certification for coastal sailing. Last May the big step: I bought a 31 footer, a German-built Dehler 31 top of 1990 -- probably this boat is not very well known in the USA, but I am based in Rome, Italy. Now I’m trying to familiarize myself with this (to me) huge boat, with the help of my instructor and a crew of friends. I don’t feel yet ready for single-handed sailing, but I know that you’ll have to do that one day. But there is always a disturbing question in my mind -- I’m turning 63 in two months. Am I too old for this stuff?

[Oldsquizzy]

Do you think you are to old?

[Giorgio]

My question was not about physical age -- I don't feel myself old -- but more about the amount of knowledge and experience one needs to keep himself and his crew safe. I met many confident skippers but all of them started early in their lives. Starting at young age means that you can accumulate more experience.

[JohnT]

Giorgio, if you are good at sailing dinghies, you should be good at sailing a keelboat. The difference is size and knowing a few more rules. I have taught a number of elderly folk to sail their retirement dream, who had never been sailing prior to purchasing it - a lot in their mid 60's to 70's. A number have circumnavigated since. You will pick up the required further knowledge as you go along. So, if you are confident, you are not too old.