When we put to sea, we naively imagine that we are masters of our vessel, the ocean and our futures.
Forgetting that if or when we get into real trouble we rely on someone else to assist. In the article I posted it was the USCG and commercial ship.
At a younger age we are physically more capable of repairing (crawling in behind the gearbox to deal with a sterntube, going aloft to disentangle a sail or line, diving over the side to repair a rudder, hand hauling or setting an anchor because the electric winch won't work, etc) our vessel.
We react faster to problems ( changing weather, getting out of some idiot's way in a marina anchorage ).
In the case above the skipper was 80 years old.
That might not be a major factor in his distress.
But with a little thought I have come to the conclusion that it could well have been the case.
This is what we know for sure.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a distress call from the sailing yacht Tao. The sole individual aboard was the 80-year-old skipper. The yacht had lost steering, and he could not access the emergency tiller and see the compass at the same time.
Does no one else see a connection or relationship between these incidents aboard his vessel? Or is it pure coincidence that he was 80 years old and these problems cropped up?
I am 70. At 80 I will not sail alone. Luckily, I have three daughters who are great company and like to sail, so I won't be hanging up my hat. And I won't be putting someone else in the situation that they have to take risks to come to my aid.
gary
www.maritime-executive.com
