My father is 65 and an owner of a O'day 22. His health is poor by his will. That is, he could do something about his health if he wanted to. As he gets old, the more affaid of sailing he gets. He keeps his boat in the same marina as I keep my H310 and his boat has only been out twice this year and I was on it one of those times. Dock mates always ask me why he never sails his boat. I disscovered his fear of sailing last year while sailing on my boat. We had just left a marina 10 miles from our home port and got hit by "a" strong puff of wind. Although we were not knocked down, we did heel over about 40 degress. My dad froze and would not or could not easy the main sheet to adjust to our predicament. At that time he had stated that he was unsure of himself and that was the last time he has sailed on my boat. What does one do to over come fear while sailing? I don't truly believe that I have every expirenced fear while sailing in the 31 years that I have been sailing. Sure I have been caught out their and wished that I was at home or at the dock and there have been times when it just plain sucked out their. In fact, 3 weeks ago I got knocked down so far while flying my spinnaker that water was comming in the side port windows of my H310 !!! I had no time for fear, I had to make sure my Son and Boat were ok. I have always believed that fear has no place on board any boat, fear interferes with soild, rational thought process and subconscious action and reaction to situations at hand. Have I ever been scared you ask? you bet. I once went spelunking for five hours (that's another story, it scared the sh*%t out of me! It made me a man and put my mind in touch with my body, I was forced to deal with fear and to this date I can honestly say that I have not been scared since!!! Do you get scared sailing? How do you cope with your fear? Does your fear keep you at the dock when conditions are less that ideal? How can I get my old man to conquer his fear? Hell he went to the Korean war at 17 yrs old! Thanks all for your replys. Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
- Status
HELP YOUR DAD OUT!!!
It sounds as though your dad needs MORE TIME on the water. I have found people can sail a smaller boat easier if they sail a larger boat then go back to the smaller size. Although some people just can't get by the fear factor---regardless what they do. I recently was doing sail instruction and docking proceedures with an owner. He absolutely froze when trying to berth his boat. The docking was a fairly simple one that required very little talent..He still froze up and in the process nearly caused a lot of damage...I would take your dad under wing (if I were you) and get him out sailing as often as possible...He will appreciate you very much for the help that you afford him.....Plus you will have some quality time!!BEST of LUCK!!!!
It sounds as though your dad needs MORE TIME on the water. I have found people can sail a smaller boat easier if they sail a larger boat then go back to the smaller size. Although some people just can't get by the fear factor---regardless what they do. I recently was doing sail instruction and docking proceedures with an owner. He absolutely froze when trying to berth his boat. The docking was a fairly simple one that required very little talent..He still froze up and in the process nearly caused a lot of damage...I would take your dad under wing (if I were you) and get him out sailing as often as possible...He will appreciate you very much for the help that you afford him.....Plus you will have some quality time!!BEST of LUCK!!!!
Try calling him your father, not old man. Then,
maybe you should take the time to find out what type of sailing he truly wants to do. Maybe, for whatever reason, he might not want to sail at all. Is there any chance he might feel he is not up to meeting your sailing standards? Go back and read your posting, then really try to think about who has the sailing problem. Hard stuff, but I would be worried myself about meeting your standard. I know my worth. No brag, just fact! Ray s/v Speedy
maybe you should take the time to find out what type of sailing he truly wants to do. Maybe, for whatever reason, he might not want to sail at all. Is there any chance he might feel he is not up to meeting your sailing standards? Go back and read your posting, then really try to think about who has the sailing problem. Hard stuff, but I would be worried myself about meeting your standard. I know my worth. No brag, just fact! Ray s/v Speedy
I betcha that it is a sense of balance.
First thing is that you did call him your father. Let's not get too testie here. Steve, I would bet that he is starting to loose his sense of balance. I believe that this is somewhat of a common problem in the senior population (quickly approaching those years too). You should observe him and see what kind of balance he has when he is walking on the dock or any irregular surface. You may also want to ask him about it too. This has a lot to do with the inner ear. The obvious thing that I observe with many older folks is they get more cautious as they age. May be a defense to last a little longer. It's like a good friend of mine once said, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of my body" (age 55). So do give the "old man", "dad", "father", "pops" a break. It just may be time for him to hang it up (as far as sailing is concerned).
First thing is that you did call him your father. Let's not get too testie here. Steve, I would bet that he is starting to loose his sense of balance. I believe that this is somewhat of a common problem in the senior population (quickly approaching those years too). You should observe him and see what kind of balance he has when he is walking on the dock or any irregular surface. You may also want to ask him about it too. This has a lot to do with the inner ear. The obvious thing that I observe with many older folks is they get more cautious as they age. May be a defense to last a little longer. It's like a good friend of mine once said, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of my body" (age 55). So do give the "old man", "dad", "father", "pops" a break. It just may be time for him to hang it up (as far as sailing is concerned).
Small boats are unforgiving
Steve, Small boats are very unforgiving and things happen faster on them. Older people have slower reaction times and small boats don't cut you any slack. See if you can get him to sail with you more. Three generations on the boat at the same time.... What a great day for your son...
Steve, Small boats are very unforgiving and things happen faster on them. Older people have slower reaction times and small boats don't cut you any slack. See if you can get him to sail with you more. Three generations on the boat at the same time.... What a great day for your son...
Agree with Chris..
Although now have H28.5, I had Oday 23 and in a puff there isn't enough below the waterline to convert to speed, you just heel over. While your Dad's sense of balance may be a concern, it could also be overall agility, strength (hands for holding on a la Tristan Jones- "One for the boat and one for yourself"). He may be slightly arthritic in the hands or legs? Or simply doesn't have the grip he used to have. From your own statements, it also sounds like that sailing with you might be an "edgy" experience as well. Your supposed to have a good and "relaxing" time out there. But you sound like you want to push the boat's (and your) limits. He's probably past that "point" in sailing experiences and simply wants it "nice and easy".... with less tension. Maybe you might promise him you will tone your own goals down some, reef early and make it more of an outing with nubies- then maybe he will get his confidence back, spend more time with you- if not on his own O'22. Jim McCue s/v Safeharbor
Although now have H28.5, I had Oday 23 and in a puff there isn't enough below the waterline to convert to speed, you just heel over. While your Dad's sense of balance may be a concern, it could also be overall agility, strength (hands for holding on a la Tristan Jones- "One for the boat and one for yourself"). He may be slightly arthritic in the hands or legs? Or simply doesn't have the grip he used to have. From your own statements, it also sounds like that sailing with you might be an "edgy" experience as well. Your supposed to have a good and "relaxing" time out there. But you sound like you want to push the boat's (and your) limits. He's probably past that "point" in sailing experiences and simply wants it "nice and easy".... with less tension. Maybe you might promise him you will tone your own goals down some, reef early and make it more of an outing with nubies- then maybe he will get his confidence back, spend more time with you- if not on his own O'22. Jim McCue s/v Safeharbor
Fleas and courage
Your post contrasting your father's fear with your own lack of it reminds me of Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson's calendar. "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear- not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward, it is not a compliment to say it is brave; it is merely a loose misapplication of the word. Consider the flea! -incomparably the bravest of all the creatures of God, if ignorance of fear were courage. Whether you are asleep or awake he wil attack you, caring nothing for the fact that in bulk and strength you are to him as are the massed armies of the earth to a sucking child; he lives both day and night and all days and nights in the very lap of peril and the immediate presence of death, and yet is not more afraid than is the man whow walks the streets of a city that was threatened by an earthquake ten centuries before. When we speak of Clive, Nelson, and Putnam as men who didn't know what fear was, we ought always to add the flea- and put him at the head of the procession." How do you suppose your horrendous 5 hours of spelunking which expunged the fear permanently from your soul compares to your father's Korean War experience? How about showing him your post and asking him to comment?
Your post contrasting your father's fear with your own lack of it reminds me of Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson's calendar. "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear- not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward, it is not a compliment to say it is brave; it is merely a loose misapplication of the word. Consider the flea! -incomparably the bravest of all the creatures of God, if ignorance of fear were courage. Whether you are asleep or awake he wil attack you, caring nothing for the fact that in bulk and strength you are to him as are the massed armies of the earth to a sucking child; he lives both day and night and all days and nights in the very lap of peril and the immediate presence of death, and yet is not more afraid than is the man whow walks the streets of a city that was threatened by an earthquake ten centuries before. When we speak of Clive, Nelson, and Putnam as men who didn't know what fear was, we ought always to add the flea- and put him at the head of the procession." How do you suppose your horrendous 5 hours of spelunking which expunged the fear permanently from your soul compares to your father's Korean War experience? How about showing him your post and asking him to comment?
Article in August Sail Mag. on Fear and Aging
Check out the article in Aug. Sail mag. on fear and aging.
Check out the article in Aug. Sail mag. on fear and aging.
fear
John Wayne said, "Courage is when your'e scared stiff but you saddle up and ride anyway." Fear is the perception of danger. It is a natural reaction, and anyone who doesn't feel fear at an appropriate time is either crazy or stupid. Courage is action in the face of fear. Just because you are able to act in the face of fear or danger doesn't mean your father can. He is getting older, his personality is changing, and he is unsure of his ability and perhaps even yours (I know some excellent motorcylists, doesn't mean I want to climb on the back on the back of the bike with them) If he was in combat in Korea and was able to do his duty, he has demonstarted his bravery and has nothing to prove to you or anyone else. Maybe its just his body and intellect telling him its time for him to retire from sailing.
John Wayne said, "Courage is when your'e scared stiff but you saddle up and ride anyway." Fear is the perception of danger. It is a natural reaction, and anyone who doesn't feel fear at an appropriate time is either crazy or stupid. Courage is action in the face of fear. Just because you are able to act in the face of fear or danger doesn't mean your father can. He is getting older, his personality is changing, and he is unsure of his ability and perhaps even yours (I know some excellent motorcylists, doesn't mean I want to climb on the back on the back of the bike with them) If he was in combat in Korea and was able to do his duty, he has demonstarted his bravery and has nothing to prove to you or anyone else. Maybe its just his body and intellect telling him its time for him to retire from sailing.
65 isn't old!
It may be to you, but then most people tend to define "old" as anyone who's more than 15 years older than they are...so to you, your dad may SEEM old, but there's more going on here than his age. We can come face to face with our own mortality at any age...my husband died at 50, leaving me with face to face with mine and behaving much more cautiously than before. The loss of any contemporary--or worse yet, someone younger--or your own near miss with catastrophe can have the same effect: you suddenly have to face the fact that you can die any time, and it scares the hell out of you. A number of years ago, I was crawling around Mayan ruins in Mexico...high up on a temple, I made the mistake of looking down. I froze...had to helped down. And for several years afterward, I had almost paralizing acrophobia...I couldn't climb a step ladder to replace a lightbulb, couldn't even sit in a chair next to a window wall in a highrise office.. I finally confronted it and gradually got over it--the worst of it any way. So there's more going on with your dad than just his age. He may have health issues you don't know about...he may have had a narrow escape--or just enough of a dicy experience to cause him to focus on "what could have happened"--that he hasn't told anyone about...he may just have too much time on his hands to "contemplate his own navel." Or, maybe he's just fed up with sailing...it happens. But whatever it is, it's not about his age--not at only 65. You need to get to the bottom of it to know how to deal with it and help him deal with it. It may not be easy, 'cuz he may not want to "burden" you with knowledge of a health problem, and some people (men especially) consider it embarrassing and humiliating to confess one's fears and weaknesses--especially to our children. Find out when he stopped coming to his boat on the same "schedule" that he used to, and you'll find your starting point for whatever it is. But just remember that you can't "make" him get over his fear if he doesn't want to. Btw...re your comment "I have not been scared since:" Fear is a normal HEALTHY body response...it's what stimulates adrenilin, steps up heart rate to cope with situations, and tells the mind that the body is in danger--take defensive action. Panic is another matter...it has the opposite effect--it paralizes, preventing the mind and body from protecting you. So I hope you only meant that you've never experienced panic since, and not that you've never been scared...'cuz real fearlessness is an unhealthy need to see how far limits can be pushed...and that can be fatal.
It may be to you, but then most people tend to define "old" as anyone who's more than 15 years older than they are...so to you, your dad may SEEM old, but there's more going on here than his age. We can come face to face with our own mortality at any age...my husband died at 50, leaving me with face to face with mine and behaving much more cautiously than before. The loss of any contemporary--or worse yet, someone younger--or your own near miss with catastrophe can have the same effect: you suddenly have to face the fact that you can die any time, and it scares the hell out of you. A number of years ago, I was crawling around Mayan ruins in Mexico...high up on a temple, I made the mistake of looking down. I froze...had to helped down. And for several years afterward, I had almost paralizing acrophobia...I couldn't climb a step ladder to replace a lightbulb, couldn't even sit in a chair next to a window wall in a highrise office.. I finally confronted it and gradually got over it--the worst of it any way. So there's more going on with your dad than just his age. He may have health issues you don't know about...he may have had a narrow escape--or just enough of a dicy experience to cause him to focus on "what could have happened"--that he hasn't told anyone about...he may just have too much time on his hands to "contemplate his own navel." Or, maybe he's just fed up with sailing...it happens. But whatever it is, it's not about his age--not at only 65. You need to get to the bottom of it to know how to deal with it and help him deal with it. It may not be easy, 'cuz he may not want to "burden" you with knowledge of a health problem, and some people (men especially) consider it embarrassing and humiliating to confess one's fears and weaknesses--especially to our children. Find out when he stopped coming to his boat on the same "schedule" that he used to, and you'll find your starting point for whatever it is. But just remember that you can't "make" him get over his fear if he doesn't want to. Btw...re your comment "I have not been scared since:" Fear is a normal HEALTHY body response...it's what stimulates adrenilin, steps up heart rate to cope with situations, and tells the mind that the body is in danger--take defensive action. Panic is another matter...it has the opposite effect--it paralizes, preventing the mind and body from protecting you. So I hope you only meant that you've never experienced panic since, and not that you've never been scared...'cuz real fearlessness is an unhealthy need to see how far limits can be pushed...and that can be fatal.
Ideas
Good ideas all. To sum up, 1. Take your Dad on your boat instead. 2. Let him run the wheel. 3. You do the grunt work. 4. Sail around locally, don't go far. 5. Discreetly trim to avoid heeling. 6. Chat him up continually. My Dad died 30 years ago. I'd give anything to take him sailing. Good for you.
Good ideas all. To sum up, 1. Take your Dad on your boat instead. 2. Let him run the wheel. 3. You do the grunt work. 4. Sail around locally, don't go far. 5. Discreetly trim to avoid heeling. 6. Chat him up continually. My Dad died 30 years ago. I'd give anything to take him sailing. Good for you.
Don't Be A Threat
I am 68 and just gave up flying. I know the loss. I am also a sailor who lives on a Hunter32. Do not remind him that he hasn't gone out lately. It will hurt him if others see his inability to cope with his fear. Do not give up on him. Encourage him to fix the boat up, or sleep over on his boat. When the time comes, he will do what's right for him. He may never sail again, so what? He is your Father, do not criticize him.
I am 68 and just gave up flying. I know the loss. I am also a sailor who lives on a Hunter32. Do not remind him that he hasn't gone out lately. It will hurt him if others see his inability to cope with his fear. Do not give up on him. Encourage him to fix the boat up, or sleep over on his boat. When the time comes, he will do what's right for him. He may never sail again, so what? He is your Father, do not criticize him.
sail flat
As you have asked for opinions, and as many of the posts have supported you in expecting your dad to be able to adjust to your sailing style, I'd like to present a contrary opinion. And heck, hands up everyone who has never regretted taking people out in worse conditions than were comfortable.... Most normal people aren't enjoying themselves when they're scared **itless, and most polite people will just resolve to do something else rather than go back and repeat the experience. Try keeping your boat flat in future. This goes for sailing with non-sailing adults or children too. Your dad's right to be cautious. 40 degrees of heel may feel OK to you if you have the tiller or wheel in your hand, but for your guests who don't have control it can be terrifying. Heck, most of us would be worried at 40 degrees, even if we knew, loved and trusted the person at the helm. Plus your boat won't perform well at 40 degrees of heel anyway. Have you asked yourself if your dad's right to be scared on your boat? Are you concerned that you might be turning your son off the experience? Reef early, use smaller sails, enjoy the experience of being out on the water and take it easy if you know you have people on board who are more nervous than you. How about giving your dad a different job (trimming the jib for instance). You said you wanted him to release the mainsheet when your boat was heeled by a gust, but he couldn't. This isn't surprising. It's the helm's job to select sail to match the conditions, and if you get hit by a gust, to head up. Leaving everything trimmed when a gust hits is usually better than letting all the sheets go in a panic. Good luck, and I hope you can find a way to enjoy your time on the water with your dad and your son.
As you have asked for opinions, and as many of the posts have supported you in expecting your dad to be able to adjust to your sailing style, I'd like to present a contrary opinion. And heck, hands up everyone who has never regretted taking people out in worse conditions than were comfortable.... Most normal people aren't enjoying themselves when they're scared **itless, and most polite people will just resolve to do something else rather than go back and repeat the experience. Try keeping your boat flat in future. This goes for sailing with non-sailing adults or children too. Your dad's right to be cautious. 40 degrees of heel may feel OK to you if you have the tiller or wheel in your hand, but for your guests who don't have control it can be terrifying. Heck, most of us would be worried at 40 degrees, even if we knew, loved and trusted the person at the helm. Plus your boat won't perform well at 40 degrees of heel anyway. Have you asked yourself if your dad's right to be scared on your boat? Are you concerned that you might be turning your son off the experience? Reef early, use smaller sails, enjoy the experience of being out on the water and take it easy if you know you have people on board who are more nervous than you. How about giving your dad a different job (trimming the jib for instance). You said you wanted him to release the mainsheet when your boat was heeled by a gust, but he couldn't. This isn't surprising. It's the helm's job to select sail to match the conditions, and if you get hit by a gust, to head up. Leaving everything trimmed when a gust hits is usually better than letting all the sheets go in a panic. Good luck, and I hope you can find a way to enjoy your time on the water with your dad and your son.
Fear,
there have been lots of good responses here, and this will most likely sound like a negative one but here goes, your father was in Korea at 17 which is about the same age I was in Viet nam, and if u think spelunking has anything at all to do with fear you are not as smart as you would like us to think, what a weird sense you have of yourself and your lack of what you perceive of fear, you need to get in touch with reality ,also on the issue of his health and what you think he should be able to do , where did you get your medical degree, there are people your fathers age who are still dealing and have never been treated or diagnosed with pts, what a brave soul u are, enough said have fun sailing , but you are not a fearless man, Mike B
there have been lots of good responses here, and this will most likely sound like a negative one but here goes, your father was in Korea at 17 which is about the same age I was in Viet nam, and if u think spelunking has anything at all to do with fear you are not as smart as you would like us to think, what a weird sense you have of yourself and your lack of what you perceive of fear, you need to get in touch with reality ,also on the issue of his health and what you think he should be able to do , where did you get your medical degree, there are people your fathers age who are still dealing and have never been treated or diagnosed with pts, what a brave soul u are, enough said have fun sailing , but you are not a fearless man, Mike B
Age is Relative
Thanks Peggy . . . Age is a state of mind. I'm not interested in publishing my age, but am several years senior to Steve's father. Wife
Thanks Peggy . . . Age is a state of mind. I'm not interested in publishing my age, but am several years senior to Steve's father. Wife
WOW!!! thanks everybody...
Sorry if I offeneded anyone about age. The thing is my dad always says he is to old for this or that. I don't feel that 65 is old at all !!! 65 in my book is PRIME TIME!!!! You all have great ideas, comments and replys and I feel that I can and will use most of them to get my "Father" back into it if he so chooses. Maybe I have been hard on him in this post? I am just frustrated with it all. I mean after all, he was the the one that got me hooked on sailing in the first place and his passion for sailing was once as strong as mine. Now a little backround about me. Here's your chance to really get down on me! I am a master craftsman/carpenter by trade.Began at the age of 12, never stopped. I strive for prefection and settle for excellence. The same goes for sailing. Yes, I like to push the boat and myself to the limits and sometimes beyond. I have a quest for the perfect sail trim and balance. Hard sailing relaxes me, it clears my head. It allows me to become one with myself. my son also likes hard sailing but not as often as I. I "used to roadrace large bore motorcyles on a track until I push my bike and myself a little too hard one day and crashed. I broke my neck in 4 places, broke my arm and dislocated my jaw. I now am severely hearing impaired and wear hearing aids. Am I stupid? I sure was at the time and age of 21. I have done a lot of flying in my youth, some of that included acrobatic flying (talk about pushing the envelope)! I have climb mountains and have been a rappeling instructor for sometime. e-nuff said, am I crazy? I think not! I just like to live my life to the fullest, on an edge the few would dare. I still have no fear in any of thing that I have done, just the utmost respect for it!!! Am I reckless? NO WAY!!! Saftey first and formost!!! I have never been accused of being reckless. I have been accused of being over cautious. My son tells me this often and so do my fellow sailors. I have spent a great deal of money on saftey equipment on all of my activities. I don't want to die, I just wanna have some real fun!!! I will say that I have slowed way, way down since my younger days, (btw, I am almost 40 yrs. old) Sailing is about the only dangerous thing I do now except getting into my truck and driving to work. Bottom line here is that I must slow down for my "father" and get him out for his kind of a sail. Thanks "everybody for your replys and more are welcomed and flames too!!! Boy, did I ever put my foot in my mouth this time!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
Sorry if I offeneded anyone about age. The thing is my dad always says he is to old for this or that. I don't feel that 65 is old at all !!! 65 in my book is PRIME TIME!!!! You all have great ideas, comments and replys and I feel that I can and will use most of them to get my "Father" back into it if he so chooses. Maybe I have been hard on him in this post? I am just frustrated with it all. I mean after all, he was the the one that got me hooked on sailing in the first place and his passion for sailing was once as strong as mine. Now a little backround about me. Here's your chance to really get down on me! I am a master craftsman/carpenter by trade.Began at the age of 12, never stopped. I strive for prefection and settle for excellence. The same goes for sailing. Yes, I like to push the boat and myself to the limits and sometimes beyond. I have a quest for the perfect sail trim and balance. Hard sailing relaxes me, it clears my head. It allows me to become one with myself. my son also likes hard sailing but not as often as I. I "used to roadrace large bore motorcyles on a track until I push my bike and myself a little too hard one day and crashed. I broke my neck in 4 places, broke my arm and dislocated my jaw. I now am severely hearing impaired and wear hearing aids. Am I stupid? I sure was at the time and age of 21. I have done a lot of flying in my youth, some of that included acrobatic flying (talk about pushing the envelope)! I have climb mountains and have been a rappeling instructor for sometime. e-nuff said, am I crazy? I think not! I just like to live my life to the fullest, on an edge the few would dare. I still have no fear in any of thing that I have done, just the utmost respect for it!!! Am I reckless? NO WAY!!! Saftey first and formost!!! I have never been accused of being reckless. I have been accused of being over cautious. My son tells me this often and so do my fellow sailors. I have spent a great deal of money on saftey equipment on all of my activities. I don't want to die, I just wanna have some real fun!!! I will say that I have slowed way, way down since my younger days, (btw, I am almost 40 yrs. old) Sailing is about the only dangerous thing I do now except getting into my truck and driving to work. Bottom line here is that I must slow down for my "father" and get him out for his kind of a sail. Thanks "everybody for your replys and more are welcomed and flames too!!! Boy, did I ever put my foot in my mouth this time!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey (H310)
Case in point
When I look back at all of the things I have done in my life, it would have to be some really heavy stuff to put fear into me! Now when I think of the war stories my father has told me, how could sailing ever compair to that fear. If I had to go through what he went through, damn straight I would be scared!!! Do I have fear? sure, everybody does. My father worked for NASA in the military space program. He told me of things that we all should never ever know! War scares me but, like the broach I had 3 weeks ago, it will happen so fast we wont have time to be scared!!! My son is 17, soon he will move out of the house to start his adult life. I have just divorce for second time and I fear of being alone. I will deal with that when the time comes! I fear of getting old and not being able to take care of myself. That too I will have to deal with later. Fair winds to yah. Steve....
When I look back at all of the things I have done in my life, it would have to be some really heavy stuff to put fear into me! Now when I think of the war stories my father has told me, how could sailing ever compair to that fear. If I had to go through what he went through, damn straight I would be scared!!! Do I have fear? sure, everybody does. My father worked for NASA in the military space program. He told me of things that we all should never ever know! War scares me but, like the broach I had 3 weeks ago, it will happen so fast we wont have time to be scared!!! My son is 17, soon he will move out of the house to start his adult life. I have just divorce for second time and I fear of being alone. I will deal with that when the time comes! I fear of getting old and not being able to take care of myself. That too I will have to deal with later. Fair winds to yah. Steve....
Who scares who?
I am 38 and putt putt around in my little Catalina 22. It is no fun when the wind is up over about 12mph. Nor is it fun with no wind in a midwest summer. But my dad at 70 can scare the crap out of me on his Sun 27! He can control everything from the cockpit and often will be out in 20-25 mph winds where I would be home reading the WestMarine book. Little boats can be scary. I'm with the other guys, get dad in a bigger boat with a little crew (you) and enjoy. Reef her down, have a beer and relax. Enjoy!
I am 38 and putt putt around in my little Catalina 22. It is no fun when the wind is up over about 12mph. Nor is it fun with no wind in a midwest summer. But my dad at 70 can scare the crap out of me on his Sun 27! He can control everything from the cockpit and often will be out in 20-25 mph winds where I would be home reading the WestMarine book. Little boats can be scary. I'm with the other guys, get dad in a bigger boat with a little crew (you) and enjoy. Reef her down, have a beer and relax. Enjoy!
Wow...you're almost 40!
I think there's food in the back of my refrigerator that's older than you are!
))) My dad is 86...at his age, he's entitled to say he's old, but--maybe like your dad--he seems determined to be old. He and my mother were married 60 years when she died...they were truly two halves of a single whole, and he literally lost half of himself when he lost her. I wonder who or what your dad has lost that makes him feel he's "too old" to do things HE once enjoyed.......
I think there's food in the back of my refrigerator that's older than you are!
))) My dad is 86...at his age, he's entitled to say he's old, but--maybe like your dad--he seems determined to be old. He and my mother were married 60 years when she died...they were truly two halves of a single whole, and he literally lost half of himself when he lost her. I wonder who or what your dad has lost that makes him feel he's "too old" to do things HE once enjoyed.......I agree with Peggie
I don't think it is a sailing problem, either. My Dad kind of ran out of gas, for no apparent reason, too.
I don't think it is a sailing problem, either. My Dad kind of ran out of gas, for no apparent reason, too.
- Status