The previous owner of my boat sailed until he was 83 and I can think of at least 5 sailors I know off hand who are in their mid to late 70’s. Four of them are not only still sailing, but are actively racing, and the oldest is still solo sailing a 30‘ boat.
I’ll be 64 next sailing season, which I guess that makes me a young punk here. I’m not racing or going on long cruises. Day sailing is my thing. Solo most of the time. I definitely feel my age more now than a few years ago, but I‘ve gotten wiser/smarter with experience and I choose my sailing days carefully. I made a career change at 60 (Some would call it retirement.) that allows me to sail any day of the week now, so I’m content to just stay at the dock on a blustery, big waves weekend day, do boat chores and watch those who will go out regardless of conditions or their skill level because it’s their day off and/or they don’t know any better.
Building on the what the PO did with the boat, I’ve focused on doing what I can to make it more comfortable and safe to sail as I get older: All lines are led back to the cockpit, jack-line down the center of the cabin top where it will actually keep me on the boat, grab bars on the dodger for boarding and moving forward from the cockpit, fenders on the dock & spring line on the boat for solo docking, lazy jacks (maybe a stack pack in the future), roller furling genoa, self tailing winches, added purchase to running rigging where possible, auto-helm, traveler v-cleats replaced with Spinlock PXR cleats, plumbing mods to streamline winterizing, etc.
I currently do all my own routine maintenance and cleaning, but I see that as the first place where I would cut back in the future and pay someone else to do it, so I can continue to sail.
