| One of the interesting aspects of an
extended stay in Horta marina, on the little island of Faial in the
Azores, has been the opportunity to meet so many sailors from different
parts of the world, including a goodly proportion of sailors who have
retired from a shore-bound career and realised a lifetime's dream by
taking to the water.
For some, it is all they had dreamed of and more, for
others, things have changed so much, since they first started planning for
their retirement, that they find themselves disappointed with the crowded
marinas and ordinariness of so many of their fellow sailors.
We see, ever more acutely, how the GPS and cheap
production methods in boat-building are giving the opportunity to an
ever-widening circle of people to acquire a boat and sail it far and wide,
with the minimum of prior experience. In itself, this is a good thing. If
you have ever enjoyed the thrill of sailing you can see why everyone would
want to share that pleasure.
Unfortunately, the facilities for visiting boats,
however fast they are increased and improved, can never quite keep up with
the number of boats taking to the water and marinas are ever more
crowded.
The untrained mariner, especially if very young, is
inclined to commit occasional acts of recklessness, sometimes resulting in
injuries to others and damage to property. In turn, this leads to attempts
by authorities all around the world to curb and restrict the activities of
the sensible majority, to the great annoyance of many of us.
Not everyone can afford to acquire and maintain a vessel
and, often more expensively, a mooring upon which to keep it, no matter
how hard they have saved up a portion of the income earned at work.
We have met quite a few gentlemen and ladies of a
certain age who have taken up the opportunity to sail as crew on a boat
being delivered from one side of the Atlantic to the other.
Some contribute towards their food and will find their
own way home, or they fly out to the place from which they will be helping
to sail the boat home, at their own expense, in exchange for the
opportunity to learn ocean sailing.
Others, usually those with previous experience, get
paid. Their presence aboard is a useful asset, as they are able to share
responsibility for the boat and give the skipper the opportunity to rest
properly when off watch.
In this way, one can enjoy the pleasure of sailing on
boats with budgets way beyond the capacity of the available bank balance.
The presence of an older person on board can also help to keep a younger
crew from becoming too unruly.
As a charter guest, too, an older person can enjoy the
fun of sailing but without being obliged to stand more watches than he, or
she, feels comfortable with.
Sarah Jarvis-Harley will be 74 years old next October.
She has been helping to deliver yachts across the Atlantic every year
since she retired from her job with a paint manufacturing company in 1987.
Upon his retirement, two years before her own, Sarah's
husband, Bob, had been planning to sell their small boat and buy a
slightly larger one, in which they would be able to spend their waning
years 'messing about on the water' and seeing a little more of the
world.
Sadly, three weeks before he was due to retire, Bob was
the victim of a vehicle accident in which he and two others lost their
lives.
The first time Sarah agreed to go as cook on an Atlantic
crossing, she says that it was by way of a tribute to Bob. She knew he
would have liked the idea that she would still get to sail to foreign
shores, even though he was not there to share the fun with her.
Sarah had always rather enjoyed the challenge of cooking
in a small galley, bracing herself against the erratic movements of the
vessel. "One always feels such a sense of accomplishment when
emerging with something palatable from such an apparently limited
kitchen" she says.
So enjoyable was the voyage that, instead of flying home
after doing a little Caribbean sightseeing, Sarah agreed to go as crew
from the Dutch Antilles island of Sint Maarten to Antibes in the south of
France. The following year, she was delighted to be invited again and,
over the past fourteen years, has sailed on "...almost every type of
boat, from a slightly battered 26' sloop to a mega-yacht with crew
uniforms and wealthy guests paying large tips."
We remarked on how very much fitter Sarah appears than
many others of her age. She laughed and said "Well, that's one very
good reason to sail as often as possible, although I'm not sure my
children would entirely agree. They seem to think I should be sitting in
an armchair with a shawl around my shoulders, gazing into space. Every
time I announce that I'm off to sea again, they make all sorts of
discouraging noises and voice fears for my safety. At my age I hardly
imagine I will live forever, whatever I do, so I may as well be living
life to the full while I have it at my disposal!".
The lifestyle certainly does seem to suit Sarah very
well, as it does many of the older people we have had the great pleasure
to meet in harbours around the world.
A rather younger couple, Brian and Jackie, still only in
their 60s, have embarked on an
adventure aboard their yacht 'Songster' that you may enjoy
following.
If you have been waiting patiently, since hearing about
them in the last issue of MarineZine, to see Utz Müller-Treu's beautifully
hand made reversible sailor's trousers, you will find them on our All
Sewn Up page in the Homely Touch, part of the Lay Days section.
We would love to hear from you, if you are a senior
citizen who enjoys the sailing life, whether full time or occasionally.
Drop us a line, anytime!
 In the meantime, if you fancy some mental stimulation...
do visit BrainBashers for some great puzzles...
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