I’m 51 and took up sailing at 49 after a serious illness that knocked me on my butt for a year. My husband and three kids had never sailed before, but we decided to start in a boat that we wanted to keep.
When I was ill, my husband wanted to start shopping for our dream sailboat. I thought he was crazy, but he wanted to focus forward and not on the difficult period we were in at the time. I listened to his reasoning and remembered your stories of sailing and how much you loved it. So, we went for it and bought a 46- foot X yacht racing cruiser. You were right – it has been a wonderful experience and learning to skipper a sailboat has been fun and very challenging.
When I’m behind the wheel, I can only focus on the boat. The breeze lets my illness and assorted ongoing tests fade into the background, and thankfully, I am now in remission. Even before I knew port from starboard, I loved hearing about your racing stories. Thanks for showing me there are ways to enjoy life even when you’re in the middle of a different kind of storm.
Jill
Sailing Helps Me Enjoy Life During Difficult Times