Sailing challenges body and mind - even in old age. If you look closely, you will find them everywhere: sailors for whom age seems to be no obstacle. Some of them are familiar faces of the sport. Aged, but still active. Some on the water, others behind the scenes, where they pass on their experiences or inspire with their stories. The YACHT series "Sailing in old age" sheds light on the topic from various perspectives - from physical challenges to technical aids and practical tips.
More about our series "Sailing in old age":
Jeanne Socrates: record winner without retirement
One example is Jeanne Socrates. The British woman from Lymington was born in 1942 and is one of the most famous ocean sailors of our time. In 2013, she became the oldest woman to sail around the world non-stop and single-handed. In 2019, she went one better: at the age of 77, she returned to Victoria in Canada after almost eleven months on board her twelve-metre Najad 380 "Nereida". The 84-year-old is now the oldest person to have circumnavigated the globe solo, non-stop and via the five great capes.
Their journey there was anything but smooth. Earlier attempts failed due to capsizing, damage and injuries. But Socrates started again and again. The Cruising Club of America honoured her for her achievements and she was inducted into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame. She is clearly a long way from retirement: in 2023, she sailed alone again from Mexico across the Pacific to New Zealand and on to Australia, where she is currently based - still living on her boat for most of the year.
Sven Yrvind wants to cross the Atlantic at 87
Another restless man is the Swede Sven Yrvind. The 87-year-old pioneer of microsailing never tires: he is already planning the next big adventure with his 5.20 metre long boat. The electrics and little things are still missing, then it's time to get started. First, Yrvind wants to test his boat on the Baltic Sea. He then plans to trailer it to Ireland and from there to Madeira. He then wants to cross the Atlantic. The destination: Beaufort on the east coast of the US, South Carolina.
It is one of many adventures: Yrvind can look back on a long career. He was the first Swedish single-handed sailor to round Cape Horn - with an aluminium boat just 5.90 metres long - and received the Seamanship Medal from the Royal Cruising Club. He invented a mini sextant, no bigger than a thumbnail, and his likeness is in the US Hall of Fame for single-handed sailors. To this day, he still constructs microboats and shares his work online. There is no end in sight.
Ambassador of ocean sailing - Robin Knox-Johnston
Less often at sea, but still active: Golden Globe pioneer Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. The Brit is still active on the scene at the age of 87: he appears at regattas and sailing events, gives lectures, writes and is involved in organisations such as the International Association of Cape Horners. He also supports training projects for young sailors. His aim is to open up ambitious ocean sailing to those who are not sailing professionals.
He realised this idea early on - for example with the Clipper Round the World Race, which he founded 30 years ago. Every two years, amateurs sail around the world in stages with a fleet of Clipper 70 yachts. Knox-Johnston is still chairman of the company today. Most recently, he has been working on modernising the fleet, as he revealed to YACHT in an interview.
From officer candidate to icon of ocean sailing
Knox-Johnston became famous in 1968/69: with his ketch "Suhaili", he was the first person to sail around the world solo and non-stop. 312 days alone at sea, without modern navigation, without a sponsor - and the only one of the nine starters in the "Sunday Times" Golden Globe Race to finish. Bernard Moitessier initially led the race, but the Frenchman left the race early. Knox-Johnston took the lead.
Later, in 1994, he won the Trophée Jules Verne with Peter Blake. In 2007, at the age of 68, he sailed solo around the world once again, in the predecessor to today's Ocean Race. At the age of 75, he started again single-handed in the Route du Rhum. From officer candidate in the merchant navy to icon of ocean sailing.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama
