In their 80s and 90s, still Sailing to Win!

by Sail-World on 30 Mar 2008 So you love sailing – what do you think you will be doing when you're 80 or 90? Sailing? Maybe? - but do you imagine yourself still winning races? National Championships? No? Then your imagination might be limiting you, because there are at least two (that we know about) inspirational 80 to 90 year olds, Gordon and Ernie, still winning championships at that age.

First, there's Ernie Rideout from Santa Cruz, California. In 2006, at a mere 88 years, Ernie took overall National Championship honors sailing the trusty old hull #19 MAYBE. The event was hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club and sponsored by UK-Halsey. The top prize was 50% off a new set of UK-Halsey Class sails When Ernie heard what the prize was at the awards ceremony, he was most delighted and soon had his order in for the UK-Halsey sail for his 2007 campaign.

Outfitted with the new sails in 2007, Ernie dominated his local club events leading up to the Nationals, which were held on San Francisco Bay in August. At the Nationals, Ernie maintained a competitive advantage against local boat Bonito, right to the last race, but finally lost the championship to Bonito – no storybook ending here.

In 2008, the Santana 22 Nationals will be held at Ernie’s homeport of Santa Cruz where he will be campaigning once again using UK-Halsey sails he won in 2006. Regardless of his age, which is now 90, he is expected to be one of - if not THE - favorite to take overall honors. Fans will stay tuned when the action gets underway in July, 2008!

Secondly, last year, Australian Gordon Ingate, nearing 82 years of age, became the oldest skipper ever to become an Australian yachting champion when he was declared winner of the 2008 Prince Philip Cup for the International Dragon one-design class.

Ingate was not new to sailing and had had more than a little experience in the Dragon class. The victory, on Tasmania's Derwent River, climaxed a remarkable career in sailing spanning some 70 years, including 52 years sailing in the Dragons, a former Olympic class. However, despite 52 years of competing in the Dragon class, this was the first Prince Philip Cup win for Ingate.

Ingate, a member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, had represented Australia in the Admiral’s Cup, the America’s Cup, the Olympic Games, World Championships in Dragons and International 5.5 metre class yachts and skippered his ocean racing yacht Caprice of Huon to a luckless second overall in the 1972 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

After his winning the Dragon race, he paid tribute to his two crew who had 'played a key role in the victory.'

On 26th January this year, Gordon Ingate was back at the helm celebrating Australia Day on Sydney Harbour at the helm of International 5.5 metre class yacht Paladin and scored a handicap win on the day..

So, back to the question – we can't all be winners, but after these inspirational stories, what sailing will YOU be doing at 80 or 90?

Sail-World Cruising would like to thank UK-Halsey Sailmakers for their contribution to this story