Thom Stewart wrote:
Because of the Humbolt Current (Japanese) our water stays at about 50
degrees F, Winter & Summer.


Which is colder than it sounds



I lay Claim to the Patriarch Title of the group. At 78 going on 79. I
don't believe there is anyone older than me still sailing his own boat.


In this group, yes... Thom you get the place of honor (for several reasons).

One of my role models from my youth is the man who taught my grandfather
to sail. He was the Sneakbox champion of Barnegat Bay through the
19-teens and -20s, and was a naval architect. I met him and sailed with
him in the late 1960s and early -70s, at which point he was racing
Moths. He designed and built his own. He was racing singlehand boats
into his 80s and keelboats into his 90s. We lost touch when I joined the
Navy, but I know he lived to 100+, and was at least still going out
sailing with others if not skippering, because I received an invitation
to his 100th birthday party... couldn't attend because I was
preoccupied (doing errands for Uncle Sam). An exemplary live that I
intend to emulate!

DSK