Jude is a former academic and psychologist who swapped land life for a yacht and now sails the world with salt in her hair and a smile on her face. She's a mother, a grandmother, and a firm believer that age is just a number—especially when you’re chasing your dreams across the ocean.
When I moved onto a yacht in my late fifties to sail around the world, I made a conscious decision: I was going to stay fit enough to keep doing this for as long as I wanted—into my eighties and beyond, if I felt like it.
Because let’s be honest—if you want to live a life you love, you need a body that can keep up.
When you’re young, your body can usually do what you ask of it. Want to hike a mountain, learn to surf, or sail into the sunset? No problem. But as we age, we tend to accept a slow physical decline — we stop doing things, shrink our horizons, get a bit creaky, and eventually settle into a chair with a nice cup of tea and a pleasant view.
But… does it really have to be that way?
A Mindset Shift (and a Bit of Muscle)
I decided to challenge that "decline is inevitable" narrative. I wanted to beat the odds. So I created a new mindset—one where aging doesn’t automatically mean losing strength, flexibility, or capability. I started treating my health like an investment in future freedom.
Honestly? I think it’s working.
I’m 59, having the time of my life—sailing, swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, and exploring incredible destinations. And I want to keep doing it for decades. My goal is to be just as capable at 80 as I am now.
I’ve always been active, a regular gym-goer, and relatively strong. But now, two years into this sailing life, I’m more physically capable than I’ve ever been.
One thing about life at sea? It doesn’t let you ignore your body. On land, it’s easy to let things slide—drive instead of walk, take the escalator, skip the hike and pour a glass of wine. That creeping decline sneaks up on you like a frog in warm water. By the time you notice, you’re halfway boiled.
But on a boat? Not so subtle.
You either can haul the sail, jump into the dinghy, lift the anchor, or you can’t. There’s no hiding from what your body can and can’t do.
Sure, much of my life is lounging in a quiet bay or strolling along a beach. But then there are days I’m sailing in 50 knots of wind or scrambling up the deck to untangle a line. I need my body to be ready for those moments of peak performance.
When you live on a boat, there’s a clear tipping point if your physical ability slips, and the consequences are dramatic. If I can’t manage the boat, I lose this lifestyle. It’s that simple. And that's motivating.
Function Over Form
These days, I care less about what my body looks like and more about what it can do.
Can I jump out of the dinghy in one smooth move, or am I clinging on, hesitating, and needing a hand up? Time to work on leg strength.
Struggling to winch the mainsail? Time to increase my upper body strength.
To keep living this dream, I need to earn it. Sure, I could let my partner do the tricky bits, and install an electric winch. I could spend my time sipping wine in the cockpit, and taking it easy. But that means losing capability—and giving up this life—sooner. And I’m not ready for that. Not even close.
Staying Strong Isn’t Luck—It’s a Choice
Here’s what I’ve learned: staying fit and healthy is completely within my control. Honestly, I’m fitter than most women in their twenties—and there’s no reason I can’t keep it that way.
So how do I do it?
I take responsibility. If I can’t drag the dinghy up the beach, I don’t blame the weight of the dinghy—I know I need to get stronger.
I keep moving. I don’t “exercise” in the traditional sense—I just keep doing the things I want to be able to do as I age. Walk 3 km with groceries? Sure. Swim to shore to tie lines to the rocks? Absolutely.
I eat whole foods and cook from scratch every day. Diet is key.
I gave up alcohol. It wasn’t easy, but it’s hands-down the best health decision I’ve ever made.
I respect rest, but even lying in bed on a rocking boat works your core. Being on a yacht is a full-body experience.
Old and Awesome
I want to be awesome when I’m old. And I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Aging doesn’t have to mean decline.
I’m building a body and a mindset that will take me the distance—across oceans and across decades. And while I’ve shaped this approach for life at sea, it applies just as well on land.
We’re talking about the difference between simply being alive and truly living.
Don’t stop living a great life. And if you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late.
Congratulations, you are awesome as it is but not only that your core strength is growing judging by how you manage all the tasks you perform on the boat. Richard is very lucky to have you as his crew. Keep up the good work you are a great example to the rest of us "oldies".
Indeed, that is why when we are young we need to take care of our body and mind, no matter how great the challenges of everyday life may be....