I Have over 60 years been in the sailing business ...
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I Have over 60 years been in the sailing business as as sailor-racer crew skipper a yard worker have built small bosts and there repairs " WHOW, (I could not put the book down.")  Paul Woolhiser
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Many times  throughout my life I thought I would never be 65 years old.  Sometimes I thought I would stay younger than that forever.  Other times I thought I'd die before I arrived at this ripe old age.  Before I knew what happened, I arrived.

Start a business?  At 25, I lacked the nerve or the knowledge.  At 65, it's the thing to do.  As  beginners in the world of business, we realize that 65 is the new 25.

RETIRE - AND START YOUR OWN BUSINESS offers necessary guidance.  After a thorough inventory of skills and assets, there is a discussion about the different kinds of businesses.  Chapter 7 is full of suggestions of types of business to start.  One wise idea is to sell products.  Many of us seniors can make our own products, such as purses, baskets, or books.  We can discover some new talents, such as writing or painting.  The writers point out the fact that many of us have experiences that we can rely upon.

I especially like the reality checks.  The frank talk about the number of customers needed, the monthly overhead, costs, prices, the number of customers that can be served,and finances are valuable.  Even though we seniors are wiser than we ever been before, somehow we are more vulnerable. This book will help us keep our efforts real.

Then at the end there is a lengthy section about insurance.  We need to study more about that subject.

Start a business?  Yes!  This book  with its forms on the cd-rom will help.
3654189
I discovered this large collection of plans and stories of the many types of sailboats and a few powerboats in 1943
at Maury High School in Norfolk, VA.  It had the Star Class, Larchmont O Boat, Southbay Shore Bird
and a few others that I built from the plans included.  Xerox Copiers had not been invented yet so I had
photo copies made which were enlarged to the size I wanted to build.

The stories about the designs and the races they had entered were very exciting to me and caused
me to think of being a naval architect or to get into the boat building business.  Upon getting out
of the US Navy in 1954 after serving on Destroyers, I interviewed Phil Rhodes and other prominent
designers.  They all discouraged me from doing that because it was a feast and famine business.
I ended up working for IBM for 35 years.  I retired and started a big hobby of providing laser cut
frames for any boat you have plans for.

See my web site at [...]

Milton Thrasher Sarasota, FL
607740
I'm an experienced sailor, so storms & otherwise brought memories from similar locations I sailed.
At that time I sensed the Buddhist theology, but was not practicing formally. Now I attend 2 Sangas
on Martha's Vineyard; seated next to Ed. I hope this book influences you to emulate.
 Your own boat is not necessary, as crew members are sought.
The book developers more depth as you read on; it all comes together at conclusion.
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Steve Jackson is my uncle and I've heard bits and pieces of the adventure but never knew all the details.  We had a large map on the wall in our house with a line drawn on the route they took but I didn't know much more than that.

I wish the book had been written many years ago!  I've tried to imagine myself in their spot when I was that age and wondered if I would have done the same thing.  My conclusion is .. "no way!"  Even given today's modern navigation tools I doubt I could done this trip.

Many places in the book I wish they would have given more details but there's only so much they can fit into that many pages.

How many of us dream of doing some adventure in our lives but don't have the nerve.  These 4 guys did it!  What's holding us back from living our dreams?

I'm looking forward to seeing Suzy sail again this summer.
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I haven't actually read the book yet, but I have been listening to the audiobook version that has been released as installments on the Sailing Stories/On the Wind Sailing podcast. The story is well written and entertaining. It also contains a lot of useful information for people like myself that, someday, want to have a sailing adventure their own.
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David Greer has the wisdom and experience to know that the entrepreneurial journey isn't an easy-peasy rocket launchits like sailing on the high seas. Rocky. Stormy. Challenging. David is the first mate you want by your side when you're captain of the ship. And Wind in Your Sails is the map to help get you there.  -- Nina L. Kaufman, Ask the Business Lawyer
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I bought this book while preparing to buy a boat, thinking that i needed to konw all about the s***(pun intended) part of boat ownership.  What I got was a well written, well founded and documented book that tells it the way it is.  During this same time, I was perusing various online forums in boating and found that the author, Peggie Hall is probably one of the most, if not the most, referred to, revered and honored nautical professional in the industry.  She is actively engaged in the forums, and offers help to many (myself included since I did buy the boat!!!).

I can't wait for the sequel!  Thanks Peggie Hall!
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I retired from my business 40 years ago, I wish I would have had this book 70 years ago then I would have retired in 20 years rather than 30
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What to say about this book.  I laughed, I commiserated, and mostly I just admired.  I plan on reading this a few more times as I now go buy, outfit and sail my own boat.  I was in high school (too many decades ago to discuss here) when this guy in my church started building a ferrocement boat in Yuma AZ.  I was a farm boy.  He was going to sail around the world.  He invited myself and a few other kids to go along.  Well... the build took so long that I graduated high school and joined the Navy.  He eventually did finish the build and hauled the boat down into Mexico (it was overweight for US roads I think) and across to the gulf of Baja, whereupon he sailed it around to San Diego.  Of course I was long gone by then, fixing and later programming computers.

But that gentleman inspired me to dream of sailing, which I did for all these years.  Here I am, all these decades later committing (to myself) to finally go buy a boat, live aboard, learn to sail,  and slowly work my way out to sea (in that order).

Fatty's book is like that.  It is precisely the inspiration I need.  It is filled with wisdom, yea it is.  But more importantly, it is filled with the "60s hippie", people are truly good (mostly) and the world (sea) is a wonderful place to be... "I did it and so can you"...mentality.

Thanks for a wonderful read, and tons of great ideas for how to actually turn a dream into reality.  Of course it all starts with commit, then work hard.  And never give up.  "Strength and safety".

If we are both still alive, I plan to sidle up next to Fatty in some harbor somewhere and tell him in person what an inspiration he was to me.
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Turns out sailing is pretty complicated. Especially if you're trying to cross the ocean on a 32 Contessa.

I give this book five stars for saving my life.  I almost tried to cross the ocean with me and one other; neither of whom has any water experience at all.  Considered other alternatives to my problem resolution after chapter 1.
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Actually, I have just finished all of Coomer's works and have been a rabid fan since day One.  However, Sailing in a Spoonful of Water touched my heart and soul.  I too am bitten by the restoration of a boat and mine is currently in Damariscotta, Maine.  When he touches our hearts with stories of his grandfather and father, it makes me relive the lives of both of mine who have passed, but how I wish they could be a part of my boat project.  As he writes, you can smell the oil and diesel grime on your fingers.  You can smell the salt air and even the smell of the fog as it rolls over the ocean.  You can feel the swells from miles of crossing the Atlantic and even feel the sun on your face as you read each page!  Mr. Coomer writes in his OWN style...a style that makes me tell people that I even enjoy the sentence structure with which he writes.  He is one of the best writers of our times and I wish I could tell more people to enjoy their hallucination as well as I have enjoyed mine!  Thank you as always Joe Coomer.
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Great book, many go fast tips and tricks.  A great review for those new and old to the art of sailing a Laser.  You will never stop learning on how to sail whether your 8 or 80, just get out there and practice.
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Another great story that's well worth being told!! I served 1969-73 during some not-so-good times,involving tragic incidents. During one of the Wes Pac cruises,I remember this guy who walked up to several of us already standing around {I think we were on the 01 level aft}.He said that it had been predicted that "the ship bearing the hull number 22 will be lost at sea". Later, we rode out a typhoon on that cruise,losing several life rafts and the motor whale boat. I was told we were frequently taking 37 degree rolls either side of centerline. We endured this for several days,but we didn't sink. I think this was the '70 or '71 cruise. Over the years I forgot all about the prediction. Fast-forward to the year 2002,while I was surfing the TinCan Sailors website,when I read: "Just in:The U.S.S.Benjamin Stoddert went down on 03 February 2001".Those words seemed to leap off the page,startling me! Thanks Jim!
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I wore out my first copy from 30 years ago.  I met Mike in KW back then & used his book as a my sailboat-cooking bible!
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Most of us stay in the boat and at 65 if we have kept it in good enough shape can retire.  Walking on water means getting out of the boat and making a difference for others.
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Maybe I'm Biased but I was pretty excited that the skipper wrote a book. We served on board the Adams in 85.

A good book and well written. I cant find any fault with the destroyer doctrine though I admit I have no experience with pirates. Whether you an old sailor (like myself) or a reader looking for a book... this might be your next read.

Storyline  Good
Character's Well defined

You don't have to have been there to enjoy this book
And it brought back a few memories to this old sailor.