It was a spring day in the Netherlands and the sun warmed the air just enough for the party to be held outdoors. It was a big day, Granma Tilly was celebrating her 90th Birthday!
As life goes, Tilly now needed some help with the everyday tasks and her son Humberto decided to leave his little sailing boat El Holandes Errante at anchor in Fiji and join her in Europe. After not too long she commented:
“I know you are much happier when you are in the South Pacific. Why don’t we go there?”
“Mum, my boat is waaay too small for the both of us.”
“Well, then I will sell my house and we will buy a bigger boat!”
After a few moments of hesitation Humberto realized that she was serious. She had never stepped foot on a boat before, but now she wanted to live aboard in the South Pacific!
And so they did it. Humberto showed her a few candidates and she picked their new boat, a St. Francis 44 catamaran.
They sailed from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific. Tilly’s first ocean crossing took 45 days due to no wind, but she did not complain.
She experienced many new things and was suddenly getting younger by the day.
Tilly made many new friends, both in the Sea Gypsy community and on the islands they visited.
She adapted very well to the life on the sea, also thanks to Humberto, who made some modifications to make her life easier.
Tilly’s elevator
See how Tilly’s cool elevator works
It was interesting to listen to many of her stories, including a grounding in Tahiti when she was alone aboard. She really seems to be without a care in the world. She also explained why:
“All my life I took care of other people. Now finally someone is taking care of me. I love it.”
Tilly just recently celebrated her 91st Birthday, this time on a passage between Beveridge Reef and Tonga. She definitely does not look one year older, maybe 20 years younger!
Tilly at 90 Tilly at 91
We met her and Humberto in Neiafu, Vava’u. They impressed us as happy and charismatic people, the kind of people that make our sailing community so very special.
They are now sailing around Fiji where Tilly is spending her days drinking fresh coconuts in turquoise lagoons. What a great way to live in retirement!
She made me think of one of my favourite quotes:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
Hunter S.Thompson
You can follow Tilly’s and Humberto’s journey on their Youtube channel or check out Humberto’s website.
Tilly enjoying life in Bora Bora
I love this. Good on her. She looks fabulous
Love this. We recently spent some time with Julian Mustoe who having sailed around the world on his 25′ boat “Harrier” lost everything. Undeterred, and with some help. He’s back afloat and currently single handed in the Baltic. At the young age of 87. These great folk are an inspiration in living life
Roisin Venter :p
Love this story. This is how life should be. Not sat in a chair, being spoon fed in a nursing home.
The sailing life keeps us young & strong
When my Grandma turned 80 her Dr said she needed to sell her boat. I told her to get a second opinion!
MY, FATHER is now 91 !!! I, taught, HIM, to sail at age 84! HE, is constantly calling, ME….”Let’s go sailing” !!! HE, claims, it’s the most exciting, thing, HE, has done in, HIS, life! This, is quite the statement–for, a, former stunt-flyer; war hero; sky diver; air line pilot; inventor, date-of-movie star Ester Williams; and, buddy of Howard Huges! (Dad was on the virgin-flight of the Spruce-goose with Howard; and, to hear DAD say, that, sailing with ME on the Great Salt Lake is the most fun in life,….well…..that’s, pretty fine indeed !!! GO! VINTAGE SAILORS !
What an amazing story and inspiration to us all.
…. And I was worried we had left it too late. Clearly not !
Such a wonderful story! Super happy for these great people. Blessings to them both. Hope to meet them in person when we sail there.
we wait for you,thanks for reading enjoy life regards humberto& mom Tilly
What a fantastic story! Thanks.
Amazing lady
Great story! They say that “the time spent on a sailboat is not deducted from your lifespan”. May she have many more years of sailing!
Ha ha! I hope that is true!
Melissa
Amazing story, we will be following you soon…..living life to the full amazing change in her. Fabulous
Thanks Jasna ,mom very proud of your article,you write very nice about her,we just arrived back to savusavu after our holidays (finally) in Fulaga atoll,hope your new engine is working fine ,just had the first look at your facebook and all very happy ,why not eh.. hope to meet again ,easy,because all our oceans connect bula vinaka humberto and tilly
Another great photo! ? It was a pleasure to write about your mom and you. I hope you keep enjoying life. Our new engine is wonderful, we are enjoying Tonga and some island time (finally for us too!) Keep in touch!
Huub,
Theo
Een bizarre geschiedenis, veel rumoer in de familie, maar ik zie dat jullie intens gelukkig zijn samen. Een behouden vaart en dat jullie nog lang mogen genieten van dit avontuur.
Ik kreeg het bericht via Hannah. Kun je mij opnemen in de directe berichtgeving? Groetjes van je neef Theo en van Lieselotte.
dat is het goeie woord intens gelukkig samen met onze nieuwe pacific familie,hoop dat we haar over de 100 kunnen brengen,maar het meeste doet ze zelf,komt van binnenuit dit wonder saludos
Be on the lookout for mermaids, Tilly and Huub! One of them is Trui. ❤️
ja,een mooie vaarder is het groetjes
o wacht even ,je hebt het over je moeder,we hebben het geregeld over haar en ome Joop ,denk dat we ze af en toe even zien opduiken groetjes
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story of love and strength 🙂
Thanks for reading it Andrea.wish we can go on for many more miles and make her feel younger every day bye
Tilly looks full of life. Unlike like my wife who is 73 only, unfortunately she has Alzheimer’s and lives in Aged Care the disease is draining her life away. I’m unable to anything but be with her
Keep the inspiration alive
Sorry to hear that Allan. Good luck with everything.
Later on my plan is to offer the boat for people who just have one more wish ,and sail them on this boat. They can bring their own nurse or family to help take care of them. I understand Alzheimer might be to difficult to cope with on a boat. Wish you a lot of streght Allan regard from Tilly and humberto
I find this the most incredible story I have seen for a long time. As you can guess from my name Humberto I am a fellow country man. I turned 65 last year and it has always been my dream to sail around the world and never finish it. Stay in the Pacific for ever. I know what living on a boat is as I have lived on board for 4 years due to personal circumstances. Why do I postpone and find for excuses. To make a decision like this and take the step to sell your comfortable home and… Read more »
Wow!! I’m 68 and not the best sailor, and still working full time. But my son found a great boat in Houston, painted her and we are shipping her to Dallas area next week! I am thrilled to see this story!! And I EXPECT to increase my happiness, good health, circle of friends…starting with the launch of my Ericson 25… Phyxius! Congratulations for a wonderful story and inspiration!
Wow Jasna,just had a look at all the positive replies on the article you wrote. That is just what the goal has to be give all your readers the inspiration and the feeling never to be to old for a new challege. It doesn’t have to be that extreme as my mom decided,but just jump in the deep and get that feeling of floating on the clouds as relaxt as a newborn baby. Really hope to see people follow our steps. what a happy oceans we are going to have regards for both of you from mom Tilly & men
What a beautiful and inspiring story! Sorry to hear about her recent passing?May she Rest In Peace??. I think it will be a great way of honoring her legend with Humberto’s plan of granting a last wish to spend it on the boat to someone dealing with aging and ailing loved one. What a fantastic way to give back to humanity of aging population, to have an opportunity to enjoy the remaining life span in peace, love and joy….Our hats off to you Humberto, May God bless you twofolds for all your good deeds. Safe travels and fair winds ⛵️⚓️⛵️to… Read more »