In Young Salt at Sixty, Deborah Hammett tells the story of how she turned her retirement into an unexpected, life-changing adventure. Having spent decades deeply embedded in her career and family life, she decided not to “slow down” after sixty but instead dove headfirst into learning to sail and living aboard a boat. The book traces her transformation from a grounded islander on Martha’s Vineyard to a fearless sailor navigating oceans and self-doubt alike. Along the way, she weaves in stories of community, change, aging, and finding new meaning at a time when most people are winding down.

Reading this book made me feel like I was right there with Deborah — struggling with confusing sailing terms, battling nerves at sea, and feeling the thrill of a new chapter beginning. Her writing is warm, funny, and unpretentious. She doesn’t try to sound wise or preachy; instead, she shares her mistakes and small victories with a refreshing honesty that made me root for her the whole way. There’s something incredibly gutsy about learning a totally new and dangerous skill at an age when most people are sticking to safe routines. The way she describes fighting through fear, laughing at herself, and finding unexpected joy reminded me that life’s biggest rewards often come after we’ve completely embarrassed ourselves.

What I loved even more was how relatable her reflections were. This book isn’t just about boats and tides — it’s about memory, loss, pride, nostalgia, and resilience. Deborah paints a bittersweet picture of how beloved places and communities change over time, and how hard it is to let go. Sometimes her writing took my breath away with its rawness, and other times it made me laugh out loud, like when she talks about falling off a tiny sailboat or struggling to tie proper knots. The way she mixes humor with serious life lessons felt real and earned, not sugarcoated or cliched.

Young Salt at Sixty is a rare and wonderful book for anyone standing at the edge of a new beginning — whether it’s retirement, a big move, or a scary dream. It’s perfect for readers who love memoirs that feel like a chat with an adventurous friend. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to start over, Deborah Hammett will make you believe that the best journeys might just be the ones you never planned.

Pages: 202 | ASIN: B0DVS7MYWY