As I got older (I'm 62 now) I found that I was not as "nimble" around the foredeck as I would like to be. Going forward from the cockpit, especially if the sea was a little choppy, often proved to be an exercise of grabbing onto lifelines, shrouds and grab rails and moving hesitantly and deliberately even when it didn't seem necessary. The problem was flagging balance, or at least apprehension that my balance wasn't quite what it used to be, and therefore shaken self confidence.
A month ago I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee for a torn meniscus. The surgery and recovery was no big deal but I had to go for physical therapy afterwards to get my knee back in shape.
Among the exercises the therapist had me do were balance exercises. Standing on one leg on less than solid surface like a trampoline took great effort. Standing with both feet on a soft half inflated-like ball and doing deep knee bends was another. At first it took me a long time to balance at all. Then the balance on these surfaces came more quickly and I could balance for long periods of time and do these exercises without much problem at all.
When I then went to my CD27 to start commissioning her both on land and after she was in the water I was surprised to find I could literally run up and back on the side decks between bow and cockpit without any hesitation or the need to hold onto anything.
Things that I'd have to grab a shroud for just never entered my mind and that was because I was moving around so easily and confidently that holding on was not necessary.
I know many of you have no problems with balance. But for those who feel a little unsteady when moving around on narrow side decks or climbing onto cabintops, you might consider looking into balance exercises. The improvement was almost immediate. After about two or three sessions my balance was vastly improved.
So, consider it. Moving around on a boat in a seaway takes plenty of balance and I'm glad to regain some of it that I thought I had lost forever!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)