5 reasons why sailing is the best exercise you will ever get 

You won’t necessarily find the best exercise where you would normally expect, and this may seem daunting. You won’t need a gym membership and you don’t need to be training for a marathon to take part in the sport we enjoy the most! 

Sailing is a full body workout that can do wonders for both your physical and mental health. When you’re sailing in a dinghy, you are getting an aerobic workout as you constantly move around the boat, pulling your sail in and moving from starboard to port.

Your balance is continually being tested and improved. It is also a great activity for increasing muscle and core strength; The more you hike out the side of your boat, the more core strength you are going to build! This incredible sport can cater to your needs no matter your fitness level or age.

There are many reasons why sailing is the best exercise you will get, but we’ve pulled together a list of 5 of our favourite reasons why! 

Our top 5 reasons to sail for exercise

1. It improves your physical health 

Sailing will help with your overall heart health, improve your balance, protect your joints and strengthen your bones. Pulling on the lines, hiking out the boat, manoeuvring the rudder and moving around the boat will all help to increase your muscle and core strength. Launching and recovering your dinghy will also utilise different muscle groups, ensuring a full body workout. 
 

2. It is great for your mental health 

Being in blue spaces holds many benefits. Being on and around the water has an incredibly positive effect on physical and mental health, with research suggesting “Blue Spaces” lower stress and anxiety, whilst improving mood and mental wellbeing. 

3. It’s a social sport where you will find a community of likeminded people 

Sailing clubs and watersports centres are great places to meet people. Everyone has a mutual interest which will bond you together. You may also find that you prefer sailing with another person as helm or crew! These amazing places build a community of like-minded people that always push you to be the best version of yourself. Socialisation like this keeps you coming back for more! Our community clubs are a great place to socialise whilst you sail.

4. You have the independence to make the session as easy or hard as you like 

When you head out onto the water, you immediately gain a freeing independence. You can make the session as relaxing or as vigorous as you need it to be. You can push yourself to the limits or potter around a course chatting away with your crew. Knowing you have the power to control your session is invigorating and addictive! 

5. It’s fun! 

And last but not least, it’s amazing fun! Getting out on the water brings the inner child out of everyone. Letting lose and enjoying time spent in nature increases your enjoyment of exercise. A combination of all the above means that this sport is one of the most exciting ways to exercise! 

by Savannah Gordon, Digital Officer for the Andrew Simpson Foundation and Andrew Simpson Centres 

Savannah spent her formative years around the water and has been passionate about sailing ever since she started crewing a dinghy in Poole Harbour.