Getting Fit

[Wansworth]

Was considering buying a small sailing cruiser but after this morning nearly putting my back out putting up a door consideration is being given to improving my physical condition for next Spring?

 

[LittleSister]

I know that feeling only too well , but my complete lack of sailing and limited boat maintenance activities over the last couple of years has definitely had an adverse impact on my general fitness and flexibility, despite other forms of modest exercise.

Even though my sailing is generally quite laid back, the amount of exercise one gets from simply stepping up and down in and out of the cabin, bracing as the boat moves, and reaching and bending at various angles is quite significant, I find.

Whilst not wishing to deter you from your intended autumn/winter fitness campaign, i wouldn't worry too much about it: once you regularly get on a boat you will soon start developing the fitness. Just don't overdo it too much at first.

 

[Wansworth]

I know that feeling only too well , but my complete lack of sailing and limited boat maintenance activities over the last couple of years has definitely had an adverse impact on my general fitness and flexibility, despite other forms of modest exercise.

Even though my sailing is generally quite laid back, the amount of exercise one gets from simply stepping up and down in and out of the cabin, bracing as the boat moves, and reaching and bending at various angles is quite significant, I find.

Whilst not wishing to deter you from your intended autumn/winter fitness campaign, i wouldn't worry too much about it: once you regularly get on a boat you will soon start developing the fitness. Just don't overdo it too much at first.

Thanks,probably if I do get a boat I will be spurred on to be fit,hope springs eternal?

 

[RAI]

I even get a discount on my health insurance for being a sailor.

 

[Clancy Moped]

On the whole its struck me that municipal swimming pools are in abundance in Spain.....make use that man!

 

[Wansworth]

On the whole its struck me that municipal swimming pools are in abundance in Spain.....make use that man!

Indeed but exposing my hardly Arnold Shwartzinegger body is embarssing?

 

[Blueboatman]

Indeed but exposing my hardly Arnold Shwartzinegger body is embarssing?

Stay underwater longer ??

Cycling sailing and er boat maintenance do seem to work the long suffering body quite well, creak creak

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Wot you need is lots of digging in a stoney piece of land that hasn't been used for years, then cutting the winters firewood and lugging it into the house every day. Come next spring you will be fit as a fiddle or dead. ?

 

[capnsensible]

On the whole its struck me that municipal swimming pools are in abundance in Spain.....make use that man!

Our marina has one. But so does my garden. ?

 

[Clancy Moped]

Our marina has one. But so does my garden. ?

Illegal to build them here now!!!

 

[Daydream believer]

I find that whilst my upper body can still cope with most jobs on board my back does ache with constant moving to bend as the boat rocks & when sailing & leaning back to counter the heel of the boat. So cushions help.
However, the worse part are my legs. As knees etc get weaker I find it harder to move about on deck & to maintain balance. Stepping up onto the deck & from deck to cabin top to gather in the main can be difficult with the boat rolling violently.
Falling overboard has become an even greater fear as had the fear of falling and breaking a bone in my arm or hip etc.
I find that the best excersize for this is cycling so I have a Brompton electric bike for the boat & use it between trips for regular trips of up to 20 miles. I know that one might feel electric is cheating but one does have to provide the input & it gets the legs moving. Besides the top speed of electric is 15.5 MPH so I often do a 13 mile circuit at an average of 16.5/17 MPH. That means for part of the trip I am cycling without the motor assisting. I just use the motor up the hilly bits.
A couple of weeks cycling makes a big difference to how I move on the boat & I do not get the hip & knee pain that I get from walking.

 

[HissyFit]

After long duration cruises the most sited physical failing seems to be lack of cardiovascular fitness. I'd recommend keeping a bicycle onboard, as the perceived effort for moderate benefit outweigh even jogging. Plus if you combine the bike with a trailer, exercise can be combined with doing errands like shopping.

With respect to fitness for sailing, you do need the strength for grinding winches, but that strength needs to be routed back to your core. As they say "You can't fire a cannon from a canoe." Your core strength is targeted by yoga and pilates, so they'd be your best bet for remaining injury free. Classes should be available at your local leisure centre.

 

[Zing]

Something I learned recently, your level of physical strength is highly predictive of your lifespan. Fitness usually follows too,

 

[dgadee]

Something I learned recently, your level of physical strength is highly predictive of your lifespan. Fitness usually follows too,

Citation?

 

[38mess]

I know that feeling, during the lockdown I was as fit as I have ever been. Now sadly back to my sedentary old self

 

[Zing]

Citation?

Try this one:
Muscular strength as a strong predictor of mortality: A narrative review

And this:
Testing hand-grip strength could be a simple, low-cost way to predict heart attack and stroke risk

 

[Rustyknight]

I know that feeling, during the lockdown I was as fit as I have ever been. Now sadly back to my sedentary old self

Much the same here. During lockdown I was walking up to 12 miles a day, but since then I only go out walking once or twice a week and have put on nearly half a stone.

 

[chrishscorp]

It would be advisable to check with your Doctor first and see what he has to say

Me i would start cycling first then go on to some gentle circuit training and build up but i am reasonably fit

 

[johnalison]

We both find that a day or two on the boat does wonders for our usual aches and pains, though a long time at the helm sometimes makes my neck ache. I have some digging in prospect today in a small bed thick with ivy. I have been wielding a pick axe at it during the last week, doing about 10 minutes per day in an attempt not to do myself any harm.

 

[dom]

Why not leave the o/b and either row, kayak, or paddleboard ashore.

Paddleboarding is especially good for balance, especially if there is a bit of chop/swell running.