Sailing information & advice

People don't often think about getting fit for sailing, but like any sport, a good level of conditioning will allow you to execute skills better, particularly during longer sessions.

Of course the ultimate training for any sport is performing the sport itself, and this is particularly true for sailing - the vagaries of wind and weather mean that experience will always be the best teacher.

However, given the changing nature of English weather, there will be many times when you can't actually get out on the water. When this happens, particularly during the winter when you may go weeks, or even months without actually sailing, you can work to improve your fitness.

So what elements of fitness will help? The most obvious is endurance. Given that you can easily be out on the water for hours, improving your endurance will pay dividends. Good choices include walking, running, biking, swimming, or using an indoor fitness machine.

There's no need to go fast - longer sessions will build your stamina and prepare you for those long summer days on the water.

Strength training will also help - weight training should help to build your upper and lower body, and in particular your core, those muscle of the low back and abdomen that tie everything together.

Developing a strong core will make everything easier, and allow you to utilize the strength you have developed.