Not only to approach race sailing, sailors need to train arms, legs and core to supports their performance on board. Sailors need to move more even while cruising and to do regular physical activity and exercise.
A long day on the sea involves a lot a confidence in boating routines, but it’s really important also to keep your body trained and to boost your endurance because the work to do onboard is sometimes heavy.
At the same time, the spaces to move your body on a boat are really limited and people spend many hours (too much!) basicly just sitting, while steering, trimming or just standing on the deck while sailing.
Any fitness activity that involves physical movement brings benefits: walking, biking or exercises like weight lifting or bodyweight workouts are great for counteracting long periods of sitting during cruising.
Boaters prove to be increasingly aware of the importance to stay fit while sailing, so here are highlighted many occasions to get moving during cruising holidays in the Höga Kusten.
Sailing + PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Walking or hiking, if you’re not confident in running, are perfect physical activities to keep you in motion and to break the time you spent boating. Plus, sailing the High Coast, you can enjoy these activities exploring great outdoors immersed in the nature.
Many sailors love to add poles to their walks: they provide balance and stability and reduce impact on the knees and hips. Practicing Nordic Walking you engage up to 90% of your muscles by activating your core and upper body instead of just the lower body during normal walking. Using poles, you burn plus 20-46% more calories than standard walking.
Have you forgotten to add them to your luggage? Don’t worry, you can ask for a pair of poles in the Sailor's Club House!
Sailing + CYCLING
Sailors have offen a pair of folding bikes as tenders: cycling is a smart way to explore and having fun moving your legs. It’s great for sightseeing or to commute to shopping during your cruise along the coastline.
Starting from your mooring at the marina in Docksta, you have many opportunities to ride: cycling to discover the area around Docksta & Skuleberget and reach the museum “Naturum”, to commute to the southern entrance of the Skuleskogen national park or just to enjoy few kilometers on the sunny terrain roads along Dockstafjärden. We’ll provide you with helpful tips & maps of the best destinations.
If you need a bike more for a guests onboard or you feel that carrying bikes on your boat is a big waste of space, while mooring your boat at Docksta Havet you find mountain bikes for rental.
Walking, Hiking, Biking: here we share thE maps:
Sailing + EXERCISE
Bodyweight exercises - pushup, squat, lunge, plank - can be done almost anywhere. And doing them on the red granite of Nordingrå just adds fun.
Beginner Bodyweight Circuit Workout
Planks are the best exercises to practice on the pier for core strengthening: you engage multiple muscle groups but it also works gluteus and hamstrings. Planks support posture and improve balance.
A resistance band is a perfect tool to keep aboard when wanting to exercise while cruising: it enables you to do full body workout without using weights or other heavy equipment.
Another great system to train is a set of TRX straps: they deliver an effective total body workout, they are portable and you can use them anywhere you want: for example by anchoring them on a tree or even onboard on the mast of your sailing boat.
Early morning over the pier, when the air is fresh and the water usually is calm is the perfect moment to start breathing and relax and then to perform few minutes of your daily fitness routines. You’re welcome to enjoy them on the piers or the grass at the marina!
Sailing + TRAIL RUNNING
Running or even better trail running (if you’re a lucky sailor boating along the High Coast) allows you to add just light gear to your sailor’s bag: transpirant T-shirts & pants, a hat to protect you from a bright overhead sun or from falling rain, a hydration backpack and a good, light pair of off-road running shoes.