Sailing has always struck me as a civilized, relaxing way to spend a beautiful summer day. I imagine sitting on the boat’s deck in a sundress with a big floppy hat to keep the sun off of my face, a cold beverage in hand and perhaps a picnic basket of sandwiches at my feet. What could be more tranquil than gently gliding along the water’s rippling surface, with just enough of a breeze to keep you cool on a hot sunny day?
That’s how I envision sailing, and it will be obvious to many of you from this description that I do not sail. However, my husband and many of my friends do, and they tell a very different account, especially during a race: Sailors quickly moving around the deck, tackling and subduing unruly spinnakers, dodging booms and other hazards, and in general just trying not to fall overboard, especially on those days when it is blowing 20 (translation for us nonsailors: days with 20-mile-per-hour winds). Thus, a recent paper in the December issue of the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine caught my attention (1). In it, the authors report the frequency and types of injuries sustained by sailors while sailing. Those of you who sail will not be surprised by the findings, but I was. Sailing is more dangerous than I imagined.
The authors administered an online survey asking participitants to list the number of days they’d spent sailing in the previous 12 months, the type of boat, the number and types of injuries or illnesses sustained, the part of the boat responsible for any injuries, and risk-related behaviors such as wearing life jackets and sunscreen or consuming alcohol. The 1,188 sailors that responded to the survey reported 1,715 injuries and 559 illnesses such as sunburn, sea sickness, dehydration and hypothermia. The total number of injuries is certainly an underestimate because each respondent was limited to a maximum of two injuries. Of the injuries, 70 were classified as severe, including fractures, torn tendons or cartilage, concussions and dislocations. Keep in mind that this is all within the past 12 months! So much for my image of a peaceful day out on the water.
Keel boats were the most dangerous, accounting for 71% of the reported injuries, while dinghies (23%), catamarans (4%) and windsurfers (<1%) were relatively safer. The most common causes were tripping or falling, being hit by an object and getting caught in the lines. The majority of injuries (79%) happened while racing. Bad weather and maneuvers to redirect the boat were major contributors to these injuries.
So, is sailing a relaxing pastime or a dangerous sport? I suspect that most sailors will claim that it can be both, although not at the same time. For me, sailing is more relaxing. Not knowing anything about sail trimming, tacking or jibing and, frankly, having little interest in learning yet another hobby, I just try to stay out of everyone’s way when I’m on a sailboat and let them do the work. Some might think I am being lazy, but I maintain that I am just trying to avoid injury.
Reference
Nathanson, A.T., Baird, J. and Mello, M. (2010). Sailing injury and illness: Results of an online survey. Wilderness Environ. Med, 21, 291–7. PMID: 21168780
Terri Sundquist
Hi Terri,
I think you have the right idea on how to keep your sailing expreiences relaxing and injury free! Years ago my husband used to sail through the U.W. Madison Hoofers club. On one beautiful sunny Sunday I learned the hard way why they call it a Boom after he did a “man over board” maneuver trying to recover the bail bucket I had dropped, and I failed to duck.
In the end we didn’t ever get the bucket, had to be towed in by the lake rescue after our boat slowly filled with water (hence the need for the bucket), and I ended up with a bloodied ear and a black eye. Luckily we were sailing a small boat.
Kelly
I once heard that offshore sail racing was the most dangerous “sport” on a per capita participant basis, a main reason being that a hit alongside the head with the boom of a boat big enough to be (legitimately) racing on the ocean would convey enough force to knock you unconscious and overboard, adding potential to drown to the blow just sustained. I’m not sure if this is actually the most dangerous per capita sport or not, but I can believe it is right up near the top of the list.
And Kelly, I’m still sorry about your ear and eye.
Sorry for commenting on a somewhat old post. I’m not sure about “Keel boats were the most dangerous, accounting for 71% of the reported injuries, while dinghies (23%), catamarans (4%) and windsurfers (<1%) were relatively safer." without knowing whether keel boat sailors were more or less than 71% of the sample — and even this would be best refined by considering whether different types of boat users spend the same amount of time on the water and whether the sampling method was less effective in reaching some types of sailors.