Sailing is a highly technical activity, that requires an ability to act with readiness, flexibility, train agility, and core strength in order to perform it correctly. And, most importantly when making quick decisions and movements in the boat without using up too much energy you put large demands on both strength and motor skills. Meaning that you need to stay in control of your back, hips, knees, and ankles, simultaneously. The most common severe injuries are contusions to the muscles. Also, ankle injuries often happen from getting caught in the ankle straps. Sailors sometimes appear to have many injuries, particularly to the knees and low back, because of all the repetitive training and sailing specific movements involved. Let’s find out what are the most common sailing injuries and how you can avoid them. Keep reading!

Why Sailing Injuries are That Common?

By far the largest undiscoverable areas on earth are oceans and lakes which cover over 71% of the planet’s surface. For over 5,000 years, humans have used sailing vessels as an efficient means of transport to these waterways in order to fish, transport goods, and explore distant lands. Although the invention of steam engines in the late 18th century gradually reduced commercial sailing activities, sailing soon became a recreational activity, first in Europe, and then in the United States. Sailboat racing was first introduced in 1851 when the schooner America defeated 14 British entries in a race around the Isle of Wight in what has since become America’s Cup. And this is considered to be the oldest international sporting event in the world. Present-day sailing includes numerous activities from day-sailing on a lake, to sailing around the world voyages.

Severe sailing accidents often occur when sailors unexpectedly find themselves in the water after falling overboard or capsizing. Keep in mind that falls overboard on keelboats can be prevented by wearing tethers which should be worn on deck in rough weather conditions, or whenever sailing during nighttime. Furthermore, dinghy sailors should be careful when sailing in high winds and wear insulating clothing in cold water in order to prevent capsizing. And, of course, lifejackets should be worn when sailing, as there is enough evidence regarding the fact that lifejackets save lives.

The physical demands of sailing vary and depend mostly upon the type of vessel, the wind speed, whether cruising or racing, as well as the crew member’s position on the boat. For instance, in dinghies, the sailor spends large amounts of energy levering his body over the side of the boat to keep it from capsizing. And, bear in mind that in keelboats, the most demanding activity is turning winches to pull in lines under tension.

What Causes Sailing Injuries

In general, sailors are at risk of injury and illness from a variety of causes. The main environmental risks include solar exposure, hypothermia, immersion injuries, and motion sickness. Acute injuries are often caused by falls, by impact from various parts of the boat, and from lines under tension. Also, overuse injuries can be sustained by repetitive activities such as “grinding” winches, steering the vessel, etc.

And, it’s important to note that medical care for injury or illness aboard a sailboat can be quite challenging, particularly when you’re far offshore. This is because reliable medical care may be days away, supplies might be limited, space below-deck is often limited, and the motion of the boat can be quite unpredictable. In addition, evacuation at sea is often dangerous and not always an option. Also, another common cause is seasickness or excessive fatigue due to excessive amounts of energy put into sailing the boat during stormy weather. Subsequently, all these risks form the main reason why injuries are most likely to occur.

According to the type of sailboat and the type of sailing injury rates, mechanisms of injury, and types of injury vary significantly. It’s important to note that medical literature and the US Coast Guard categorize sailboats into two groups. The first one includes vessels greater than 6m in length equipped with a weighted keel for stability and usually motorized, known as keelboats. The second includes smaller, non-motorized dinghies and catamarans which are dependent on crew weight for stability and can be easily overturned. Lastly, many studies focus on a particular class of sailboat or regatta, so the results aren’t always generalizable. As a result, the comparisons of injury rates among studies are difficult due to differing definitions of injury and methodologies.

>>Also Read: Most Common Sailing Accidents

Most Common Sailing Injuries

Slips and Falls

Even on a calm and sunny day, a boat underway will most likely pitch and yaw to varying degrees and worsen your ability to stay balanced on your feet. On a rainy and stormy day, a wet deck doubles this challenge. Unfortunately, there are many injuries that can occur to any part of the body as the result of a slip or fall. These include bruises, scrapes, sprains, broken bones, or head injuries.

How to Reduce the Risk of Slips and Falls

Appropriate Footwear for Sailing is a Must

Buying an appropriate pair of sailing boots and quality deck shoes is one of the things you should consider doing before setting sail. Deck shoes will also help protect your toes in case you accidentally kick deck hardware. Keep in mind that many common athletic shoes can be really slippery on a wet deck and don’t provide protection for your toes, so look for footwear that is specifically designed for sailing activities. The saying “one hand for you, the other for the boat” is applied in order to prevent a fall. And, bear in mind that when moving about the boat to keep one hand gripped onto a sturdy handhold. Also, when leaving the cockpit to move forward on deck, always move forward along the windward side of the boat. This will help to minimize the chance of falling overboard.

Use Lifelines Carefully

Bear in mind that lifelines are not designed to support the full weight of your body. This is because they tend to flex with pressure, and for this reason, they aren’t the most stable option as a handhold. So, when you want to move forward on deck, hold onto the sturdy grab rails on the coach roof and keep your center of gravity low. When weather conditions are rough, crawling forward on your hands and knees is a safer option than standing on your feet.

Try to Avoid Stepping Off a Moving Boat Onto the Dock

It is much safer to remain on deck and catch up to the dock cleat, or leave a cleated dockline on the dock laying in a handy way for you to be able to pick up with a boat hook from on deck. Effectively catching dock cleats with a dock line requires some practice, so it’s a good idea to spend some time practicing before setting sail.

Stow The Winch Handles When Not Using Them

Don’t omit to remove winch handles from winches and stow them securely when you’re not using them. Falling onto or stumbling into a prominent winch handle can cause severe bruises and injuries. Keep in mind to have your workspace neat when underway. Tidy lines will prevent you from tripping or entangling. And, just after making a maneuver that involves handling a line, don’t forget to tidy up by flaking the line neatly and tuck it in a pocket. Then, hang it over an unused winch, or lay the flake on top of the coach roof.

Shoulder and Back Injuries

Injuries to your back or shoulders can happen when hauling on lines under load. The same thing applies here as when lifting heavyweights. Meaning that you have to use the strength of your lower body muscles that will help you to protect the vulnerable back and shoulder muscles. Putting repetitive strain on your back and joints is really common when sailing. And keep in mind that winch use is another common mechanism of injury on a keelboat.

How to Reduce the Risk of Shoulder and Back Injuries

When grinding a winch under heavyweight, stand or kneel over the winch and brace your knees and/or feet securely against the sides of the cockpit. On smaller sailboats, you will have to brace yourself with your knees. Consider using knee pads that will prevent your knees from bruising. Depending on the location of the winch, consider placing one foot outside of the cockpit and brace it tightly against the toerail. Generally, on big boats, the injury will most likely occur to your back while on small boats it occurs on your knees and thighs.

And, when forces increase, don’t just rely on your arm muscles to rotate the winch handle, but grip the winch handle with both hands and grind. Apply the power of your leg muscles to push and pull your body weight against the handle. In case the resistance still seems excessive and the sail is still flogging, don’t hoist all the way up, or don’t furl all the way in/out. You should instead stop grinding and look for a possible jam. Don’t ever force a stuck sail, as this may cause damage to you or some part of the boat.

Finger and Hand Injuries

Fingers and hands are the most vulnerable part prone to injury. This applies especially when handling lines under load, and when winches are involved. When handling a line under load, always hold it with your thumbs pointed towards your heart. Also, your pinky fingers have to point away from your body. Keep in mind that the bitter end of the line has to come out between your thumb and forefinger. Moreover, the working end of the line that leads to the winch, has to lay clamped between your pinky and the outer edge of your hand. Lastly, pull the line towards your hand over the other.

The reason for the “thumbs to the heart” guideline is to prevent your thumb and forefinger from being pulled into the winch in case the line suddenly runs. By holding the line this way you also achieve better leverage on it. Moreover, keep a distance between your hands and the winch when holding a line under load. 

Never wrap a line around your hand. If you’re in need of a bit more leverage when hauling in a line, resist the urge to wrap or coil the line around your hand. If you’re in need of a bit more grip, you can bundle a line in a figure 8 loop and grasp the 8 around its middle. Just don’t wrap it around your hand, or any other part of your body. Ask someone from your crew to help you hold the line if needed.  You can also wear sailing gloves to improve your grip and prevent chafe injuries to your hands.

>>Also Read: Best Sailing Gloves

Head Injuries

Being hit by an object is responsible for around 21% of all injuries. These tend to occur during tacks and jibes, especially if it is unplanned in high winds. Every sailor is aware of the fact that a low boom can pose a serious danger to the head. Before a tack or jibe, ensure that all crew members are alert. They also have to be careful and positioned away from the boom’s reach.

Head bumps happen on dodgers, biminis, or companionway hatches. The risk of them is significantly increased when wearing a hat with a brim. Always be aware of what’s above you that may be blocked from your line of sight by your hat’s brim. I know that hats are crucial to protect your face and ears from sunburn. However, consider balancing the need for sun protection with the need for overhead visibility. Choose a hat with a small or moderate brim size. Bear in mind that tripping and falling are the most common ways sailors injure themselves on board. As a result, these injuries cause fractures, head injuries, falls overboard, and falls through open hatches.

In any case, if you pay attention, be aware of your surroundings, and assess the current situation correctly there’s no need to worry about being hurt.

Safety Tips

Always be aware of the location of your First Aid Kit. Also, make sure to buy a fully equipped kit or fill it up by your own judgment. Put it in an easily accessible area inside your boat. Like this, in case a minor injury occurs, you’ll be able to treat it more quickly.

When you feel too tired, getting too hot or cold, dehydrated, feeling seasickness, and intoxication you increase the risk of injuring yourself. Do your best to get a good night’s sleep the day before setting sail. Dress in layers, eat lightly and of course, drink plenty of water. Keep your eyes open at all times while steering or performing sailing tasks on board. Also, try to abstain from alcohol use as much as possible.

A well-intentioned sailor might put his body at risk of injury in order to prevent an imminent collision. But it’s not recommended at all to put any part of your body between your boat and another boat or a fixed object. This is because boats can be repaired but injuries remain permanent on your body.

>>Also Read: Must-Have Boat Safety Equipment For Sailing

The Bottom Line

Most of the time, sailors are at risk for severe injuries, overuse injuries, environmental injuries, and sailing-related illnesses. However, sailing-related injury rates vary annually from 0.29% to 5.7% which is lower than many other sports performed on land. But, the fatality rate of 1.19 per million sailing days is relatively high. The most common injuries are contusions and lacerations mostly to the upper and lower extremities. In addition, falls and impacts from various parts of the sailboat are the most common severe injuries. High winds, unexpected weather conditions, captain inexperience, and negligence are the most common causes of injuries. It’s normal to injure yourself by mistake once in a while when you’re sailing. So, don’t get paranoid and protect yourself and your crew responsibly. Wish you all safe and enjoyable voyages out in the open waters!