SAIL INTO LIFE

Why getting out on the water is good for you!

Image: Air Images/ Shutterstock

The last 12 months have taken their toll on our businesses, our families and our relationships. It has been tough, there is no doubt about that, and we have all missed getting out on the water.

It has been a time of reflection and an opportunity to take stock, but for many the isolation, the lack of support and the loss have meant that physical and mental health have been harder to manage.

Mental health charity Mind ran a survey, The Mental Health Emergency, to understand the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on mental health, and unsurprisingly more than half of adults (60 per cent) and two-thirds of young people (68 per cent) said their mental health worsened during the lockdown.

To support people experiencing mental health problems to be physically active, Mind subsequently published the Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit, a resource packed with guidance, tools and templates to help organisations offer an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Where does sailing come into this? Mental health is the largest cause of disability in the UK and the NHS reports that it affects one in four adults in any given year. Many people with mental illness do not consider themselves disabled, yet the effects can be just as life limiting.

The good news is that sailing can, and does, have a tremendous impact on mental health and improved wellbeing. Plenty of people tell us that sailing boosts self-esteem, improves our confidence and reduces tension and stress.

Learning to sail can focus the mind and body in the moment. Learning a new skill allows you to momentarily leave your comfort zone and immerse your thoughts on the experience of being out on the water.

That is not forgetting the benefits of connecting with others, the social support you receive through being a member of a sailing club and spending time with others. A sailing club for many is, in fact, a sanctuary in our otherwise hectic daily lives.

Sea Sanctuary Cornish charity Sea Sanctuary knows this better than most. Over an 11-year period, the charity has supported more than 2,000 people with varying mental health needs and continues to provide an alternative naturalistic environment for mental health care through its internationally renowned Sail into Life programme, 1-1 therapy sessions and commissioned mental health crisis support.

Sea Sanctuary CEO and founder Joe Sabian, an advocate for mental health care afloat, commented: “When I stand and look out at the wonder and awe of the sea, I see something beyond our understanding. As human beings we are desperate to understand, yet the sea is beyond language, beyond comprehension and it is this that makes it so powerful.

“At Sea Sanctuary we celebrate this power, and temper this with a solid educational programme, yet it is the sea that holds the real magic.”

Oceans for Hope Regardless of your ability or disability, the act of trying something new is rejuvenating, and a perfect example of this is the award-winning Oceans for Hope Sailing Challenge (AAS January 2019), which provides people from all over the world the opportunity to sail. Regardless of experience the challenge is about increasing confidence, improving wellbeing and giving hope for the future.

Robert Munns, organiser of Ocean for Hope, said: “By making them realise what is possible, sailing gives people with MS the opportunity to achieve their own form of greatness. The lights go back on.”

Hilary Rae Ball, a participant in the 2021 Oceans of Hope Challenge, said: “I would never have been interested in sailing, but it turned out to be the most incredible experience. I learned so much, not just about sailing but about how far-reaching MS is on our mental and physical strengths. It was a safe space for us to work through our self-doubt and to overcome it.”

Why is the water good for our mental health? Is it the sound of the sea lapping, or the sails blowing or is it something a little more scientific? We will never know for sure, but what we do know is the network of clubs and centres that make up the Sailability programme are working hard to get everyone back on the water in a way that people can build their

RYA Sailability gives disabled people, or those with specific requirements, the chance to take part in activities on the water Oceans of Hope offers people from all over the world the opportunity to sail alongside others with MS confidence and skills after so long away.

The main thing is that it is OK not to be OK. If you have been struggling with your mood, stress, anxiety or even sleep, visit the #EveryMindMatters mind plan to get your personalised mental well-being, action plan.

There are more than 200 RYA Sailability sites across the UK and further afield welcoming people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors, feel freedom on the water, learn new skills and build confidence.

Talk to your Sailability group if you are already connected, or visit the Sailability website to find out more about boating and a sailability group near you.

Further Information

The Mental Health Emergency: www.mind.org.uk/media-a/5929/ the-mental-health-emergency_a4_ final.pdf?

Mental Health and Physical Activity Toolkit: www.mind.org.uk/about-us/ our-policy-work/sport-physicalactivity-and-mental-health/ resources/mental-health-andphysical-activity-toolkit

Sea Sanctuary: seasanctuary.org.uk

Oceans for Hope: www.oceansofhope.co.uk

Mind Plan: www.nhs.uk/every-mindmatters/mental-wellbeing-tips/yourmind-plan-quiz

Sailability: rya.org.uk/sailability

There are many benefits of sailing, including improving confidence and reducing tension

The RYA covers all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrowboats and personal watercraft.