Getting fit?

[Jake]

How fit do you need to be to sail solo? Or how old?

This follows Sir Robin Knox Johnsons epic trip, which has given Saga a huge return on their investment ( how many can remember who won?) and a suggestion by a certain insurance company to stop insuring blue-water yachtsmen who are still out there at the age of 70. (Well, they get a bit doddery, you know...)

Talking to some single-handers at a conference, one of them admitted that he had worked out until he could run a mile in 6-minutes. Others said they concentrated on 'upper body' workouts, to help them haul lines. A higher level of fitness reduces the effects of fatigue, and builds stamina.

At the opposite extreme, I know of another yachtsman who works hard to put on two stone before crossing the Atlantic! He says he loses all that - and more - during a trip, especially if it's 'boisterous.'

Other competitors say the best thing to practice is sitting on a hard, cold surface in wet underpants for up to 12 hours at a time.

So, are any of you working out for this? Should I assemble the bench press I've just bought from Argos and start jogging - or go and find the local baker instead?

By the way, Roger Taylor in his 21ft Corribee Ming Ming (modifed since Jester 06) has set off for an exciting trip up north. For the next 50 days he'll be sailing towards Scotland, Norway and the Faroes, looking to explore wild and untamed places - as usual without an engine. (He can row, though.)

After that, the Azores will seem very tame!

ps - he's pretty fit...

[CPD]

[ QUOTE ]
Other competitors say the best thing to practice is sitting on a hard, cold surface in wet underpants for up to 12 hours at a time.


[/ QUOTE ]

The cat is now out of the bag. Just how long will it be before the RYA offers theory and practical courses, and maybe even an exam before a certificate can be issued. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[CPD]

So sorry, couldnt resist.

An interesting point. I for one will be putting some effort into increasing upper body strength (have suffered from spindly arm syndrome most of my life), and generally making sure I am in "good shape" ie sleep bank full, good diet etc for the event.

[Jake]

Hi Alan

Sadly, though you jest, I think you may be right!

I recently had an interesting chat with Alan Priddy, who has just sailed Lively Lady half way round the World with disadvantaged youngsters.

The trip was postponed as he didn't have any 'formal' qualifications, despite a circumnavigation by RIB, and four Atlantic crossings (via Greenland) in an open motorboat. Plus another 30-or so ocean records in various other craft.

He has strong views about the RYA exams, and feels that there should be an Ocean yachtmaster only (no standard Yachtmaster) with a high degree of practical 'disaster avoidance' in the syllabus. (Jury rigs, plugging leaks etc)

He feels the Coastal skipper qualification is all that is needed for most of what the average yachtsman does - it would certainly take you happlily across the Channel. But deep sea stuff is an altogether different area of skill.

He was also annoyed at having to do 5 days of sextant work, and then fork out £400 for the reduction tables.

By the way, he works out before these trips - even the motorboat ones. When one of the young adults challenged him to a fight, he declined. 'But I can take you easily' the lad said 'You're old!'

(Alan is 57.)

However, after an Atlantic storm, this 57-year-old was happy, active and running the boat whilst the 17-year-old lad was weakened by nausea, fear and fatigue. He grudgingly gave 'respec' to the oldy after that.

There's a lesson in there somewhere!

[CPD]

Hi Jake,

I think you are getting into the realms of the blame/claim society which is the prime reason I think for many of the problems we now face, not just in sailing. I am a relative new boy on the block so far as sailing goes, and when I started I was determined to get yachtmaster asap and all the other certificates on the way. I now realise however that whilst the theory courses are useful, they are indeed theory and I now personally value real life experience far far higher than I ever did. My ethos now is that yes, one day I will get round to yachtmaster etc etc, but when I look at the minimum mileage and experience requirements, I now think that they havre been set way way too low.

I think alan Priddy's suggestion of a highly practical ocean yachtmaster is an excellent one, and I agree with his thoughts re coastal skipper being sufficient for most.

I think the youngster should have given a lot more "respec" to the sea, as well as Alan, and this gets me back to another point (which also answers perhaps your original question which I feel we have drifted somewhat from !). In terms of preparation, I think maybe age and to a lesser extent, physical fitness etc take second place to that old boy scout's motto "Be Prepared". By that I mean (and I make direct reference to Eric Andlauers various comments on this), try to keep ahead of everything on the boat - maintain instead of fix, look, check, listen, be aware, plan anything and everything you can, sleep/rest when you maybe dont need or want to - all in order to be ready for that moment, or storm, which hits at short notice.

[andlauer]

Bonjour
For the physical training, I've been practicing sailing to prepare myself and the boat. That's all. The only problem I had in the bad weather period was a huge hand and foreharms pain due to extra work on sheets and heliards. Tehy are thin and the loads are important. The Figarone is a demanding boat.
The way to overide it is to tell yourself you have no choice...
I'll perhaps do some hand training, if I have time... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Eric

[andlauer]

The trip was postponed as he didn't have any 'formal' qualifications
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Bonjour
I hate the idea of "formal qualification" .... French administration had nannied sailors for decenies and they became administratively sound rather than seamanwise....

Such ideas are so far from the spirit of the Jester Challenge! Let us choose our way of life or our way... !

The 70 years old man arrived by himself and was luckily on the podium while one ship was lost and another lost her mast.... with much younger skippers on board...

It seems that the main issue was the size of the wisk... balasts on board. Nothing to do with the age !!!

I think it is interesting to go through a medical check out before leaving for a long single handed sailing. First to avoid anskiety and second to prevent "sleeping" deseese to wake up in the middle of nowhere.

In the same spirit, I followed a weekend course of isolated medecine. It was organised by Sail The World. Is is done by a doctor and you "learn" to be the eyes and hands of a remote doctor. The course also provides you with a list of medication to have on board to be ordered by the remote doctor.

In France there is a specialised medical unit, in Toulouse, connected to the Cross (coastguards). You may have access to a remote doctor via Iridium.
Eric /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[CPD]

I'll perhaps do some hand training, if I have time...
Eric
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The RYA will have a field day with all these suggestions !!!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[andlauer]

Bonjour /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Could you provide me the address of the RYA in order to forward it to any terrorist team I would meet ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Eric

[andlauer]

Or how old?
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I suppose that you waited until John was at sea...to post the subject. He and lost of us are not really teennagers... hopefully ! Not very fear !!!
Eric /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Superflid]

[ QUOTE ]
Bonjour /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Could you provide me the address of the RYA in order to forward it to any terrorist team I would meet ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Eric

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll help with any expenses for that Eric! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Ceirwan]

To be honest i don't really plan to make any real effort to get fit, because i like to think i'm pretty fit already.
I do lots of cycling, + martial arts 3 to 4 times a week which in my opinion should be enough.
In fact i think its likely that most peoples fitness will decline when on board because they can't get exercise as easily as normal.
However i'm not planning to do the challenge till 2010, so i'm sure to be doing singlehanded trips before then so if i find i can't cope then i can always work on it!
As one of the 'young uns' that you seem to be talking about (i'll be 23 in the race in 2010) i can safely say that some of us do respect the sea. (If not our elders /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Although i agree that experience is more important than a qualification on a sheet of paper, the qualifications are still important because i believe a lot of countries require some sort of proof of competence, which is why i plan to hopefully have my yachtmaster by early next year.