Several studies are suggesting that living close to the sea is beneficial for your mental health. As Danish author Isak Dinesen said, “The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears, or the sea.” And we couldn’t agree more.
Being near the ocean is said to alleviate your anxiety and boost your mood. But, let’s face it: not everyone can afford to have a house by the beach. But, regular trips to the beach to swim or sunbathe can positively affect your psychological well-being. Just make sure to use sunscreen.
Another way you can spend more time close to the sea is by sailing. You can take it up as a hobby or even as a sport. If you’re wondering if you read that right: yes, you did. Sailing is a sport. It has been for a long time.
It might be a little expensive to have a boat, but it doesn’t have to be, because you can also rent a boat and take it from there.
Why Sailing Is A Good Sport?
When we think of sports, the first thought that comes to our mind is basketball, baseball, and tennis. When it comes to water sports, it’s swimming, surfing, and scuba diving. It rarely happens that people think of sailing as a sport. But it is. And it’s one of the best sports out there. Here are some reasons why we believe that it’s an excellent sport and why you should consider giving it a try:
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It’s suitable for training your body.
Pulling and hoisting the rudder to maneuver the boat is like training or working out at the gym when you go sailing, especially when the weather is a little intense. As a sport, it requires a wide range of physical skills that can increase your agility and help build your strength and endurance.
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It’s also good for training your mind.
Like most sports, sailing would also require you to think to come up with the best strategy. It doesn’t just test you physically. It isn’t always about being fit or strong; sailing also requires you to use your wits and critical thinking, which could help increase your problem-solving skills.
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It’s an excellent way to learn many life skills.
When you start sailing, you learn the basic things like the parts of the boat, boat maintenance, how to tie a knot, how to maneuver the boat using the sail, and the like. And the more you do it, the more you will realize how there are countless life skills you can learn from sailing that you won’t even notice it.
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It’s a sport for everyone.
Unlike some sports, sailing doesn’t have an age limit. As long as you’re a healthy individual capable of maneuvering a boat, you can try it out. It can even be a team or an individual sport. So, if you want to have a solo or team sailing race with your friends, you can do both. You can even relax in the middle of the sea after you’ve exhausted yourselves.
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It’s an adventurous sport.
Staying on land and seeing the same things every day can sometimes be a little monotonous. But when you’re sailing, it’s a different experience all the time; it can be a fun adventure. You never know what you can discover in the middle of the ocean. You can even meet other people who are sailing and go chill on an undiscovered island, explore a cave, or witness some sea creatures swimming near the surface. It’s unpredictable.
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It’s good for your mental health.
Seriously, how many times have we said that sailing is relaxing and beneficial for your mental health? It’s one of the features of this sport that many people looking for a physical activity dismiss. Sailing allows you to connect to nature while being away from the stress that mostly happens on land, and it gives you some peace that you can use to relax and reflect.
What are you waiting for?
There is another quote we would like to share with you by an American author named David Sedaris. He once said that “You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed.” And that says a lot about this overlooked sport and hobby.
Unfortunately, sailing has declined in popularity since its peak in the 1980s. During its heyday, approximately 12 million Americans went sailing either as a pastime or sports. As of today, only around 2.5 Americans go sailing. It looks like many people haven’t lived their best lives yet. Don’t be one of them.
