Sailing fitness

I think it depends on the type intensity you need to hit your target competition. I’d classify sailing in wind as more aerobic endurance than out and out Cardio workout, so not absolutely gasping for breath but a constant heavy 02 intake from a mix of low resistance weight (pulling rope) and prolonged endurance (hiking). Due to that I don’t go crazy with Cardio maybe 10k runs over a week and adding at least 3 resistance sessions with mid range weights on high reps, trying to avoid building to much power and therefore weight through high weight low reps. I suppose this is driven from a class that allows pumping and therefore demands a relatively high % of resistance work but also has less hiking so my cardio needs are not so pressing.

To have the greatist impact the training should aim to be as close to the actual thing as possible. For example to build hiking fitness there is no substitute for time spent actually hiking when sailing or on a hiking bench. Micheal Blackburn's book is an excellent rescourse for physical preparation in all classes.

Less than £10, slightly different step now, gets used 5 days a week.

Well I kind of view it the other way round, looking at sailing as a means of exercise to keep me as up to speed as I can expect to be in my advancing timeline.

Long since not interested in the sort of championship winning routines of yesteryear and in all probability wouldn't be able to prosecute them without injury which is the biggest annoyance the passage of time has forced upon me, and even the most tedious thing can bring about hamstring agony (just doing a small bottom turn windsurfing brought one on and groin straining kicking the centreboard, all very tedious and my logic regarding boats being, if I do sustain an injury, I can at least just fall into the boat and get back to shore.

As for general fitness which I do try to keep to a reasonable level,(because it's good for your brain, oxygenated blood flow) I run or ride a mountain bike with the dogs twice a day, not far half to 3/4 hour, but its everyday come what may fair weather or foul, that's the discipline dogs bring to your world. And if I feel keen, I might chuck in a few press ups, chin ups, sit ups, nothing like the hundreds I used to do back in the day, but just enough to keep all the bits working.

I'm coming up 72, and it does get a bit tougher and more painful as each decade passes..

Edited by iGRF - 24 Jan 20 at 1:56pm

I fall back on a working life of manual work for grinding stamina, high intensity efforts leave me blowing a bit nowadays but I quickly recover to complete the longest day without suffering. My wife and I both mountain walk and non technical mtb over hilly trails.

Edited by Do Different - 24 Jan 20 at 6:02pm