Sailing is a lifelong sport. Individuals can pick up sailing at any point in their lives and enjoy the sport well into retirement. In fact, sailing provides many unique lessons on aging and enjoying retirement. There were more than 4 million sailing participants in the United States in 2023, a 13 percent increase from the year prior. The age distribution of American sailors is rather diverse: the average boat owner in the US is nearly 60 years old, yet Millennials make up nearly one-third of boaters. Regardless of age, sailing enthusiasts need to take several steps to ensure a successful and enjoyable voyage.
To start, sailors must research boating regulations in their area. Sailors need to determine whether a general boater’s license is required in their region. Even if a state or municipality has no legal requirements for obtaining a sailing license, individuals should strongly consider signing up for an introductory sailing course and boating safety course, especially if they plan on making long, open-sea voyages.
Safety classes may not be required in all parts of the country, but sailors should be aware of the federal safety regulations that govern all boaters. According to federal law, a boat must be equipped with a recognized personal floatation device (PFD), or life jacket, for each person on board. If the PFD is categorized as a Hybrid Type V life jacket it must be worn at all times to satisfy Coast Guard regulations. Other important pieces of equipment include fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, and a whistle, bell, horn, or some other device that can produce an “efficient sound signal.”
Similarly, boat owners must familiarize themselves with any nearby areas where sailing is not permitted. Some of these areas are obvious, such as sailing close to shores and beaches populated by recreational swimmers. Other maritime laws are more complex. Generally speaking, a country’s territorial waters extend 12 miles from the shoreline, meaning American sailors could conceivably find themselves under the aegis of Mexican, Canadian, or Cuban maritime laws. Individuals who have planned a sailing trip throughout the Caribbean Sea may pass through multiple jurisdictions during a single voyage.
Sailors must consider several aspects of their itinerary and inventory leading up to their departure. When it comes to planning the itinerary, it is critically important that boat owners research common challenges encountered in local waters and stay abreast of real-time weather developments. They should leave their float plan, which provides a summary of the trip and passenger list, to multiple authorities and family members. This allows the harbormaster to initiate search and rescue efforts if a vessel fails to arrive on time and is not responding to communications. Overlooked aspects of inventory, meanwhile, include sun protection and enough food and water for the duration of the voyage.
Finally, sailors should not underestimate the challenge of finding their “sea legs” if they have not been on the water for an extended period, especially on a yacht or similarly sized vessel. Nausea and dizziness are common, especially if a person has never spent multiple hours, or days, at sea. Even if a person is well-acquainted with the open ocean, they should take their first day or two slowly and focus on rest so that they do not overexert themselves early during a multi-day trip.
