Wind and Wisdom: What Sailing Teaches About Life

With the Olympic Games, everyone is in a sporting mood again. One of my favorite sports is sailing. Last Sunday, while I was enjoying a good sail, I had plenty of headspace to think deeply. During sailing, I came up with the following insights that you can learn from sailing and apply in daily life.

1. Adaptability Wins

The wind constantly changes direction, so you must pay close attention and steer accordingly. No one can sail directly into the wind, but if you can adjust slightly (steer towards the wind) with a small shift, you can gain height and cover less distance to reach your upwind point. Conversely, you can lose a lot of speed if you sail too sharply into the wind without noticing a wind shift. This adaptability has won me many sailing races.

The lesson for daily life is to pay attention to the 'wind' in your circumstances. Sometimes a small adjustment can help you achieve more, and sometimes you need to steer in the opposite direction. The better you adapt to your circumstances, the more successful you can be.

The better you adapt to your circumstances, the more successful you can be.

2. Knowing When to Tack

Sometimes the wind shifts significantly, and you need to fall off (steer away from the wind) to maintain speed. In such cases, it's often better to tack and sail on the other tack to reach your goal faster. But tacking too quickly can result in losses, as the wind might shift back soon. My rule with my Splash (a maneuverable boat) was always 'three times falling off means tacking'. If you need to steer downwind three times in a row due to a wind shift, it usually means the shift is holding, and it's better to change tack.

The lesson here is that sometimes you need to change course in life if you keep heading in the wrong direction. This can be difficult, as it often feels like giving up, but ultimately, you'll reach your goal faster if you do. It depends on the context, though. Just like with a maneuverable boat, it's easier and less risky to change course than with a less maneuverable boat. Be aware of your situation and make decisions accordingly.

Sometimes you need to change course in life if you keep heading in the wrong direction.

3. Teamwork and Communication

When sailing with multiple people, teamwork and communication are crucial. Miscommunication or unclear roles can result in significant losses or missed opportunities. As the helmsman, you often can't see everything and rely on your team's information. You must trust that your team is attentive and provides the right instructions. It's also essential to decide who makes which decisions, such as when to tack. Discussions about this can reduce focus and lead to delayed decisions.

In life, as the helmsman of your own journey, you might not always see everything, and it's vital to surround yourself with the right people for support. When collaborating, make clear agreements about expectations and roles and responsibilities.

As the helmsman of your own journey, it's vital to surround yourself with the right people for support.

4. Hard Work vs. Doing Nothing

In strong winds, you often need to work hard to control your boat, especially in a dinghy. This requires long periods of strength and perseverance. But in light winds, the challenge is to remain as still as possible in your boat, as any movement can cause speed loss. The lesson here is that sometimes you need to work hard to move quickly, but under other circumstances, it's better to sit still and do nothing. In the latter case, there's often a temptation to make (unnecessary) movements, which only cause speed loss. Learn to recognize when it's better to be still and enjoy those moments.

5. Finding the Wind

The wind blows everywhere but not with the same intensity. Sometimes trees or buildings block the wind. If you want to sail quickly, you need to find the areas with the most wind. This requires constant attention and scanning the water for the best spots. The lesson in life is to ensure you're in the right place. In a lull (a windless spot), you won't progress and can't achieve anything. Find your 'windy spots' where you can perform your best.

Ensure you're in the right place. In a lull, you won't progress and can't achieve anything.

6. Letting Go of Control Over the Elements

While sailing, you're dependent on the elements—wind, water, sun, rain, and currents. As much as we'd like, we can't control these elements. Therefore, it's essential not to get frustrated by the wind and to let go of the need to control it. Frustration only reduces your focus. What you can control is your preparation for different elements. Ensure you have the right safety measures, extra lines for breakages, and someone nearby in case something goes wrong. Knowing you're prepared makes it easier to handle whatever comes your way. The lesson in life is not to worry about things you can't control but to use that energy on things you can control and prepare for the uncontrollable.

"Don't worry about things you can't control; use that energy to prepare for the uncontrollable."

7. Sailing Downwind is the Most Exciting

Sailing downwind is often used as a metaphor for things going smoothly. However, I find downwind sailing quite thrilling. On this course, you have much less control over the boat than on other courses. Sometimes you need to gybe suddenly, and the boom can swing over if the wind shifts slightly, risking a capsize with my dinghy. In strong winds, I try to avoid downwind courses to prevent capsizing, as capsizing causes much more time loss than taking a slight detour. The lesson here is to stay alert even when everything seems to be going smoothly. Enjoy it, but remain vigilant and prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

8. Know Your Goal

With all the tips above, I'm assuming you want to reach your goal as quickly as possible and win races. But the most crucial part is knowing your goal. You have short-term goals that often contribute to an end goal. In sailing, it's usually simple, like winning the race, with short-term goals being reaching the next buoy. In life, it's just as important to have a goal, know what you want to achieve with your actions, and break it down into short-term goals. This helps direct your behavior and apply the above tips better.

Having a clear goal helps direct your behavior and apply these lessons effectively.

9. Sometimes Just Sail for Fun

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that you don't always sail to win a race. Sometimes you sail just for fun, with friends, drinks, snacks, and an anchor stop for swimming. For me, this is sometimes the hardest part—to accept that you don't always have to work towards your goals and can sometimes just let go. I enjoy being goal-oriented and love sailing as fast as possible. But you can't always be at your best and fastest; sometimes, it's good to relax and enjoy the moment.