Upper Body Strength

Sailorella

Sailorella

New Member
:)Hi Folks,
I would like some advice on how much upper body strength is needed for sailing a sunfish. To give you a little background...We had a sunfish growing up. I loved sailing it as a pre-teen and have always dreamed of doing it again someday. Fast forward 40 years and now I am a 52 year old woman, 5'8", 160 lbs. I am in good health except for a herniated disk in my neck that causes issues with repetitive activity. I run, and bike on a regular basis.

Are there other 50 something women out there who have had issues with sailing a sunfish in terms of upper body strength? Any advice from experienced trainers etc? Any exercises that are particularly beneficial for improving sailing strength? Thanks in advance!! :)
 
It's technique more then strength, a ratchet block on the deck will help reduce the felt load.
I have a spinal fusion and severe spinal disease and sail a few times a week.

Go have fun
 
You might try crawling back into the boat from the water, in case you get a surprise gust followed by a bath. Try waist deep first....and righting the boat especially if you're sailing by yourself. I don't think the Sunfish takes extra strength. Pick a calmer day to re-familiarize yourself.
 
Sailorella said:
:)Hi Folks,
I would like some advice on how much upper body strength is needed for sailing a sunfish. To give you a little background...We had a sunfish growing up. I loved sailing it as a pre-teen and have always dreamed of doing it again someday. Fast forward 40 years and now I am a 52 year old woman, 5'8", 160 lbs. I am in good health except for a herniated disk in my neck that causes issues with repetitive activity. I run, and bike on a regular basis.

Are there other 50 something women out there who have had issues with sailing a sunfish in terms of upper body strength? Any advice from experienced trainers etc? Any exercises that are particularly beneficial for improving sailing strength? Thanks in advance!! :)
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My wife is 58 but otherwise about your size, with no physical issues. She exercises at the Y twice a week going through the Nautilus machines. She has owned a Laser 2 for 15 years and loves it, but in the last year or two has begun to complain that she feels beat up and sore after sailing a couple of (recreational) races every weekend. She jumped into a Minifish we own while on vacation and sailed every day! Said it was the most relaxing, but still enjoyable sailing she's done in a while. Came back home and has decided to race the mini on any day the wind is over 6-9 knots.

A Minifish is about a foot shorter, a couple inches narrower and about 10 sq ft less sail than a Sunfish......but otherwise very similar to a Sunfish. I put a ratchet block on it as well. If a Sunfish requires too much upper body strength, you might try a Minifish.

Mike
 
My wife the main Sunfish sailor says laundry......we have a stacked unit where the laundry goes from bottom to top, a great workout! Seriously, just go out and do it, the Sunfish is as easy as you remember it, she has no problems righting the boat after a capsize, raising the sail and sheeting in and leaving me in her wake. If you are running and biking then you are good to go, and the Sunfish will be the best exercises for you, core and upper body. I imagine a rowing type exercise would be beneficial and anything that engages the core. As JCT mentioned you should get a boat with a ratchet block or swivel cam cleat. Depending on where your boat will be I highly recommend a dolly vs lifting the boat a lot.
 
Thanks so much everyone! Mike, The Minifish sounds like a great idea! I'm going to look around for a used one.
 
Tradeoffs on the Mini, the mast is shorter so you'd duck lower. Knees are more in your chest, esp with pfd. It is lighter and well balanced, so it sails ok in 10-12 knots with its smaller sail. It is also good to run over people with, as the Skipper demonstrates...

 
In my experience if you have enough core to Standup Paddle Board (do you do anything like this?) you have plenty for a Sunfish. I wouldn't bother with a mini- you'll find it cramped and more difficult to maneuver in (your body in the boat not the boat itself).

Absolutely get the dolly, though! Don't think twice about this part.
 
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I found a Minifish near me! It's a 1982 and the guy is asking $450 including a dolly. He says it's in good condition. Do y'all think it's a good deal?
 
Dearmad said:
In my experience if you have enough core to Standup Paddle Board (do you do anything like this?) you have plenty for a Sunfish. I wouldn't bother with a mini- you'll find it cramped and more difficult to maneuver in (your body in the boat not the boat itself).

Absolutely get the dolly, though! Don't think twice about this part.
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I agree with all the above postings..........try the Sunfish.....they are easier to find. I'll bet you don't have a problem. If a sunfish doesn't work outit doesnt
Sailorella said:
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I found a Minifish near me! It's a 1982 and the guy is asking $450 including a dolly. He says it's in good condition. Do y'all think it's a good deal?
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I paid $500 and it didn't have a dolly.. looks like a pretty good deal to me.......You could always try to talk him down a little, but I'd be happy with whatever price you negotiate.
I would check for any physical damage that could indicate leaks. You could leak test it if you wanted, but it looks to be in good shape.
Take the mast out, pour some water in the mast step hole and let it sit for a while to see if it leaks out (water level goes down). If the mast step is OK..and you don't see any major physical damage (holes or dents) ..you've likely got a pretty good boat.
you can send a personal message to me if you have any other questions......

Mike
 
Depends on where you live. $450 is a steal in NW Flordia, but maybe average to high up in the NE or South Florida. Minifish are also scarce, so you have to factor that in, especially if it is ready to sail. It needs to be the advertised 89 pounds, no more, so look for damage on the hull. It looks okay in the pics but make sure sail is not dry rotted, and that the rudder and daggerboard are in good shape, ie no missing springs or split wood.

That looks like a kayak/canoe dolly. We tried a dolly like that on the heavier Sunfish and the straps pulled loose. It might work for a short distance over smooth terrain.

Overall if you are set on trying the Minifish, $450 is a good starting point. Ask them to let you sail it or at least sit in it.
 
Sailorella said:
I found a Minifish near me! It's a 1982 and the guy is asking $450 including a dolly. He says it's in good condition. Do y'all think it's a good deal?
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I look at it this way: a new sail will run $150, new rudder $150, a new centerboard $150. You're getting the hull (and dolly) for free. :)

Sailorella said:
You might try crawling back into the boat from the water, in case you get a surprise gust followed by a bath. Try waist deep first....and righting the boat especially if you're sailing by yourself. I don't think the Sunfish takes extra strength. Pick a calmer day to re-familiarize yourself.
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I think mixmkr has the key to the question of upper body strength. :) There's no real "handle" to pull yourself aboard and—over time—you can tire too much to continue. :( Throwing out a question:

Anyone have experience in sailing a Sunfish back home if you are unable to get back aboard after a capsize? :confused: (You'd be dragged through the water, subject to hypothermia—but moving).
 
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I don't think you'll be able to sail it without being in the boat honestly. However...I'm 62 and like to think I'm in half decent shape, albeit a tad overweight. But I have no problem pulling myself back into the boat. You grab the cockpit lip from midships, along side the boat. It'll tip a bit...actually enough to help you pull yourself back in, but not enough to flip over (unless you've got the wind or waves helping that along too....but just be aware of wind direction etc...don't climb aboard the leeward side). I've heard about suggestions climbing in over the transom, but there really isn't anything to grab to. If you can get out of a swimming pool, you can get back into a fish. But like I said...try it in waist deep water first... and no cheating with your feet on the bottom!
 
mixmkr said:
I don't think you'll be able to sail it without being in the boat honestly. However...I'm 62 and like to think I'm in half decent shape, albeit a tad overweight. But I have no problem pulling myself back into the boat. You grab the cockpit lip from midships, along side the boat. It'll tip a bit...actually enough to help you pull yourself back in, but not enough to flip over (unless you've got the wind or waves helping that along too....but just be aware of wind direction etc...don't climb aboard the leeward side). I've heard about suggestions climbing in over the transom, but there really isn't anything to grab to. If you can get out of a swimming pool, you can get back into a fish. But like I said...try it in waist deep water first... and no cheating with your feet on the bottom!
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:confused: Just wait ten years! :rolleyes:

It seems like I'm always on the leeward side! :oops:

With my immersed body in the water acting like a sea-anchor, I can hold onto spar or rudder, and expect the Sunfish to return to the opposite, windward, side?
 
mixmkr said:
I don't think you'll be able to sail it without being in the boat honestly. However...I'm 62 and like to think I'm in half decent shape, albeit a tad overweight. But I have no problem pulling myself back into the boat. You grab the cockpit lip from midships, along side the boat. It'll tip a bit...actually enough to help you pull yourself back in, but not enough to flip over (unless you've got the wind or waves helping that along too....but just be aware of wind direction etc...don't climb aboard the leeward side). I've heard about suggestions climbing in over the transom, but there really isn't anything to grab to. If you can get out of a swimming pool, you can get back into a fish. But like I said...try it in waist deep water first... and no cheating with your feet on the bottom!
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One of the nice things about the Sunfish is that cockpit lip.......I am in about the same age and shape you are, but can always get a grip on that lip and pull myself in. The Minifish (and a Laser clone I sail) don have that lip and there is nothing to grab there. I have to reach into the cockpit and grab the hiking strap or start with the traveler and its MUCH harder for me to get back into those two boats than the Sunfish. Fortunately the Mini rides pretty low compared to the Laser.....

Mike
 
signal charlie said:
Here is the Skipper climbing over the stern on our Super Sailfish MKII
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Thanks for the video, but just to mention, the video is of a Super Sailfish MKII.

Lafayette Mike said:
One of the nice things about the Sunfish is that cockpit lip.......I am in about the same age and shape you are, but can always get a grip on that lip and pull myself in. The Minifish (and a Laser clone I sail) don have that lip and there is nothing to grab there. I have to reach into the cockpit and grab the hiking strap or start with the traveler and its MUCH harder for me to get back into those two boats than the Sunfish. Fortunately the Mini rides pretty low compared to the Laser.....Mike
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A much narrower boat than the Sunfish, my Porpoise II rode low in the water too. (Which made getting back-in easier using the bridle I'd installed).
 
There are plenty of things to grab when pulling yourself aboard a Sunfish or Minifish.

Traveler-bridle at the aft end, cockpit lip (better on Sunfish), Hiking strap. And your body is up on the aft deck by then. Use the halyard to aid getting into the cockpit if you need to.

I'd avoid the mainsheet to let the sail luff until ready to sail on.
 
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