Professional sailor Hattie Rogers reveals why sailing is an underrated sport in the UK — and what else needs to be done for women in this field
When it comes to exercise for women, sailing might not be the first sport that comes to mind.
Strength training? Sure. Tennis? Definitely. And even football is attracting more attention among women as being incredible for cardio and muscular growth. But sailing is a sport that’s remained under the radar, most likely because it isn’t accessible to everyone. Plus, it comes with a certain stigma that only those with appropriate funding can take on the endeavour.
But, according to two-time World Champion in the International Moth and WASZP classes (with multiple World Championship medals to her name) Hattie Rogers, it’s a lot more reachable — and beneficial — for women than one may think.
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“I grew up sailing at home in Lymington, on the south coast of England and sailed mainly with my grandpa and dad,” Hattie explains to me.
“At 19, I went to the University of Southampton to study for a Ship Science Engineering Masters. It was at that time I was first introduced to the WASZP class (an Australian class of single-handed, hydrofoiling dinghy) and the speed, exhilaration and performance of foiling/flying dinghies. I’ve now been sailing for the past seven years winning multiple World, European and National titles.”
Living360’s Made to Move campaign is focused on addressing the barriers that women face when it comes to sport, which is a cause Hattie resonates with personally. Despite being a professional athlete for all her adult life, Hattie has had to combat a huge number of systemic issues within the sporting industry, namely, the lack of education around the menstrual cycle.
“Education around the menstrual cycle was almost non-existent throughout my junior and youth sailing pathways,” she explains. “It just wasn’t something that was openly talked about or factored into training plans, which is crazy when you think that as an athlete, you’re always in search of the incremental performance gains and how a bad period at the wrong time can wreck a race day!”
“When I was younger, I did really struggle with this both on and off the water coupled with severe cramping — and this, of course, would affect my performance. It was so hard because with sailing you can be out on the water for hours and sometimes with no coaching or on-the-water support. I would put the painkillers in my life jacket but, sometimes, despite the wrapping, they wouldn’t stay dry. We just had to sail through the pain from a young age.”
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Sailing through the pain has become a reality for most women — sailor or not — and it’s an issue that’s come up time and time again throughout our campaign. The conversation around the menstrual cycle has thankfully become more prominent in sports in recent years, but there’s still a long way to go.
“There needs to be more focus on helping female athletes understand how their cycle affects their performance, as well as guidance on how to train effectively, how to rest when needed and how to manage menstruation, practically, especially on the water while sailing.”
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Why is sailing great for women’s health and fitness?
“There are so many different benefits,” Hattie says.
“Being on the water, for one, is so peaceful. It’s a place where I feel genuinely happy and in control, and all the business of life disappears because you can solely focus on the moment.”
She adds that, although it’s not widely known, women compete against men in the World Championships, and that’s because sailing is about more than agility and strength.
“There are so many aspects that must be working harmoniously together to create a strong performance: event preparation, tactics, anticipation and boat-handling skills around the track. I’ve beaten a lot of the top guys through smart sailing and making fewer mistakes than them.”
What advice would you offer to women interested in taking up a sport?
“In all sports, most women are very approachable,” Hattie says.
“I’d encourage anyone looking at getting involved to reach out to their role models or friends that are already within the sport. You don’t need to be an expert to start, it’s just about building up at your own pace and, most importantly, enjoy learning and the challenge of trying something new.”
Feature image: Hattie Rogers / Canva
