The Idea
The practice of Shinrin-yoku — forest bathing — was first developed in Japan and has spread widely. It invites people to walk slowly and mindfully in a forest (preferably an older, intact ecosystem), engaging the senses, connecting to nature and quieting the mind. This has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve stress and depression and consequently improve well-being. Slow sailing, when approached in the same spirit, can be equally profound.
This article is based on extrapolation of “blue space” research studies on the benefits of being near water and personal experience / experimentation. I encourage you to give it a try. Have you already experienced this? Let us know in the comments.
Slow sailing in the Salish Sea, in quiet conditions, offers great potential for benefits similar to forest bathing. This is best practiced on an open stretch of water where there is less chance of hitting something or encountering other boats.
The Practice
Slow sailing begins with no hurry, no compulsion to arrive. Engine off, silence on. Raise sail with attention, trim lightly, and let the boat move at a gentle pace on an easy course. Become attuned to the subtle rhythms of the boat, wind and ocean: the tension in the halyards, the pull on the sheets, the pressure on the helm, the gurgle-tickle-slap of water on the hull, the air on your face, the call of the birds, the smell of the ocean, the ripple of light across the water and the song of the wind.
Allow each sensory detail to become a doorway to greater presence. Sometimes closing the eyes helps bring hearing, smell and touch into greater awareness. Unwind, entrain with nature and become immersed in the experience. Allow breathing to deepen, boundaries between body, boat, wind and sea to begin to blur. Becoming fluid, intertwined. Mind chatter subsides, awareness expands.
The benefits unfold naturally: heart rate and breathing slows, stress hormones drop, and the mind clears. Emotionally, slow sailing cultivates calm, ease, relaxation and humility — the recognition that we are part of a much larger story. Spiritually, it invites awe: the same quiet reverence that one feels among tall trees, now mirrored in wind and water.
Slow sailing becomes a form of mindfulness, a meditation, being and remembering that all the world is alive, and we are woven into its flow.
Go slowly
Wind paced
Feel the ancient heartbeat of the ocean
Feel the air breathe around you – through you
Feel the sky – beyond blue
Every sense extended
The magical rhythm of wind and ocean
Return to stillness and wholeness
Currents PDFs
Hi Rick
This is a wonderful article. Thank you for sharing.
My most memorable times sailing were when I was on watch in the middle of the night with sails reduced. The stars became my friends as I sat in the cockpit. Once in a while I would hear dolphins beside the boat. My senses were heightened and yet my mind was at rest. Truly mindful experiences.
Beautifully said Rick. Slowing down and getting back to basics experiencing being. Reminds me of my learning to sail. My first dingy being a CS36T learning the ropes solo by touching and sensing, seeing the wind dance and fill the sails while the lines flexed through my fingers until it was as though instinct took over and thought was no longer needed and I became one with it all. Such a wonderful space to be in presence. Thanks for sharing 🙏