Backs, bean bags and BOSU

Trying out the kite before the start of the SIMRAD 50 

 

Bad backs are a sailors curse !  Caused by sitting hunched on the rail, sleeping on the floor, falling over (something I do a lot of) or  being freezing cold then making that herculean manoeuvre to save the boat from  a broach.

One of my focuses of late, when I am not stuck behind the PC or jammed head first into the electronics locker is comfort and keeping the bad back monster away. I know this sailing thing is not supposed to be comfortable, but little things can go along way. 

As Coppelia has been used as a cruising boat for the last little while, the interior furnishings are of a high standard and therefore do not come racing with us. This leaves the sails to sleep on, and a massive expanse of beautiful varnished floor where the table usually resides. A great spot for a dance floor, but test to even the most agile when it is wet. 

So on the list of “comfort” items that I am working on this week are:

• A bean bag to sleep on, this should help keep us warm as well as stopping random sail fittings jamming themselves into us!
• Bean bag for sitting on when driving the boat.
• Non slip matting for the galley – to stop me failing on my backside as much.
• Dragging my protesting body into being fitter so I am not so exhausted after every hoist, drop and sail change.

That is where this interesting sounding thing a BOSU comes into play. A BOSU is a exercise ball for those of us either not blessed with balance or with a history of traumatic falls and a sense of self preservation. BOSU is acronym for Both Sides Up.  It is essentially half and exercise ball with a flat base. So when you exercise on it either side up it provides instability, requiring  you to engage that muscle belt that protects your back. 

  I have been easing my way through (for fear of falling) a couple of sessions a week on this device and “touch wood” have not fallen over. It makes all the exercises completed while standing on it a challenge, both because it isolates the muscle group you are trying to use – which is good, but it also requires steely concentration on the task, one quick glimpse at the guy posing in front of the mirror can be deadly.

More pictures soon.