​Dear readers,

​When sailing, there comes a moment when a relaxed cruise turns into a test of seamanship. Just a moment ago, the only concern was whether you would reach your planned port in a reasonable time, in a relaxed manner and under pleasant conditions. Then something changes: the wind, weather and waves become rougher, the decisions more difficult, the situation less clear. And suddenly, the crucial question is no longer: Can I carry on? Or rather: Why should I?

"I should have turned round earlier"

The Silverrudder 2026 posed this question with particular force. Of over 440 registered solo sailors, 320 set off on the 134 nautical miles round Funen, Just under 70 gave up, around 250 crossed the finish line (trackers, entry lists and results vary, unfortunately), and some found themselves in serious difficulty. Particularly harrowing is the case of the sailor on a First 18 SE, who went overboard after his boat capsized and was subsequently towed for more than an hour behind his own boat, which was travelling at around four knots. He had secured himself to the boat with his safety line but was unable to pull himself back on board. It was only a Mayday call via his handheld radio (which he was wearing on his person for the first time) that set the rescue operation in motion. The sailor survived.

What is remarkable here is not so much the spectacular sequence of events as the sober realisation on the part of the person concerned: he should have turned back sooner. He’d had opportunities to do so before. That is perhaps the most important message of this *Silverrudder*.

‘Dead or Lieutenant’ is the wrong approach

After all, in sailing we have a peculiar relationship with giving up. Those who persevere are seen as tough. In a regatta, they are also under pressure, under the scrutiny of their own circle and a public audience that many create themselves via social media. Anyone who pulls out has to explain themselves. Yet this is often the wrong way to judge the situation. Giving up whilst you are still able to decide for yourself is something entirely different from giving up because you no longer have a choice. An experienced sailor is therefore not necessarily the one who knows just how much wind, swell and exhaustion they can endure. It is the one who recognises when their own judgement becomes unreliable. When a lack of sleep, the cold, darkness, increasing wind, choppy seas and a complicated manoeuvre all come together, a situation can suddenly take a turn for the worse, even though each individual factor still seems manageable on its own. And then the decision to turn back is not a sign of weakness, but of personal responsibility.

Sailing isn’t dangerous. Most of the time

It is important to avoid another misconception: sailing is not a high-risk sport. The available accident statistics paint a much more nuanced picture. A US study calculated a rate of approximately 1.19 fatalities per million sailor-days for sailing – so the absolute risk of fatality is low. The figures from the DGzRS also initially suggest a similar scenario: in 2025, the main incidents recorded involving sailing vessels in the German search and rescue area were technical and navigational problems, such as engine faults and groundings. Cases of ‘man overboard’ were significantly less frequent in numerical terms.

However, one must not assume that an event is harmless simply because it is rare. This is what makes sailing so special: It isn’t particularly dangerous – until someone falls overboard. In the same US study, around 70 per cent of fatal sailing accidents were linked to falling overboard or capsizing; drowning was the most common cause of death. Engine failure leaves you adrift. Running aground can prove costly. A faulty autopilot is a nuisance. A person in the water, on the other hand, can fundamentally change the situation within seconds. The cold, the waves, the darkness, the distance from the boat and the difficulty of getting back on board alone can very quickly turn an accident into a race against time.

The most important piece of safety equipment is between your ears

That is why even the usual discussion about safety is only half the truth. Life jackets, safety lines, AIS, radio, PLBs and EPIRBs are important. But none of this equipment can prevent the crucial wrong decision: carrying on for another hour, even though you already know things are getting worse. The most important safety equipment is therefore between your ears. Personal responsibility does not mean having to solve everything yourself. It means recognising in good time when you need help – and, more importantly, when you need to get out of the situation whilst it is still at all possible to do so.

That is perhaps the real lesson of the Silverrudder 2026. The sea knows no rankings, no ‘finisher’ status and no proof that you have ‘made it’. It isn’t interested in whether you’ve pushed your personal limits. Or, as Arved Fuchs likes to say: ‘You can’t conquer the sea, only come to terms with it.’ There is only the consequence of a decision. And that is why it sometimes takes more courage to turn back than to stay the course.

At sea, giving up is not the opposite of seamanship. Sometimes it is its most demanding form.

​The Silverrudder was not just a race characterised by strong winds, 57 retirements and several rescue operations. It was a reminder that good seamanship begins long before a serious situation arises. It starts with a willingness to take warning signs seriously, to assess one’s own capabilities realistically, and to turn back before the sea takes control. In that respect, there were many sensible sailors in this Silverrudder. Of the 450 boats entered, 118 (albeit for various reasons) did not even set sail.

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

​Fridtjof Gunkel

Editor-in-Chief, YACHT

​Book recommendations on this topic

• Yacht accidents: The book analyses typical accident scenarios, covers man-overboard situations, heavy seas, distress alerts, as well as risk management and the human factor.
• Seamanship: This standard reference work covers the basics of safe boating, sailing in heavy weather, accidents and emergencies.

Editor’s reading recommendations

• Click here to view all previous ‘YACHT Week’ columns