A Dose of Vitamin Sea

American singer-songwriter James Taylor beautifully surmises the experience of life on the water. Any J Craft owner will resonate with those calm and tranquil sensations. In many ways they are an unexpected byproduct of being behind the wheel of a powerful machine. Boats do not just stir feelings of exhilaration and majesty but also mental clarity and contentment.

And it’s not just boats that inspire such emotions, but water itself. If you’ve ever escaped to the beach when you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed, you’ll no doubt have noticed the powerful effect the ocean can have on your mood. Dipping your toes into the foamy shallows, enjoying the meditative ebb and flow of the waves and breathing in big lungfuls of fresh, briny air can instantly clear the mind and invigorate the spirit. But why does being on, or near, the water make us feel so good? 

The healing power of ‘blue space–’ which refers to the sea and coastline, but also rivers, lakes, canals and waterfalls – is far from a new phenomenon. The ancient Greeks sought natural springs and baths to balance the mind and body, while the Japanese practised misogi, an ancient water cleansing ritual that still exists today. In Victorian times, ‘sea air’ was considered critical to a patient’s recovery, especially when treating tuberculosis.

And now, the wellness benefits of water are increasingly being studied, with some interesting findings. Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2013 surveyed 1,000 participants living in various coastal regions of England to explore the association between living near the sea and psychological wellbeing. The results showed that individuals who lived closer to the coast reported lower stress levels and higher overall wellbeing than those who lived further inland.

Meanwhile, a 2018 study published in Health and Place journal found that living near the sea may help reduce the risk of depression. The study had over 26,000 participants from coastal and non-coastal regions of England and found that those who lived closer to the coast reported better mental health.

There are several theories as to why this may be. Some believe that water triggers our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response. In this state, your heart rate and blood pressure lowers, your digestion is stimulated and your body is able to relax. Water is also said to decrease catecholamines, the hormones responsible for our ‘fight-or-flight’ response. It may simply be that living nearer to the coast encourages more exercise and helps you top up those all-important vitamin D levels, which are linked to everything from mood to bone health.

But there’s also a link between humans and water that’s harder to quantify. In 1984, biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson coined the term “biophilia” to describe his theory that we all have an instinctive bond with nature ingrained in our genes. And Dr Wallace J Nichols, a marine biologist and author of the book Blue Mind – a study in water and why it makes us happy – notes that it can “irresistibly affect our minds” and draw out an emotional response in those who are near it. It delights us, inspires us, consoles us and intimidates us, he says.

“In almost all cases, when humans think of water — or hear water, or see water, or get in water, even taste and smell water — they feel something. These emotional responses to our environment arise from the oldest parts of our brain, and in fact can occur before any cognitive response arises.”

He goes even further, suggesting that it allows us to release our inner selves. “Water unleashes the uninhibited child in all of us, unlocking our creativity and curiosity.”

He’s right; water certainly gives our busy ‘always on’ minds a break, opening up an opportunity for daydreaming. And it allows us to practise mindfulness, too – particularly when we are engaged in a water-based activity. It’s no coincidence that surfers are some of the most chilled- out people and that sailors are often instilled with a sense of freedom and adventure.

It’s something that owners of a J Craft Torpedo, of course, will know only too well. Cutting through the waves and taking in the views on one of these beautiful, bespoke boats is enough to make even the most stressed out feel instantly calmer.

So while blue therapy is not a cure-all, it certainly has a range of proven benefits – whether you’re sailing, surfing, or simply gazing out to sea. Give it a try when you next need a little pick- me-up – it might just make you happier, calmer and healthier.