Sun and Heat at Sea

On a sailing week you spend most of the day outside, often from breakfast until sunset. The sea reflects sunlight back up at you, so you burn under the chin and on the backs of your legs, even in partial shade. A steady breeze keeps you feeling cool while your skin keeps absorbing UV.

In July and August the UV index in Dalmatia regularly reaches very high levels around the middle of the day. Cloudy days still carry a lot of UV. The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service publishes forecasts you can check before and during the trip.

This guide is part of our safety information for sailing weeks.

Clothing works better than sun cream alone:

• A wide-brimmed hat or cap with a chin strap or clip, so it does not blow away
• Sunglasses with UV protection, ideally polarised to cut glare off the water
• A lightweight long-sleeved shirt or rash vest for long passages and snorkelling
• Light, loose clothing in pale colours for time ashore

Our packing list for a sailing trip covers what fits in a soft bag.

Use a broad-spectrum, high-factor, water-resistant sun cream. Apply it before you go on deck, give it time to settle, and reapply after every swim and every couple of hours. Do not forget ears, the back of the neck, the tops of your feet and your lips.

Sun cream washes off into the sea every time you swim. Many sailors choose mineral or so-called reef-safe products, which avoid some ingredients linked to harm in marine life. The term is not regulated, so read the ingredients. Covering up with clothing reduces how much you need.

Apply cream away from the deck if you can. It makes teak and fibreglass slippery.

You lose fluid steadily in the heat, even when you do not feel thirsty. Keep a refillable bottle with you and drink through the day, more when it is hot or you are active. Eat regular meals, which help replace salt.

Alcohol and lots of coffee add to dehydration. Alternate drinks with water, especially in the afternoon. Pale urine is a good sign; dark urine means you need more to drink. For how drinking water is supplied on board, see water, power and wifi on a yacht.

Heat exhaustion can come on over a hot day. Signs include headache, dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, cramps, a fast pulse and feeling very tired or weak. If you see these:

1. Move the person into the shade and somewhere cooler.
2. Have them lie down and raise their feet slightly.
3. Give them water or a rehydration drink to sip.
4. Cool their skin with water and fan them.
5. Tell the skipper.

They should start to feel better within about half an hour.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Signs include confusion, slurred speech, hot skin that may have stopped sweating, fainting, seizures or not responding. Call 112, tell the skipper straight away and keep cooling the person while help is on the way.

Some medicines make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or affect how your body handles heat. If you take regular medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you need extra precautions before you travel.

If you have a heart condition, are pregnant, or have struggled with heat before, mention it to the skipper at the start of the week so they can plan shade and rest stops. Children and older travellers are more vulnerable to heat and need closer watching.