Why Urinating at Sea Can Be Dangerous

Introduction

I approached offshore sailing the same way I later approached knitwear and garment manufacturing: with no experience, but plenty of enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn.

An invention is rarely born from a single idea. More often, it is the result of years of accumulated experiences.

The SABORDS brief and boxer briefs were inspired by real-life situations—some ordinary and everyday, others extraordinary and experienced in extreme conditions.

SABORDS grew naturally from all of those memories and everything I learned at sea.

One of the most significant experiences was the beginning of my Atlantic crossing under sail.

Why Urinating at Sea Is Dangerous

Introduction:

Urinating at sea may seem harmless, but on a sailboat it can quickly become dangerous. Poor balance, sudden boat movement, autopilot, and the risk of falling overboard can turn an ordinary action into a life-threatening situation. This real offshore experience later became part of the story behind the SABORDS brief and boxer briefs.

The Skipper's First Lesson

One of the very first pieces of advice the skipper gave me, as I was discovering offshore sailing, caught me completely by surprise.

He told me that many accidents happen while sailors are urinating over the side of the boat.

According to him, it is one of the leading causes of people falling overboard.

At first, it sounded almost exaggerated. But as the voyage progressed, I quickly understood why.

Using the Head on a Sailboat

On land, it's a completely ordinary act.

At sea, it can become a genuine challenge.

Inside a sailboat's head, space is extremely limited. The bulkheads are close enough to brace yourself against, but that doesn't stop you from being thrown from side to side as the boat constantly pitches, rolls, and heels.

When the sea is rough, simply keeping your balance is already difficult.

With a traditional pair of boxer briefs, you need both hands to urinate. Those same two hands, however, are normally needed to keep yourself upright.

Add heavy foul-weather gear, sea boots, and the violent movements of the boat, and suddenly this simple everyday action becomes surprisingly complicated.

I experienced these situations myself.

Years later, they would become part of the long chain of experiences that led me to imagine a completely different way of designing men's underwear.

They played a direct role in the creation of the SABORDS men's underwear brand.

Urinating Over the Side

Whether the sea is calm or rough, one of the most ordinary everyday actions can quickly become one of the most dangerous.

To keep his balance, a sailor will often wrap one arm and one leg around a shroud.

The position may feel more secure, but it remains precarious. A sudden roll, an unexpected wave, or one wrong move... and you're over the side. Once you're beyond the lifelines or over the rail, a fall into the water is almost inevitable.

Every sailor knows this risk. Keeping a bucket within easy reach is still the safest solution.

Many sailors say that accidents happen precisely when their attention slips for just a few seconds or when both hands are occupied.

The most tragic situations often occur when the boat is sailing under autopilot and the sailor is alone on deck without wearing a safety harness.

The boat simply continues on its course while the sailor disappears behind it.

Falling Overboard: A Life-Threatening Emergency

The most serious accidents often happen when a yacht is under autopilot and the sailor is not wearing a safety harness.

It only takes a second of inattention.

The sailor falls.

The boat keeps going.

Statistics suggest that only 17 to 25 percent of people who fall overboard are rescued. In other words, a person in the water has roughly a one-in-five chance of being recovered alive.

In rough or very rough seas, the odds become even worse. From the deck of a sailboat, a person's head disappears behind every wave. Even when the exact point of the fall is known, maintaining visual contact is extremely difficult.

Turning the boat around requires a specific and demanding maneuver that is rarely carried out successfully in severe conditions.

During winter, sea temperatures in the Bay of Biscay typically range between 50 and 55°F (10–13°C). Without an immersion suit, cold water quickly drains the body's energy. Loss of consciousness may occur within one to two hours, while survival time is generally limited to only a few hours.

The danger doesn't stop there. A sailor may also suffer serious injuries during the fall. A blow from the boom, the pushpit, a winch, or another part of the boat can knock someone unconscious instantly.

That is why wearing a properly fitted inflatable life jacket is essential. It keeps the airway above the water and is designed to automatically turn an unconscious person face-up, significantly improving the chances of survival until rescue arrives.

👉 Read How to Rescue a Man Overboard – French National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM)  /comment-sauver-un-homme-à-la-mer/