It’s Time To GO! Bathroom logistics, etiquette, and privacy (?) on small sailboats
It’s New Year’s Resolution time. Getting healthier and sailing smarter and faster are two resolutions I’m sure many of us have in mind for 2026. How about combining them into one: Focus on hydration! It’s good for your body and good for your brain. If you’re not properly hydrated (water and electrolytes), you’ll start making suboptimal decisions out on the racecourse even before you start feeling thirsty.
Proper hydration does come with one other adventure: Peeing! Having to pee is an indicator that you’re on the right path, hydration-wise. Recently I had a few conversations with friends about peeing while on small boats. One woman noted she was worried about spending the entire day out on a dinghy because, well, how would she pee?
A few thoughts here. Look, everyone’s gotta go. One concern I heard was “I don’t want people staring at me.” Honestly, that’s pretty much the last thing on anyone’s mind in between races. Skippers are busy driving and avoiding other boats, and other teams are thinking about their rig tune, not your butt hanging over the rail. If they do happen to catch a glance, another sailing friend has a saying, along the lines of “If they haven’t seen it by now, they probably should!”
So, following are a few different options that can work for different folks. Everyone has a favorite, and the technique du jour may depend on what kind of boat you’re sailing. No matter which option you choose, be sure to have your PFD on. We’ve all heard the stories of folks getting picked up after falling overboard with their pants down. Make your retrieval a little easier by staying afloat. And heck, if your PFD is securely fastened, maybe you can even pull your pants up before your boat swings back to get you.
Finally, these techniques focus on the #1 priority. For #2, modifications may need to take place. (Full disclosure, I have done that, too. In China. After having a ham and cheese sandwich. Let’s just say the ham might not have been super fresh, resulting in some, err, GI distress. But yes, even #2 is possible while sailing a small boat.)
Two Hands on Deck. Guys, this one’s all for you: if you have the equipment to be able to face the water while peeing, go for it. Recommendations are to keep your center of gravity as low as possible (kneeling on the leeward deck of a dinghy is an option). If you’re on a slightly bigger boat that has a backstay and you like to stand at or near the transom, tighten up the backstay temporarily to give you something immobile to hang on to. Speaking of hanging onto things, you know the saying “one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself” when working on deck in stormy weather? Same concept here: one hand hanging on to something sturdy on the boat, one hand… operating things.
F—k it, Use the Bucket. Smaller keelboats and some larger dinghies often have buckets on board. For some classes, it’s required equipment. If you have an extra moment, add a little water to the bucket first. Tuck the bucket on a flat surface, drop trou, and go for it. The Home Depot-style buckets are lovely—for most folks, they are even sturdy enough to support your weight. Boats with a “downstairs” like J/22s and J/24s even enable a private(ish) bathroom-type scenario. If you have teammates who really like you, you may even be able to convince them to empty (and rinse) your bucket over the side for you.
Transom Over the Transom. Another small keelboat option: Using one hand to pull down pants/undies and one hand to hang onto the backstay, you can potentially “sit” on the very back of the transom. As in “Two Hands on Deck,” tightening the backstay makes for a more secure experience.
Strap in and Hang on. My personal favorite, used on dinghies with hiking straps. Depending on the windspeed, while coordinating with skipper and/or other crew, you can hike either to windward or to leeward to get your butt over the rail. This is my fave because most of the effort keeping me attached to the boat is in my legs, so I can use both hands to more efficiently drop and pull up sailing gear/pants. It’s also an easy way to keep your butt mostly dry but still get a little “fresh-water rinse” when you’re done peeing.
Drop and Drag. Not a fan of hanging it all out there? That’s all good—some folks can be a little camera shy. Also on dinghies, mostly those with hiking straps, hanging on to the hiking strap or other secure handhold with both hands and letting most of your body drag in the water before you pee is a good option. It’s discreet (although yes, everyone does know what you are doing) and you get some rinsing accomplished, too. Before you commit, two important considerations: Are you okay having most of your body and clothes/gear wet for a while after you pee? And, are you able to get back in the boat, either through your own strength or combined with a helping hand from a teammate?
Rinse and Repeat. For use primarily in cooler climates (or mid-race when you just can’t wait!) just pee in your wetsuit! The key to this option is the “rinse” factor: Be sure to do a good job rinsing your gear once you’re back on shore. Nobody likes a stinky sailor!
Reservoir for Reservoirs. Peeing in the water isn’t okay everywhere. Notably, if you’re sailing on a body of water that is a closed system (think smaller lake/pond) or is a reservoir, you’ll need to keep your pee with you. But you still need to hydrate! Peeing in a bottle (think empty plastic water bottle) is great for folks with the right equipment. For women, aiming is a bit more challenging. A woman with significant lake sailing experience offered that a mayonnaise jar has a good wide opening and still has the secure screw-on top.
There are lots of options out there, so don’t be shy; be hydrated!
About the Author: Kim Couranz has earned several national and world titles in Laser Radials (ILCA 6), Snipes, and Lightnings. She has also raced J/22s, J/24s, and Ynglings on an international level.
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Women sailors, check out this story on Pee Equity
All racing sailors, more tips here.
