I want to be a professional sailor. What do I need to do?
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I Want to Be a Professional

Want to become a professional sailor? Here’s a no-fluff checklist of the 7 things that really matter: master the basics, read the wind, work with a coach, train your body, sharpen your mindset, trust your gear, and race as much as you can.

I want to be a professional sailor. What do I need to do?

I Want to Be a Professional Sailor - 7 Things You Need to Work On

No shortcuts. Just the work that matters. This is the checklist I give young sailors who ask how to go pro.

Tamar Steinberg during a sailing race start, practicing time-on-distance at the line
Tamar Steinberg, iQFoil World Champion 2024, "I needed a watch that I could rely on in tough conditions. Windie proved to be both durable and comfortable to use."
Photo: Yehonatan Noybert
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Every time I talk with young sailors, I hear the same question: I want to be a professional in windsurfing / kitesurfing / sailing. What do I need to do? There is no magic. It is skills, consistency, and a clear head. These are the seven things to work on.

1. Get the basics right

Do not rush past fundamentals. Starts, tacks, gybes, boat speed. Repeat until they are automatic. Pros protect the basics under pressure.

2. Read the wind and water

Train your eye for shifts, pressure, and current. Note patterns along the course, not just at the start. The best decisions come from calm observation.

3. Train with a coach

You will miss details that a good coach will catch. Honest feedback shortens the learning curve. Film sessions help you see what you felt but did not measure.

4. Train your body

Sailing is strength, cardio, and mobility. Hike longer, move cleaner, recover faster. A fit sailor has more options at the mark and on the run.

5. Work on your mindset

  • Learn to let go of what just happened. Do not carry a bad leg into the next decision.
  • Be your best today. Then be better tomorrow. Small daily wins stack up.
  • The start is critical. Every second counts. Practice starts again and again until you can feel the time.
  • Got a penalty? Reset fast. The best sailors still place even when the day is not smooth.

6. Use reliable gear

Bad tools lead to bad calls. Keep it simple and solid. True readings help you focus on tactics.

Everything we make for the water lives in the Windie sailing gear collection.

Daniela Peleg with race timer during iQFOiL training, checking time to the gun
Daniela Peleg, iQFoil European Champion (2024), World Championship Silver Medalist (2022) - “I love how clear and easy-to-read the numbers are on the Windie Timer, and it’s impressively accurate.”Photo: Windie partners

7. Race as much as you can

There is no substitute for race time. Club nights, regionals, then international regattas. Each start and each leg builds instincts you cannot get on a quiet training day.

Elite dinghy and iQFOiL sailors train starts obsessively and review data after sessions. Consistent routines, reliable timing, and calm wind reading turn practice into race results.

Bottom line: becoming a professional sailor is a daily practice. Work these seven areas, keep notes, and show up. If your tools need an upgrade, keep it simple and reliable.

Race timer vs sailing watch
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