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Though we try to look normal, sailors tend to stand out a little when they’re not in their natural environment. If you know what to look for, it can become pretty obvious whether someone has a salty life or not. Wondering how to spot a sailor in the streets? Well, here are a few tells that you’re looking at a sailor rather than your average landlubber.
Related:
Swimming with Manta Rays in the Marquesas Every Day
Our 6000nm Sailing Route Across the Atlantic
How I Ran a Half Marathon While Living on a Boat
1. Dry Bag
Almost every sailor I know has a dry bag that they take to town with them. It’s practical—it keeps your phone, wallet, and sunglasses dry when you inevitably get a wave over the bow of the dinghy. Then you make it to land and realise no one else is carrying a dry bag…
Hence, if someone is carrying one, they’re either a sailor or an overly cautious tourist. We have a dry bag like this one and take it everywhere, in case you were wondering.
2. Ridiculously Sun Conscious
I’m in this boat, though I’m working on getting more tanned. You’ll find a lot of sailors who won’t leave their yacht without a straw hat, a long-sleeved sun shirt, and likely a heap of sunscreen. The reason is simple: we’ve been burnt too many times and spend most of our lives outside in the sun!
It gets to the point where putting on sunscreen before leaving the boat is just as automatic as grabbing your keys.
3. Ridiculously Tanned
This is the opposite of the previous one, I know, but there are some really salty sailors who gave up on sun protection years ago and are now just permanently tanned. So, this can also be a tell.
Don’t worry, though—they’ll probably still have a straw hat on.
4. Reusable Shopping Bags
Alright, you might think I’m crazy, but this is true! So many sailors are actually very plastic conscious, and after travelling around, you realise single-use plastic bags are annoying to dispose of, bad for the ocean, and if a shop doesn’t provide them, then you’re in a spot of bother.
Hence, we all have reusable shopping bags that have likely been used a lot and are pretty easy to spot if you know what you’re looking for.
5. ‘Boat Clothes’
It’s a thing.
On a boat there are several reasons “boat clothes” just end up happening: there’s only room for a few outfits that get rotated through (unless you’re my younger sister), you live mostly in your swimmers and therefore don’t need proper shirts and shorts very often, and washing your clothes is usually inconvenient at best and impossible at worst.
So, put all of that together and you’re going to be wearing a slightly-too-small shirt that was worn last Tuesday and hasn’t been washed since, matched with old denim shorts that have been with you since you moved onto the boat because you just haven’t found new ones yet.
Maybe you have to see it to believe it, but you’ll remember this when you do.
6. Flip Flops/Thongs
(Yes, they are the same thing in Australia.)
These are by far the easiest shoes to carry on a boat: they float, they’re small and easy to store, and they can be worn to almost every occasion… in the sailor’s opinion.
If you see someone traipsing through the streets in flip-flops, or at a fancy party still wearing the exact same pair, they’re likely a sailor. Oh, and Havianas have lasted all six of us around the world; you can get mine here.
7. Always on a Mission
It’s rare that a sailor comes to town just to stroll around. They’ll almost always be doing something: filling water jugs, looking for hardware stores to find one very specific tool or part, heading to stock up at the supermarket, or topping up their diesel jerry cans.
So, if you spot someone on a mission who also fits a few of the other descriptions you’ve just read, you’re probably looking at a sailor.
8. They Check the Weather… Constantly
Yep, most sailors are so tuned in to the weather that they’ll be constantly glancing at the sky to see what the clouds are doing. And for good reason: if it rains, their bed could get wet; if the wind angle changes and it picks up, their boat could drag… so yes, they’ll likely be checking the sky constantly.
How to Spot a Sailor: Final Thoughts.
Yes, most of this post is in jest… but it’s also mostly true.
Sailors are such unique and intriguing people, and it’s a fun exercise to realise just how much they stand out from the average “land person.”
The reason I know these things? Well, I’m one of them! Though I feel like my own “saltiness” levels are definitely lower than plenty of others I’ve met (secretly very happy about that).
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this list, and maybe you’ll keep an eye out for sailors next time you’re out and about—you never know when you might spot one. The only rule is that if you do see someone who matches these descriptions, you have to go and say hello (no awkward staring allowed).
I’d love to hear if I’ve missed any classic sailor giveaways. Let me know in the comments—I’m sure there are plenty more that deserve a spot on this list!