Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/alimentacion-vuelta-al-mundo

Embarking on a round-the-world sailing trip is an extraordinary adventure, but as anyone who has spent extended time at sea knows, keeping yourself well-nourished is a significant challenge. The Coursera course, ‘Alimentación y dietética para una vuelta al mundo a vela’ (Nutrition and Dietetics for a Round-the-World Sailing Trip), dives deep into this crucial aspect of ocean racing. This course is designed for those preparing for transoceanic sailing races, like the famed Barcelona World Race, and offers invaluable insights into balancing high nutrition with practicality during long voyages.

The syllabus is comprehensive, starting with the fundamental ‘Foods and Performance.’ Here, you’ll learn about the specific foods consumed during races like the Barcelona World Race, how menus are designed incorporating freeze-dried options to maintain quality and shelf-life, and the methods for calculating nutritional needs to maximize performance. The course emphasizes the long-term nature of these projects and the critical role of physical preparation, supported by dietary planning.

Key modules delve into ‘Analysis of Energy Requirements,’ providing the basis for dietary plans for elite athletes. You’ll learn about nutritional counseling, calculating energy expenditure through theoretical and practical examples, and physical assessment of sailors. ‘Nutritional Strategies I’ focuses on the criteria for constructing an athlete’s diet, using the food pyramid as a guide and detailing training diets. ‘Nutritional Strategies II’ then hones in on the specific needs of ocean sailors, highlighting the critical importance of hydration and exploring methods for diet control and the necessity of supplements.

Finally, ‘Foods in Oceanic Navigation’ examines the characteristics of food consumed aboard an IMOCA 60, emphasizing the logistical importance of food in race preparation. Freeze-dried foods are presented as the cornerstone of onboard nutrition, with detailed explanations of their properties and production processes. The course also touches upon the history of food in ocean navigation, specific requirements for IMOCA 60s, and the experiences of skippers.

Overall, ‘Alimentación y dietética para una vuelta al mundo a vela’ is an exceptional resource for anyone serious about the nutritional demands of long-distance sailing. It bridges the gap between theoretical nutrition and the practical realities of life at sea, offering actionable advice for optimizing health and performance. Highly recommended for aspiring offshore sailors, coaches, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of extreme sports and nutrition.

Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/alimentacion-vuelta-al-mundo