Sleep Management and Performance in Offshore Sailing Regattas: A Systematic Review

Sleep is crucial for motor skill learning and cognitive function, affecting performance in various domains, including sports. In offshore sailing, athletes face significant sleep restriction, requiring effective sleep management for safety and performance.

This study examines the effects of sleep deprivation on performance in offshore sailing regattas and identifies optimal sleep strategies based on competition characteristics.

A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, identified 213 articles. After deduplication and screening, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies were categorised by race length (long/short) and crew size (solo/double/crew).

The reviewed literature focused on sleep restriction or deprivation's effects on cognition, reaction speed, fatigue, anxiety, energy expenditure and circadian rhythms. Five studies provided sleep management recommendations, while eight used objective measures such as electroencephalography or actigraphy. Two main results emerge: (1) partial sleep deprivation impairs cognition and reaction speed, increasing technical errors and (2) sleep management strategies vary by crew size and race duration: for short regattas, "banking sleep" beforehand is beneficial, while for long races, 4.5-5.5 h of daily sleep, in 30-min to 1-h episodes, is optimal.

Sleep management is crucial for performance and safety in offshore sailing. Our findings highlight the need for tailored strategies based on race length and crew size, as no universal approach exists. Insights gained from the present study could inform sleep management practice in other continuous cycle activities, such as maritime work and healthcare. Future research should use objective sleep assessments such as wearables to refine sleep strategies for athletes in extreme conditions.