Spirit associated with sailors a lot (5)
I believe the answer is:
karma
'sailors a lot' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'spirit associated' is the wordplay.
'spirit' becomes 'ka' (I've seen this in other clues).
'associated' becomes 'rma' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ka'+'rma'='KARMA'
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for karma that I've seen before include "In Buddhism, quiality of life that carries through into reincarnation" , "State according to past deeds" , "Buddhist fate; destiny" , "Destiny, of Buddhism and Hinduism" , "(Of angle) more than ninety degrees, insensitive" .)