Yacht charter tips: Life on board
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Apart from the time and the place we embark and disembark, there won’t be any real schedule. So just allow yourselves to go with the flow.
Here are some tips to ensure that you make the most of navigation time:
1) Do you suffer from sea-sickness?
A single negative experience doesn’t necessarily mean that you do, as there are many factors involved. These may be preventable (you need to give yourselves the time to get used to sailing). As soon as you embark, unpack your bag whilst the boat is still stationary. Spend the first navigation hours on deck, outdoors, and whenever you need to get something from below deck, the crew will be happy to do this for you.
If you start feeling nauseous sit comfortably, although not supine, in the cockpit and keep your eyes to the horizon. Don’t try to resist the movement of the boat, just go with it.
When getting ready for sleep, avoid any unnecessary moving around below deck and just lay yourselves down immediately in your couchette.
2) You will have a chance to participate in manoeuvring the boat if you like. However please note that these trips are not designed for sailing training purposes.
3) Other guests: in a cabin charter formula, you don’t have to spend the entire time with other guests. Feel free to take time out and do your own thing whenever you wish to do so.
4) No shoes are allowed on board or on the dinghy. Please leave them in the provided basket. Exception: soft-sole shoes for boat use only.
5) Water on board is a precious (especially on smaller boats without the watermaker) resource and must be preserved. Whilst lathering and whilst brushing your teeth, keep the tap turned off. Then be quick in your rinsing. Doing so will ensure that any stopovers at harbors are kept to the minimum. Please do not dispose of any toilet paper in the toilet, use the correct bin provided.
6) Electricity is also precious on board, and consumption is limited (especially on smaller boats without the extra electric generator). Just inform everyone that communication won’t be ongoing, and enjoy a real break! However you will find an electricity socket (in each cabin or in only in the saloon) which may be used for short or long periods of time upon ‘activation’ – please ask the crew.
7) Everyone is asked to keep their cabin and any personal belongings tidy and in compliance with health and safety requirements: everything that is left just hanging around will sooner or later end up in the water! Keep all doors, cabinets, drawers shut or secured with the provided hooks.
8) The dinghy is for the sole use of the crew. We are however happy to accompany you to land, and to pick you up at an arranged time. 
9) The skipper or other crew mobile number: Please save them immediately and use them to reach the crew when you are land. The skipper or crew will immediately get back to you.
10) On bigger sailboat (with more then just the skipper, the crew is available between 8:30 and 23:00 (but 24h for important needs), the crew is responsible for: navigation, food approvisioning, trip preparation, cleaning of the communal areas (and cabins with more then 2 crew members), maintenance, as well as land transfers. The crew will be happy to suggest any land-excursions, trekking and activities, restaurants and any points of interest.
11) It is advisable to alternate dinners on board with dinners on land during each week.
Should you wish the skipper or one any member of the crew to join you for dinner on land, it is custom to be a non-paying guest.
12) Health and safety:
Weather rules! Itinerary or destinations are never absolute. At sea, these will depend on wind and weather forecasts. During a seven day sailing trip there are likely to be only few itinerary options available each day. The captain shall clarify each evening what these may be so that they can evaluated together. Then at breakfast a final decision will be taken by th captain/skipper, based on weather conditions.
We love sailing and we shall do it as often as possible, and only rely on our engine when necessary.
Please familiarize yourselves with the location of life jackets and fire extinguishers on board.
During navigation portholes should not be opened, however ceiling portholes can be left ajar, for ventilation purposes. Air condition is available-on bigger sailboats (even if basically the sailboat are fresh environment compared to the land)
In case of any equipment’s damage or break please alert the crew. Do not attempt to carry out any repair.
When the boat is moving be careful as you move around: indoors hold on to any support, and outdoors simply hold on to anything.
During eventual night navigation, never leave the deck sitting area whether towards the bow or the stern of the boat, unless authorized to do so by the crew.
Always inform the crew before setting out for a long swim.
13) Tips are not necessarily expected. However out at sea, as a thank you for helpfulness, professionalism and for making your trip a pleasant experience, a tip to the crew is the norm.
Annalisa Dorigo
