Amateur yachting is becoming more popular. However, for many, this dream remains a dream, frightening the number of nuances that you will have to learn, going on a yacht trip. We tell you how to make the first experience under sail truly unforgettable.
Traveling on modern cruise yachts is both an active holiday and an adventure. But the adventure is safe, as far as possible and from extreme sports regattas on ascetic racing boats, and dolce far niente on megayachts with swimming pools, bars and helipads.
What to pay attention to
Age of the boats:it is optimal if it will be boats from one year to five years. If the yacht is older and it was actively chartered, you can encounter worn-out equipment and worn surfaces, there is an increased risk of breakdowns. Over the past five years, all technologies, from finishing materials to navigation devices, have gone far ahead: on modern yachts, more attention is paid to the comfort of passengers and the ergonomics of space. On a yacht that has just left the shipyard, it is also risky to go, especially on your first trip. As the sailors say, the boat should “sicken” with childhood diseases, so you should not test the boat just launched from the stocks on yourself.
Skippers:the main impressions about yachting may depend on the captain. In addition to professionalism, the human factor is important – you will have to live side by side for at least a week. Learn as much as you can about your captain from the organizers or charter company, or get to know him in person.
Overnight and distance from the coast:the most common variant of a modern yacht cruise is a coastal day trip. At night, the yacht will be in the marina or at anchor near the shore, and during the day the land will be within sight (no more than 20 nautical miles).
Duration of transitions:the duration of sea crossings directly affects the physical condition of the crew. Study the intended route, understand how many nautical miles per day you have to go on a yacht. The distance of 25-30 miles per day is quite comfortable, it is four to five hours of travel. At the same time, you will have time for other activities - swimming in the sea, walking, shopping. If it is important for you to carefully study the area, leave in your vacation schedule the time when the yacht will wait for you in the marina or at anchor, and you will go on excursions.
Safety briefing:it is very important that all crew members, especially those who join the yacht for the first time, explained how to behave on the pier, properly navigate the yacht, use the gallons and kitchen, minimize motion sickness, how and when to wear life jackets and what rescue equipment is on board. All these nuances should tell the captain when settling in the cabins.
Equipment:properly selected equipment will provide additional comfort and safety. Depending on the region, time of year, type of cruise, the organizer should tell in detail about what shoes to wear on the yacht, how to choose yacht gloves, what to take with you on a hike, and what to leave at home.
Emotional comfort:in the limited space of the yacht, good relations between all crew members often come first. Pay attention to how the organizers make up the crews, whether they personally get acquainted with each participant before traveling.
The cost of the question
The cost of a yacht trip consists of several parts. To compare cruise prices across companies or agencies, you need to understand what is included and what is not included in the price.
Yacht rental, skipper work, work as a counselor (in children's yachting), services of an expert or instructor (if cultural, fitness or dive program is included), medical insurance with an extension for active recreation on the water, elements of uniform, payment for the organizer's work in the case of an organized hike, fuel and parking.
Additional expenses are usually an insurance deposit for the yacht, meals on board and during the trip, the road from home to the marina. The insurance deposit is refundable if nothing is broken or lost at the end of the charter (about 200 euros per person). Sometimes, instead of a deposit, you can take a boat insurance, then the amount is non-refundable, but it is significantly less - 40 euros per person. As a rule, the cost of a yacht trip is comparable to the costs that you will spend on a hotel and an independent organization of leisure for yourself and loved ones, taking into account transport and additional activities.
Sailing boat tripOne of the best ways to know not only the world, but also yourself. On a yacht, everyone is equal – social status, age, masks that we usually wear in life, on a boat cease to have any meaning. Sea and wind, salt splashes and rustle of sails, interaction with the elements, returns people to amateur yachting again and again.
