How to prepare for sailing

Sailing is different from the classic vacation. Instead of looking at the sea from the beach, now you will be the ones who look at the beaches from the sea, swim in the sea where your feet can't touch the ground, have a place to yourself on the beautiful beaches and be able to reach beaches and bays that others do not have access from land. What you don't have are luxury hotels with room service, spacious apartments with deckchairs in the yard, but that's why you have a view of the sea at every moment of your vacation. In 7 days of sailing, you can see many locations, both at sea and on land. If you are one of the lucky majorities, your journey under sail may be accompanied by dolphins swimming with interest beside you. 

The first thing you need to know when going sailing is that the interior of the sailboat has limited storage space. You will spend most of the day in bathing suits or light clothes anyway, so don't carry large and heavy suitcases that you have nowhere to put. A better option are canvas travel bags that can be stored on the side. As for clothing, bring light shorts and long pants, t-shirts should be cotton and breathable, be sure to pack a light-colored hat or cap to protect yourself from the strong sun. For colder evenings, bring a light jacket or a sweater. Of course, swimwear is the most important piece of clothing. Footwear should be separated, for the boat and for the land. For the boat, you will need light sneakers with white soles so that you are not barefoot all the time, and for the land bring sandals (for walks, hiking,...) and flip flops, which will come in handy for walks or when you go to shower in the marina.  

Speaking of showers, keep in mind that if you're not going to spend every night in the marina, you won't have a privilege of a hot shower every night. It is enough to wash your face and hands after swimming in the sea. It is very important to take sunscreen with high SPF with you, anti-burn cream, lip balm and other products that you use during your hygiene routine. Carry them in a clear toiletry bag for easy access while showering in the marina. Among other cosmetics, you will need an insect repellant, face cream, toothbrush and toothpaste, nail scissors, tweezers, quick drying towels, clothes pegs. Try to separate yourself from makeup for 7 days, your skin will breathe freely and absorb vitamin D, and you will also have less luggage! 

Don't forget to bring essential medications for pain, fever, seasickness, allergy, cough, diarrhea and insect bite. A thermometer, plasters and bandages will also come in handy. 

What will make your stay on the sailboat much easier are sunglasses (preferably tied with a strap around your neck), a backpack that you will use for excursions, shopping or showering when going ashore by boat, SUP or swimming (a waterproof backpack is required), a portable speaker, portable charger for cell phone, speaker or smart watch... For fun, you can bring an inflatable ball and mattress, a snorkel and diving goggles and similar items. Remember to use as little technology as possible while sailing so that your body and mind can rest completely and separate from reality. 

Behavior on board is extremely important for a harmonious vacation. Whether you are with friends or family, it is important to emphasize that the skipper is responsible for everything. Therefore, he has the right to emphasize all the rules of conduct that all passengers must respect before sailing. Keeps common areas and property tidy, distribute responsibilities such as cooking and washing dishes. Plan in advance what the meals will look like in order to stock up on the necessary foods. Keep in mind that the fridges on the ship are quite smaller than those in apartments, so don't overdo it with perishable food that is looking for a place in the fridge. Be sure to drink bottled water to avoid introducing bacteria from the water tank into your body. You can use tank water for cooking because bacteria will disappear at high temperatures. Movement on the boat must always be careful, especially during sailing. Always hold on to the ropes and fence. You must also be careful when getting on and off the ship, especially if the ship is moored to the shore by the stern, so you have to cross the bridge, the so-called footbridges. It can be tricky in wavy situations so ask someone to lend you a hand. 

Before embarking on a sailing adventure, the skipper or the person in charge will go over the basics of where everything is in the boat with you, so you will also receive instructions on life belts, signal flares, life rafts, etc. In order for everyone to be safe, the most important thing is to listen to the skipper's instructions and respect his rules. Then your sailing trip will turn into a pleasant vacation that you will want to repeat forever. 

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