Life on a yacht: what should a yachtsman pay attention to?

Whether you're chartering, owning your own boat, living on a yacht, or taking a short cruise, at some point you'll think, “Should I go somewhere further than usual?” This is a natural development of events for almost any yachtsman; the only question is when this idea will come to you. 

“Breaking new ground” in any of the above options usually involves a long stay on board. If you already have experience in coastal cruising, then there is nothing wrong with trying to expand the geography of your travels a little. The main thing is to have the appropriate skipper license (to avoid problems with the law), experience (to avoid getting into trouble due to difficult weather conditions) and a desire to explore. But what does a yachtsman need besides this?

A clear plan for all occasions

Our readers and viewers of our YouTube channel know that we stand for safe yachting. And perhaps the number one priority to ensuring a safe cruise is making a clear travel plan. There is no need to take the whole of Biscay by storm in two days, especially if you do not have the relevant experience. It is better to wait a little with difficult routes and choose a safer one. In addition to peace of mind, this option will give you the opportunity to better explore the coastal regions.

It is also worth drawing your attention to a backup travel plan in case something goes wrong. You, as a real skipper, must soberly assess your capabilities and the capabilities of the crew. Draw up a clear algorithm of actions in case of bad weather, plan the route in such a way that in any possible weather scenario there is a reliable shelter nearby. 

What should you do if a crew member falls ill? seasickness until the end of the cruise? Alas, no one is immune from such a turn of events. Think about how you can help a friend and how to brighten up the everyday life of a team that will work without an extra pair of hands. It would be a good idea to make an action plan in case you yourself get sick. Clear planning is the key to a smooth trip. 

Yacht preparation

Before going to sea, in addition to provisions, you should prepare the yacht. We talked in more detail about comprehensive yacht preparation in this article. Now let's go over the main points.

The first and most important thing is consumables. There is never enough fuel and lubricants, so there should be plenty of them. In addition, if your yacht is equipped with an internal combustion engine, take spare belts and filters. Water pumps, spark plugs, impellers, bilge pumps, desalination filters - all require replacement parts. 

In case of emergency repairs, epoxy and sealing adhesives, fiberglass cloth, a small sheet of plywood, dowels, screws, nuts, and bolts will be indispensable. Ideally, have a spare sail and a full set of storm sails. Of course, you need to have a set of tools on board. Everything here is very individual, but specialized stores sell entire sets of tools for yachts.

It is advisable to know all the weak points of your yacht or catamaran. It would be helpful to be able to carry out simple plumbing repairs yourself. Of course, Google will always come to the rescue, but during a long transition it may turn out that there is no Internet access.

Your own doctor

A first aid kit on board is required. This is a simple axiom known to any skipper and yachtsman. You need to assemble a first aid kit for yourself, based on the needs of the team, but basic medications, such as antipyretics, motion sickness pills, a set of bandages and gauze, iodine, etc., should be available by default. 

We slightly underestimate the resilience of our body and organism, but even the strongest immunity has failures. It is important to closely monitor the condition of all crew members and make course adjustments in case the crew becomes tired. It is better to stand in the parking lot for a day or two than to force the crew to languish from fatigue and seasickness. 

The situation with medical issues is especially acute during long transitions. It is not enough for a skipper to simply know how to sail; you need to know the basics of first aid. Specialized courses will help you with this, after completing which you will travel to remote corners of our planet with much greater confidence. 

Starting point and ending of the cruise

How practice shows, the more people are notified about where and why you are going, the better for you. Before a week-long cruise or long passage, warn your loved ones about where you are going from and where you are going, and what dates you need to reach your destination. 

If your family and friends are in another country, then contact the coast guard of the country where you are. Let them know your intentions, dates, times and route. In case of an unpleasant situation, it is the coast guard that will come to your aid. Also, do not neglect the opportunity to independently communicate with loved ones and friends. 

Instead of results

There are countless tips that can be given to novice and experienced skippers. Let's briefly go over a few more points. 

1. If possible, avoid areas with a well-known criminal history. This will protect you from unnecessary attention and problems. If for some reason you cannot avoid entering such an area, enlist the support of the coast guard and try to leave it as quickly as possible. 

2. It wouldn’t hurt to invest in your own boat or catamaran. Periodically update your equipment and keep it in working order. AIS, GPS, radars, echo sounders, logs are indispensable navigation tools that will serve you for a very long time with proper care.

3. Get out of your comfort zone. But do it carefully and wisely. After just one cruise along the coast of Greece, you shouldn’t try to cross the ocean. Everything has its time. Smoothly increase the complexity and duration of your routes.

New video on Interparus channel

This video is primarily aimed at those unfortunate people who have not yet shared their love of the sea and sails with their other halves, and have not yet had time/were able to “taxel” their wife to the yacht. Sasha Goron has prepared a whole range of tips for you that will definitely help you!

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29.02.2024