A sailing trip might be just what you need to enliven your senses, but preparing for this adventure is not really the most pleasant part.
Whether you have some experience in this area or you’ve just entered the world of boat ownership and boat travel, it’s paramount to know some things before embarking on a sea journey.
Apart from researching the destinations you’re heading to, you also need to get your boat ready, pack a variety of things, have an emergency plan, and many more.
Ocean or sea is not really the best place to get lost, so you’d better take preparation and provisioning seriously.
Fortunately, the following guide will take you through the critical details you need to be mindful of before jumping in the boat.
Here is everything you need to bear in mind in order to sail smoothly and have the best time out there on the waters:
Prepare your boat
A well-prepared boat is an essential prerequisite for a smooth and safe cruise.
Everything from safety equipment to systems and tools should be functioning and in accordance with legal standards.
The boat’s mechanical parts can be daunting to get in place in a short time, so we recommend starting this phase several months in advance and never leaving it to the last minute.
Therefore, ensure you fuel tanks and check the engines, propellers, and spark plugs, among other things.
The engine is the lifeblood of your water travel vehicle, so it would be a top priority.
If you don’t have enough experience in outboard motors, consider working with a professional who can tell if your boat is ready for the adventure ahead or needs some improvement.
Also, bringing a spare engine with you would be wise if you sail long-distance.
As for the money, we know this could be expensive, but you could opt for a used outboard motor, as long as it’s from a reliable source.
Stash a well-stocked medical kit
Even if you’ve never been seasick, bring all the seasickness medicine.
A good first-aid kit should include everything from aspirin, sterile skin and eye washes, and Benadryl to burn relief gel, waterproof bandages and anti-itch lotions for bites.
This is especially important if you’re sailing long-distance, as sickness will likely take over after days spent on the sea.
If you’re travelling with kids, a fully-stocked medical kit is also critical, so ensure your family’s safety by bringing the right medicine.
Have safety equipment in place
Although sailing is usually thought of as a low-risk activity, this doesn’t mean you should neglect safety.
The truth is that the more miles you travel on the water, the more safety tools you need to board.
So, regardless of your reach destination or boat size, ensure you’ve got equipment such as fire extinguishers, life jackets, a GPS (even a compass), a life raft, and signal flares in your arsenal.
Also, you should check the compressed-air tank meticulously so that if any functioning problem is noticed, it is replaced immediately.
Perhaps you will need only a few of the above-mentioned things, but having them all in place will hurt no one, especially in case of an emergency.
The quality of your engine is also crucial in this regard, so ensure you’ve got a top-notch outboard motor that won’t disappoint you during a long-distance boating journey.
A Suzuki outboard motor, for example, promotes low fuel consumption and an easy start system while also prioritising quality, so it might be just what you need.
Plan a layout for your cruise
Choosing your destination is probably the easiest part – planning a route on how to get there should actually worry you.
It’s essential to calculate the distance, the time needed to reach that destination, and how much fuel your boat needs in this sense so that you have a smooth, undisturbed journey.
Don’t forget that the sea can sometimes be rough, and if you’re not an expert boat handler, it could be a real threat.
Thus, ensure you download a proper marine app and check the weather forecast before embarking on your trip.
Also, it would be wise to inform other people about your sailing journey, as if something happens to you, they can warn the authorities and send help – of course, such things occur quite rarely, but preparing for anything that might come your way will hurt no one.
Take provisioning seriously
Before setting out on the adventure ahead, it’s paramount to figure out – in advance – what to bring with you.
So, aside from medicine and safety equipment, ensure you have enough food and drinks.
How many provisions you get with you on the boat will depend, of course, on the distance and the duration of your journey.
However, whether it’s about a month-long or a week-long trip, we advise you to count how many meals you’ll have and then plan a rotation.
This way, you can buy all the ingredients beforehand so that food isn’t going to be a concern during the whole journey.
Steaks, fresh fish cut into fillets, and boneless chicken thighs are all examples of food necessary for a sailing trip, as it’s rich in protein, omega 3, vitamin B, and zinc, among others, essential to keep you healthy and strong during your boating trip.
Plus, all freeze well, so rotten food won’t be a problem.
Apart from meat, make sure you pack some dry goods, such as faro, rice, and pasta, as well as some canned artichokes and simmer sauces.
Don’t forget the fruits and veggies, too!
Get smart about water
Food is vital, but remember that it’s easy to get dehydrated, especially when exposed to the sun long-term, so ensure you bring enough potable water and hydrate yourself well.
Nonetheless, the gallons of water your tank can carry is limited, so you must be vigilant.
Water-makers are a go-to option for many sailors, but it might not be the smartest choice, as possibilities of filling up at marinas aren’t always at hand.
In this case, conserving water is the best you can do.
So, where are you heading on your next sailing trip?
