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Table of Contents

  1. 10 great reasons to sail

10 great reasons to sail

Sailing can be everything you need – a vacation in one unforgettable and adventurous experience. And for some, sailing is an irresistible urge to explore the unknown and all the excitement it can offer. However, in addition to satisfying your wanderlust, sailing also offers many perks for your well-being.

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Following are 10 reasons why you too should start sailing this summer and embark on this amazing adventure.

1. Learn something new – because sailing is a continuous lesson. You`ll need to learn new stuff like navigation, meteorology, ship and sail handling. It requires craftsmanship because you`re the one that will need do to fix the electricity, plumbing and other problems that might show up while sailing. Also, you will learn a totally new language, with words like “fathom”, “abeam”, “keel” and “jibe”, and you get to call yourself a sea dog, and shout “all aboard” every once in a while. How cool is that?

book2sail-dufour 460 gl 14 15m sailing yacht palma de mallorca cockpit

2. Age is not a factor – Anyone can learn to sail, whether is a 10-year-old child, or retiree looking for adventure. And it doesn`t have an age limit when to stop sailing, you never have to. There are many people who have sailed well into their 70s or beyond, revealing the secrets of sailing to their grandchildren, and teaching them the basics while on board.

3. Health benefits – Sailing is a physically demanding sport. All that ducking, hoisting and sail trimming will activate every muscle in your body. And even when you`re just sitting at anchor your body will work hard to keep you on your feet while the boat is rocking. Because of the large amount of oxygen absorption that happens when you engage in intense activities sailing can improve your cardiovascular health and reduce the risks of obesity, hypertension and other heart diseases.

4. Mental challenges – Sailing is the utmost “man vs. nature” sport, and a good sailor isn`t always the strongest or the fastest one, but the smartest one. It`s an ongoing mental game, where you need to constantly make decisions to safely maneuver the boat, and harness the power of nature to your advantage.

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5. Mental wellness – Sea air is full of negative ions that aid in the body’s oxygen absorption, and also help balance the body’s levels of serotonin – the happy chemical – hence we tend to be in a better mood. Furthermore, blue is a color that is essentially soothing, that stimulates clear thoughts, calms the mind and helps to concentrate.

book2sail-sea as mental wellness

6. Togetherness or solitude – The African proverb says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. And that`s what`s great about sailing. If you`re an extroverted person, sailing can be an opportunity to hang around people, whether is your friends, your partner, or the family. Working together to make the boat sail better, also means working together on your relationships, and tightening the family/friendship bonds. However, if you`re an introvert, sailing can give you the solitude you`re longing for. It can be just you, surrounded by pristine water and a blue sky, without any other noise but the wind and the waves.

7. Countless destinations – When was the last time you visited 10 different places in 10 days on your holiday? You don`t have to go to the same beach every day, packing and unpacking your beach bags. While you can visit different destinations, your bag remains very much onboard. Go to that famous beach everyone is talking about, take a couple of pictures for your Instagram, then weigh the anchor and find some hidden paradise where you can relax in private.

8. Discipline and organization skills – Sailing can be quite demanding and time-consuming, so sailors learn to prioritize the time they have, build better organization skills and stick to schedules. All these essential skills will affect your life, which will boost your motivation to eat healthier, exercise more and increase the quality of life.

9. Freedom and adventure. We`ve put them last on our list, but these two are the first things that come to our mind when someone mentions sailing.

10. Adventure – Sailing is an ongoing adventure, where you have to face new challenges with curiosity and boldness. It`s about taking risks, exploring new islands, discovering unknown bays. No matter how near or far you go, you never know where the wind and tide may take you. There is always something unknown ahead of you – an adventure that awaits for you.

Freedom – Freedom is a state of mind. Whether you`re longing for a peaceful, relaxed getaway, with a drink in your hand and the sun on your face or you`re an adrenaline junkie breaking speed limits, you can lose all of your chains when sailing. You can forget your daily routines, you can even forget what day it is, away from the city rush, with no cell phone reception, no Wi-Fi, just let your mind wander in the peace that only the sea can bring.

“All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came.”

–  John F. Kennedy

Frequently asked questions

  • 1
    What are some of the key preparations I should consider prior to my yacht charter?
    • Travel Documentation

      Always ensure you have some form of acceptable identification, in legible condition and valid.

      Medication

      Double check that both you and other individuals in your group remember to bring important medications that you are currently being prescribed, accounting for the amount of time you will be at sea.

      Money & Additional expenses

      It would be prudent to budget for slightly over what you anticipate spending. Charter related expenses will be made known, however you never know whether you will need something once travelling.

      Research

      Set aside some time look up the areas you intend on visiting, both whilst chartering (as part of your anticipated itinerary) and whilst travelling to the location at which you will begin your charter.

      Supplies

      As with any journey or holiday, ensure you have adequate toiletries, perhaps some favored foods and snacks.

      Clothing

      Bring the types of clothing that will, in your estimation, suit the weather conditions of the location in which you will be chartering. It may be handy to spend some time researching a few sailing blogs and weather forecasts.

      Equipment

      All necessary equipment should be found already aboard (including safety equipment and anything required to properly operate the vessel. Though you may like to bring a few extra mod-cons to ensure you have the best of experiences.

  • 2
    What is the best way to choose the right vessel and charter for me?
    • Choosing the best vessel for you and those joining you on your yacht charter, would be dependent on your personal preference. Though we recommend considering the following points:

      • Your level of experience
      • Where you will be chartering
      • The time of year and associated weather conditions
      • The ages and competence of both yourself and those in your group

      It would be very helpful for you to conduct some basic research pertaining to all of the above, by way of asking those who you know have chartered the type of vessel or been to the location you are considering, before. Yacht charter blogs and other relevant websites that will offer you an understanding of the key factors you should consider.

      And of course, we are more than happy to help you with your decision.

  • 3
    Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
    • That all depends on where you intend to charter. If you would like to charter a yacht within Europe, the answer would be yes. It is important to remember that the correct licencing and/or documentation for your charter is your responsibility and we would strongly advise you to enquire into the legal prerequisites of your chosen charter region, taking care to note any differences if you are to cross maritime boarders.

      Regarding Europe, you will require an International Certificate of Competence, also known as the ICC.

  • 4
    What is an APA?
    • As a rule of thumb, the fee you pay for your charter, includes the rental of the vessel and the necessary crew to operate it, all other expenses associated with the charter are separate and are financed by the APA, which stands for the Advance provisioning allowance.

      The APA generally amounts to 30% of the total charter fee, though this may vary depending on the vessel.

      Dockage fees, fuel, communications and food & beverages will all be financed by the APA. Any remaining money from the APA at the end of the charter, will be returned to you.

  • 5
    What happens if the owner/captain does not show up, or is late?
    • All boat owners are bound to have someone meeting charterers on the day of charter. It is important that you as a charterer notify us if there is something wrong with your charter. For more information read the charterer’s policy.

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