book2sail-Sunset sailboat and horizon

Table of Contents

  1. Learn how to sail

Learn how to sail

Learning to sail is a beautiful mix of experiences, reading, and small adventures. What are the ways to learn, whether you live on the coast or in the city?

boat hire marmaris turkey

If you are passionate about the sea, you will want to learn to sail. Before buying or renting a sailboat to travel, discover the world, or to do coastal sailing, you need to know the maneuvers, the boat, the mechanisms of the wind… Let’s see the different possibilities available to you to take sailing lessons. From dinghy sailing, in an aquatic center, to skipper, sailing instructor, onboard a houseboat, through the cruising school and sailing courses, there are many possibilities. And learning to sail at the age of 50 won’t be more complicated than practicing at the age of 15.

Boarding as a team member

book2sail-how to sail in a group

The best way to learn to sail a is, as for any leisure or work, to practice and make mistakes. For water sports, it’s the same. In order to practice sailing when you don’t have a boat, you have to embark on a other people`s boats. For this, there are several solutions.

The first possibility, and probably one of the best solutions to learn the basics, is to find boarding for winter regatta training. Sailing, in a regatta, with a crew that is continually trying to perfect its maneuvers and adjustments is an excellent exercise. And you’ll learn quickly. At the same time, it allows you to sail on yachts that are more sensitive to trim and wind.

The second solution is to board an owner’s boat, in his presence. A large number of sailboat owners are, indeed, looking for company, for helping hands, to sail with. This can be for a day or a more or less long cruise. The learning process will be different than in a regatta. In addition to sailing, you will learn a lot about the boat, in the company of the skipper. And you will immerse yourself in the sailing culture; you will be able to improve quickly.

Finding boardings is simple. If you are on the spot, don’t hesitate to take a walk on the boats or visit the captain’s offices. On the internet, it`s very easy to find boats. You can search on the sites of sailing clubs, forums, associations, captain’s offices. Some sites specialize in “co-saturating” or boarding announcements.

fastest yachts

Sailing schools

book2sail-learn how to sail with staff

For people who don’t live near the sea and can’t get away from the weekends, it’s not always easy to learn to sail. In this case, if you want to be accompanied by professionals, there is another solution: sailing schools. Sailing schools usually offer classes with a well-defined program, a specific theme. These sessions can last from a few days to several weeks. At the same time, they allow you to sail on several sailing vessels and they know the easiest sailing boat to learn or learn how to sail. Different sailing schools often offer several levels, from beginners to advanced.

In this type of training, you will be in a more or less large group depending on the size of the boat. You can learn to sail through maneuvers, vocabulary. Still, you can also go much further, such as navigation on a map, weather routing, night sailing. By following training courses with professionals, you will be in good hands and learn the rules of the art of sailing.

Start your training on a cruise ship

And yes, why not? Before embarking on the discovery of sailing, you can familiarize yourself a little more with this universe that deserves your attention. It is not enough to take out a boat and the sails to sail successfully; you have to learn a lot of information. Working on a cruise ship can be very interesting as you will learn relevant information.

Even if you don’t want to work onboard such a boat, a simple cruise can already give you a glimpse of this world.

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.

Latest news

Charter a yacht with Book2Sail

Book2Sail makes you feel that when it comes to chartering a boat, there is no limitation. You can choose any form of boat at any time and anywhere (catamaran, sailboat, motorboat, jet ski). Whether you’re sailing in August with a catamaran to explore the Dalmatian coastline or spending Easter holidays in the French Riviera, you will find your dream boat.

Our team of chartering specialists are ready to assist you to make your chartering experience as easy as possible. We have different itineraries to cater for any type of activity you choose to do, once you are ashore.

Get in touch now and Book2Sail today.