In the following you will find practical advice and general information about sailing holidays Travel Insurance Remember that it's possible to take out travel insurance through Seatravel. Please be aware that you are not covered by public health insurance when travelling to countries like Turkey or other countries outside the EU. Your return travel is never covered by the public health insurance. It is also possible to take out cancellation insurance through Seatravel - it covers in case of accidents, illness, divorce, etc. before your trip and the affected traveler will be able to get his/her share of the cost covered. Contact us for insurance terms and conditions. Which sailing certificates do you need? For a sailing holiday, it is required that the skipper has a certificate of proficiency in navigation, as a minimum, as well as some sailing experience. Co-skipper must also have some sailing experience. Well in advance before the sailing holiday, you will need to send us a copy of your sailing certificates, a description of your sailing experience, a crewlist and a copy of your and your coskipper's passports. We will then send these documents to the base, who will issue a special certificate for you, the hired boat and week. Sending the documents to the base well in advance, reduces the risk of unnecessary waiting time before your charter. For yacht charters in Croatia it is also required that one person on board holds a VHF- radiocertificate or the new SRC certificate. If you do not have the necessary sailing certificates or experience or maybe feel a little insecure at the prospect of sailing in foreign waters, it is possible to hire a skipper to sail for you. Then everybody aboard can completely relax without worrying about the weather, where to sail to, if the anchor is holding at night and so on. Moreover, it will be a local skipper who knows the ins and outs of the area, and can show you places that you might not be able to find on their own, thus giving you some special experiences. The cost of hiring a skipper is about EURO 150,-/day, and he/she must be provided with full board meals and their own cabin. If you want total relaxation on your holiday, you can also hire a stewardess for light cooking, cleaning, servicing and so on. The cost of hiring a stewardess is also about euro 150,-/day + full board and lodging.
Luggage Pack light and sporty - preferably in soft bags. Although the boats are spacious and well designed, it is difficult to stow away suitcases on a boat. Remember to bring along Passports, social security card, driver's license and car insurance (if you are driving to the base) and travel insurance. And of course your sailing certificates. Copies of the crew list to port authorities Basic medical supplies and remedies, sunblock or high factor sun cream Shoes with rubber soles, lightweight rain gear and a warm sweater Mobile phone. Check the settings for roaming, so you will not come home to a huge phone bill 1 large bath towel per person Tea towels Work gloves for anchor work Do not bring inflatable vests. They will most likely be seized before the flight Swimming shoes. It's not nice to accidentally step on a sea urchin with bare feet Arrival, Instruction on arrival, etc. Upon arrival you must present yourselves at the base office where the final paperwork will be handed out and signed. In case of arrival after the base's closing hours, please give notice well in advance. Please indicate your flight number and arrival time on the crew list. This allows the base personnel to leave you a key to the boat so that you can board for the night. Check in of the boat will then happen the next morning, when the base opens. Note, however, that most bases are closed on Sundays, but if they know that you will be arriving after hours on Saturday night, someone will come meet you on Sunday morning. Upon arrival you will be given a good and thorough instruction in good English in the boat's use, etc. by the base personnel. Let the skipper and co-skipper participate in this instruction - you will be given a lot of information, and two people hear and perceive more than just one person, and too many people can cause confusion. The instruction is an important part of the sailing holiday, because not only will the boat's structure and operation be shown and tested, but the instructors will also gladly provide all their tips and advice on anchorages, nice places to visit, swimming and snorkeling sites and much more. Do a thorough review of the boat yourselves - it's easier to fix any deficiencies prior to starting out from the base than it will be if you discover it along the way.
Bed linen and towels On the boat there are bed linen, ordinary towels and tea towels included in the price or comfort package (be sure to check that there is enough for everyone). At some companies linen and towels are paid for separately. Safety Onboard You will find lifejackets onboard, but check before departure that there are vests that fit each person. Other sizes are handed out by the base personnel. For small children, we recommend that you bring along your own lifejacket. There are stricter requirements for lifejackets in rental boats. Therefore, you will often find that the lifejackets are very large. How to dock in the Mediterranean Unlike in Denmark, you dock with the aft to the quay: letting the anchor go at a suitable distance to the pier and hill the boat in. Other places, you pull a mooring line out of the water and moor - also with the aft to the quay. It requires some practice, but once you've tried it a few times, it will be no problem. Be careful though, to secure the dinghy so its mooring does not get caught in the screw during this maneuver. How to dock in the Caribbean? In the Caribbean, you generally always dock at a designated buoy. One may proceed fairly close to the coast - although please mind the corals. Many coral reefs along with their fantastic animal and fish life have been destroyed by sailors with a dragging anchor chain! Use buoys, where possible! Many places there are designated mooring buoys = Nighttime Moorings = you have to pay to dock at these buoys. Some places there are designated buoys = "Day Time Moorings" in different colors that can only be used during the day when anchoring/diving in protected coral areas. In The Virgin Islands you will get a Day Time Mooring Permit - this is paid in advance as part of the boat rental price. What is the cost of port charges in the Mediterranean and Caribbean? In Greece you pay virtually no harbor fees - max. 5,- for a week - but expect no facilities such as showers, toilets etc. You will often dock at a tavern or alongside the local fishermen, private yachts and /or smaller ferries that sail between the islands. In Croatia, they have built 18 completely modern ACI marinas with lots of good facilities and great service - a dinghy from the marina will often greet you as you're approaching and they will help you find a place and with the mooring - They also arrange the paperwork with the harbor master. It is relatively expensive in these marinas, and often times you will also have to pay a small port charge when moored at a mooring buoy belonging to the marina - in which case you still have to take the dinghy ashore. For the other places in the Mediterranean, the port charges are somewhat expensive - but the service level at the marinas are generally high.
In the Caribbean a Night Time Mooring typically costs around $ 25 USD. Power Shopping The base staff can refer you to a nearby supermarket/grocery store. There is usually an agreement with a supermarket for free pickup and transport of goods. Deciding what to purchase is simple - You will need something from every shelf, as the boat is completely empty. "Pets" In warmer climates the insects thrive, and especially cockroaches love to lay their eggs in cardboard. If you can keep that kind of packaging off the boat, it will be less "lively" in the pantry Provisioning List You can also choose to fill out a provisioning list from home. Take note of the internal reference number (see your ref.no.) and mail the list to us well in advance. The goods are paid either when making the order or in cash at the reception at the base. There may be a small fee for this service. Boat deposit / Risk Insurance The indicated deposit is deposited with VISA-/Euro-/MasterCard or in cash. The amount is refundable after the return of an undamaged boat at the agreed upon time and place, and in a tidy condition. Alternatively, with most charter companies you can buy a non-refundable risk insurance that eliminates/reduces the deposit. The boats insurance does not cover intentional damage or negligence. With both types of insurance, the persons on board, their personal property and liability are not covered by the insurance. If you sail with a skipper you still must make the deposit - skipper is responsible for the boat and sailing, and you're not liable for any damages caused by him. Outlet 12V On the boats there are 12 V "cigarette outlets" for recharging video cameras and mobile phones. It's a good idea to bring an inverter that converts 12 V to 220 V, so you can always charge your tablets, camera, mobile. etc. Refrigeration We recommend placing an ice pack at the bottom of the refrigerator and turning on the motor a few hours daily, as a minimum, for charging the batteries. Possibly turn off the refrigerator at night. There is much else aboard that requires power. Tip: Place the rack from the oven at the bottom of the fridge so food does not get wet. Assistance
If problems arise during the course of your sailing holiday, you get a contact number for the base, which you have to call before you even begin to fix something yourself. Staff members will do what they can to remedy the situation either by phone or they come to you. If you find any deficiencies, you must report it to the base immediately do not "leave" it for the delivery of the boat, as the staff will not have been given the chance to resolve the deficiencies and any subsequent complaints will not be valid. Waste There are plenty of waste containers for disposal at the dock in all ports. Tip: Waste can be assembled in black trash bags and stored in the anchor storage compartment. Toilet and holding tank Most boats are equipped with a holding tank. If the holding tank is not empty when you receive the boat, be sure to open the valve as the first thing when you come out of the harbor. It's a really bad start to the holiday to start out with a clogged toilet. Never put paper in the toilet, but gather it in a plastic bag next to the toilet. Remember to empty the holding tank before returning the boat. Backing Test In the ports, most boats are docked with the stern to the quay. It may be a bit unfamiliar with this "reverse parking". It's a good idea to do a backing test as the first thing, after you have left the base port. Sail forward by 4-5 knots. Put the boat in neutral. Check that the boat sails perfectly straight. Hold the wheel and put the engine in reverse. It's very likely that the boat "pulls" to one side. Take note of which side the boat naturally prefers and use it when you have to choose which way you will turn when you need to "park backwards". As with all other parts in sailing, it is an advantage when the boat works with you and not against you in during the maneuvers. Towing a dinghy If you take the dinghy in tow, then pull it close to the hedge, especially in rough weather. Beware of the skylights When you go sailing in warmer climates, it is tempting to open the hatches during the voyage to get some cooler air into the cabin. Be careful that especially the genoas do not pull the skylights of when you tack or jibe. Anchoring Look for the direction in which the other boats have cast their anchor, and cast it, so it does not cross. Let it go in good time, there is plenty of chain. When you leave the spot, then sail out (Do not drag your boat out by the windlass) and pull the anchor straight up - this minimizes the risk of pulling up another anchor.
Mooring lines There may be fixed mooring lines, in which case you should not use your own anchor. Read about this in your waterpilot. A sign on the dock with an inverted anchor indicates that you must not drop your anchor here. Designated bouys Many places have designated buoys, which you may stay at overnight. Be aware that you will probably be charged for this. Tip: When you choose to moor at a designated buoy, it is very difficult to reach down from the bow to tie on to the mooring. It is much easier to tie to the mooring while sitting on the stern platform. General information about Checkout & Cleaning You must be ready to leave the boat no later than the agreed upon time. The base will be obliged to charge a fee for each hour that the return of the boat is delayed. The boat must be returned in neat and cleaned condition. Bed linen must be removed and waste carried ashore, even if you've paid for compulsory final cleaning. Remember to empty the refrigerator and freezer. Diesel You will receive the boat with full diesel tanks and it must be returned with refilled tanks, unless there is another agreement in place. Water/Showering
Ensure that the water tanks are full before departing from the base harbor. Save water - do not do the dishes under running water. Fill up the water tanks up whenever possible. If the tank is completely emptied, the pump motor will run continuously and thus overheat - Turn off the electric water pump, if this happens. There will only be hot water when the engine has been running for at least 30 minutes. After showering in the toilet room, the water on the floor can be pumped out by activating the pump button on the wall, if it is not pumped out automatically. Drinking Water Buy plenty of drinking water and do not drink the water in the boats taps. According to our experience, each person drinks about 1½ liters/day. Clothing & Equipment Flippers and snorkel kit provides great opportunities to explore life beneath the surface. Remember a T-shirt. Your back gets sunburned easily during many hours of snorkeling. Charts There are good and detailed charts on board - check that all the charts are there for your desired sail area. There are at least GPS in all the boats, and most are also equipped with a chartplotter. Maritime Safety Markings Usually you ll see a lot less markings in the southern waters than we are used to in Northern Europe. It is because it is often much easier to sail here. As a rule, you can sail where there is water and, from bitter experience, the base commander will usually be very careful to point out reefs and islands that you need to be especially careful not to hit. Sailing at night Night sailing is generally not allowed in charter boats. Permission may be obtained by application no later than 7 weeks in advance. Important when flying to the USA - Also applies when making a stopover for voyages in the Caribbean, Tahiti, Tonga etc. Disclosure requirements for travelers to the USA / via USA: From 12th of January 2009 stricter requirements are in place for travelers to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. No later than 72 hours before departure travelers must provide a range of information via the website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. It should be emphasized that the submission of this information, as well as the accuracy of this, is the sole responsibility of the traveler. Lack of, or inadequate submission of information, may lead to extensive consequences for the traveler. Seatravel have no liability for the (correct) submission of the above mentioned information, in which case Sunway Seatravel cannot be met with demands that
may emerge due to missing or incomplete information. Questions relating to the process of submitting the required information should be directed to the US embassy. As of October 31st, 2009, all passengers are obligated to independently submit the following personal information to their travel agent or airline company to be able to travel to/via USA (registration of APIS - Advanced Passenger Information System): * Name as it appears on the passport that the traveler will use to apply entry into the United States. * Date of birth, as it appears in the passport.* Gender, as it appears in the passport. * Passport number and expiration date and which country has issued the passport. It should be emphasized that there are more stringent safety procedures for luggage at entry and stopover in the USA. When you arrive at your first arrival airport in the USA, you often have to pick up your luggage from the baggage carousel and then deliver your luggage at customs clearance, as they will provide transportation onwards. Many airline companies erroneously informs at check in that baggage is checked through all the way, and that the travelers don't need to pick up their luggage before arriving at the final destination.