Planning on going yachting? Whether this is your first time to set sail or you’ve got experience, this guide to yachting contains the most important things that you need to keep in mind to make sure you have a top trip!
Traveling by sea is an entirely different experience from traveling by land or air. Nothing can remind us of how vast the world actually is than to cross the oceans. To cruise across the blue expanse of the ocean, to be gently rocked by the waves and the ever-moving water. It’s experiences like this that contribute greatly to the romantic appeal of a cruise. It’s a great way to pamper yourself and to get a lot of rest and recreation.
It’s easy to see why people might want to cruise on their own terms with their own yacht. The freedom you get from owning your own yacht can easily make you feel like there are so many places that you could go to at your own leisure. But cruising on your own yacht is an entirely different thing from going on a luxury cruise ship. You’re going to have to take care of yourself as well as your passengers and that’s not an easy task for the untrained and at times, it may even be dangerous. So, before you consider taking your own motor yacht for a trip or even if you consider renting a yacht, there are a few things that you need to consider first.
The Dangers Of Sailing
Sailors need proper training before they are assigned to crew a ship. The reason for this is simple. While traveling the seas can be an enchanting experience on a cruise ship, you need to be wary of various dangers when you’re cruising on your own yacht. Things like inclement weather, thirst, starvation, and even pirates are issues you need to be wary of. It’s important to know how to navigate and to plot your course properly, as well as to ration your supplies so that you’re able to get to your destination safely. These are things that can only be thoroughly taught through formal training.
Logistics
Before heading out, it’s important to make sure that you’ve packed all the essentials, especially if you are planning to travel far. Food, drinking water, and fuel are the three primary resources you need to secure first. Flares, radios, and survival kits should also be brought along. This is an important part of ensuring that you have a stress-free trip.
Docking
It’s also important to know where you’re going to be leaving your yacht — whether it’s so you can perform repairs and maintenance or to explore a destination, it’s important to consider where you’re going to dock. Moors differ from the most luxurious, as is the case with emeraldlanding.com to downright dangerous, in less secure marinas where your yacht may even get stolen.
Navigation
It’s important to learn how to navigate the open seas. Taking a training course in navigation is going to give you the skills that you need, to successfully tackle the ever-important task of directing the ship toward your destination and around any obstacles in your way. It’s equally important to bring along navigational tools like your GPS, compass and a map. Getting lost at sea is very dangerous because of the fact that you can never be sure of when you’re going to get help and this is just one of the scenarios that you have to prepare for. The next item will determine whether you survive or not on the open seas should you get lost.
Emergency Supplies
Things aren’t always going to go the way you plan them. There could be setbacks, or worse, there may be accidents. It’s important to prepare for these unfortunate events, especially when you’re out at sea and the nearest form of help is several miles away. Your emergency supplies should include your basic first aid kit, MREs (Meal Ready to Eat) good for at least two weeks, several flares, a flare gun, whistles, and of course, an emergency supply of drinking water. A satellite phone would also come in handy, but there’s a slim chance that anyone’s going to be in range for it to be of use. When you find yourself in a desperate situation, any chance of calling for help is one that you’re going to want to take.
Crew Training
If you’re planning on sailing on your own, then you’re going to need trained hands to help you run your yacht. Even if you’re unable to have everyone on your crew finish a training course in yachting, it’s important that you’re able to define each crew member’s role and to ensure that they know exactly what to do. In any case, don’t ever try to sail out into the open seas on your very first time out. There isn’t any amount of information that you can possibly ingest that would make you and your crew effective. Hands-on experience is the best way to ensure that you know you’d be able to handle the rigors and responsibilities of sailing. The best way to acquire the necessary training is through a sailing training course.
If you can afford a yacht, then you can most definitely afford the training sessions to learn how to operate and maintain your yacht, as well as to properly sail the seas. Even on the open sea, there are international laws that need to be followed. Plan meticulously, sail responsibly, and most importantly, don’t forget to have fun on your trip.
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