Apr 11 2010
Vacation Sailing – Part 4 – Final Countdown
By the time you get to 60 days out from your sailing vacation, all plans should be hard and fast. If you have followed along on this planning schedule, the last weeks before departure can be used wisely instead of frantically. Most charter companies require full payment 30-60 days before the start date. So I ask my crew to pay their second half 30 days before the operator requires it.
Provisioning is the last piece of the planning puzzle. Popular destinations, like the BVI, offer yacht provisioning services. There, you can place a custom order for the foodstuffs your group wants or use prepacks many charter companies offer as concierge provisioning services. When I go to the BVI, I know exactly what is going to happen from a food standpoint and have 95% of everything we will need for the week delivered. But when traveling to a new destination I don’t know exactly how many meals will happen on board. If you are trying to economize you should definitely plan to eat the majority of your dinners on board. My usual habit is to have breakfasts on board and nearly all lunches but have dinner ashore as much as possible. Whatever circumstances you have, create and stick to a list. Solicit your crew for favorites and required items they want included . I estimate the cost of the initial provision and split it evenly amongst all the crew. If at all possible at least have your heavy things like drinking water and other beverages delivered. Everywhere you go is different. On our upcoming trip to Italy we anticipate markets, street vendors and fishermen.
I can’t tell you how important it is to travel light. Hardshell suitcases are a no-no on boats as storage space is at a premium. Nearly everywhere we have been was casual, so clothing is based more on comfort than style. I know I’m going to buy a shirt or two, so I take less. I actually pack a couple weeks before I go and then unpack a day or two before, reduce and repack. Whatever works for you. Essentials for me include an inverter, chargers for my cameras, vhf radio, handheld chartplotter and a headlamp.
I spend the majority of my planning time in the final weeks scouring the web for other people’s stories, looking for anchoring tips and contingency plans. About a month out I begin to track the weather pattern to get a guesstimate of what hand we will be dealt. A week long trip will probably deal you two hands while a two week could produce upwards of 4 different periods of weather. We certainly have no control over the weather. We just have to go at an opportune time of year and be prepared for several ways things might go down.
It’s good to have everyone’s cell phone number and travel plans in case things go wrong. I like to have a printed itinerary with names and numbers of any and all stops, overnights and transportation modes all kept chronologically in one folder and if you have followed my recommendations in padding the trip with extra time you have done everything you can to mitigate the delays and cancellations that sometimes come with travel.
The Aeolian Island of Vulcano; first stop on the Captains Cruise Flotilla in May 2010
Finally, when you arrive at your charter base you will be asked to post a damage deposit and pay for incidentals such as local fees and taxes. Make sure you know how this is handled ahead of time so you are not taken by surprise. Now you are just left to alert your credit card company that you are traveling and make sure your home base needs are covered in your absence.
Sailing vacations provide the right mix of relaxation and excitement with an excellent dose of bonding and teamwork. It also brings you closer to the people and the culture of the places you visit. One word of caution though…once you have had a successful sailing vacation it is very hard to go back to a land based one!
[...] Read the whole series ::: Part 1 ::: Part 3 ::: Part 4 [...]