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Always Dreamed of a Sailing Holiday? Here’s How to Get One
It’s something most of us dream of from childhood days: a holiday under sail, lounging in the sunshine, perhaps off beautiful island vistas. But owning a boat is shockingly expensive, and sailing skills are something we may never have come by. Should we let go of the dream? The answer is a resounding “No!” Here’s how you can have that holiday of a lifetime, making memories that you can feed off for years to come!
1. Can’t Own it? Charter it!
12knots.com is a wide-ranging platform on which sailing boat owners who are happy to offer chartered voyages show off what they have to offer. Take your pick across a wide range of vessels, and if you don’t have sailing skills or a crew, make use of full-service charters where others do the work while you enjoy the voyage. Sounds perfect? It certainly can be! But before you jump aboard the first good-looking charter offer, do a bit of thinking and planning to make your holiday everything you wanted it to be.
2. Choosing a Destination
You may have thought of a cruise around the Caribbean, or perhaps the Greek Islands or the Bahamas, but there’s a wide world out there, and your choices don’t stop there. Have you considered Croatia, for example? It has the islands, the clear blue seas, the excellent tourist facilities, and a greater range of sailing experiences than you’d ever have believed. What’s more, destinations like Croatia and Thailand are easy on the budget. So before you commit, do your research. You might find that your ideal holiday’s setting is one you’d never have expected.
3. Choosing a Vessel
The number of people who will form your party is the first consideration when choosing a boat. Sharing your holiday with friends adds to the fun and means you get to split the costs. Stability and room to move are additional considerations. A tiny sailing boat can be a lot of fun, but there’s not exactly a lot of room to lounge about. If some of your party are unused to sailing and you’re worried about motion sickness, a multi-hull vessel will provide a smoother, more stable sailing experience.
Once you have a rough idea of what you’re looking for and where you’re going, start talking to charter companies and boat owners about what you’re hoping to achieve. Ask about the range of services their crews will provide and request images that will help you to see the vessel in action. You’ll also want to know about on-board facilities: the sleeping quarters, bathroom facilities, and so on.
4. Read the Fine Print
It’s stating the obvious, but you charter a sailing boat for the sake of a relaxed holiday. What if the weather is bad? What if something goes wrong with the boat itself? Read terms and conditions carefully to see what you can expect if your trip has to be delayed or cancelled. While some charter companies are happy to cancel or postpone, offering a full refund when sailing conditions are unfavorable, others may retain part-payment or simply tell you that you’re out of luck.
Mind Your Wallet
Let’s be honest: this is a luxury holiday, but it doesn’t mean you should throw money away unnecessarily. Use common-sense, consider off-season trips depending on the kind of weather you can expect, share costs with like-minded friends, and stick to your holiday budget. With a bit of clever planning, your dream holiday might end up costing much less than you expected.
