A sailing holiday is one of those experiences you will keep in your heart forever, but those who are sailing for the first time might have a few questions and doubts in their minds that they want to clear before departing. To make your first adventure nice and smooth, we gathered some useful and basic tips to live your best life onboard! 

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Sailing for beginners: useful tips

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How to organise space onboard 

One of the main pieces of advice a person should follow while living on a boat is to respect the common spaces: as you can imagine, boats have limited space, and therefore anything that is not in its place could be in the way of other people. 

Pack your belongings in a flexible container like a bag or a backpack that you can collapse and store away when not in use. Catamarans offer much more room than sailboats due to the two hulls and bigger deck. Select your craft mindful of your and your crew's requirements, i.e. how much space, how many people.

Less space on board leads to more respect for the people that live with you, so please avoid smoking below deck. And if you do it on the deck, pay attention to where the wind blows. 

Another thing to keep in mind while sailing is that the objects around you won't stand still, so if they're not placed in the correct way they will fall or move around. Be mindful of what is in your vicinity, especially of those delicate items that could shatter and be hazardous. A gust of wind or a steer could be enough to make anything that is not fixed fall. 

To make the most of limited space, it is helpful to keep your cabin tidy at all times, making sure you don't leave valuable items around. 

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Living in harmony with the crew

On board, you will be sharing the spaces with a crew of other people. You can carve some self-time and enjoy the holiday, but it will be necessary to collaborate with others and run daily tasks and errands. Assign the tasks to each member before departing, it will be easier to live a stress-free holiday!

Make sure you don't leave dirt behind, especially oily stains. Boat floors are already quite slippery, you don't want other easy ways to fall. Cleanliness is a must on a boat; going barefoot requires a clean floor rather than a build-up of debris.

After having a nice swim, pat yourself dry with a towel as soon as you get on board: by doing so, you won't leave saltwater ponds around the boat - and no slippery floor! For the same reason, try not to go below deck while wet. 

Finally, let's talk about clear water. Even though a boat has enough water storage for all the crew members, it is always good to learn how to save it and avoid useless wastage while showering or cleaning. If you want to know more about saving water onboard, click here to read the article.

And since we've mentioned the shower, always remember to check that the charter company provides towels and linens before departure: they're usually included in the final price, but you never know! 

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The importance of a skipper

A skipper is the captain of the boat and therefore his decisions should be followed at all times. During your holiday, he will split some easy tasks among the crew members, which will help during sailing.

It is a great moment to learn new and interesting notions about the world of sailing, don't miss out! The tasks are generally easy and don't require any specific experience. It will be fun to be part of a sailing crew! 

Hiring a skipper is essential not only when an individual lacks a boating license, but also for having an experienced sailor aboard. His expertise of the sailing area could be key for a memorable vacation, discovering secluded spots, aiding in navigation, and making the trip more relaxed.

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Best boats for beginners

Let's start by saying that the type of boat should be chosen considering the crew's lifestyle and the level of comfort they are looking for during a holiday. Catamarans and sailboat offer different comfort options according to spaces and features of the boats, so the best thing to do would be to take a common decision that could make everyone happy.

Regarding beginners sailors, we always suggest opting for smaller boats, between 34 and 38 feet length, which could ease up harbour maneuver and moorings. If you still prefer 38-feet or longer boats, we recommend choosing one with a bow thruster for easier manuevering performances.

Comfort and performance are the main keywords when choosing the perfect boat. Here are our best options that fit perfectly in this description:

- Beneteau Oceanis 38.1: great cruising performance and comfort

- Bavaria Cruiser 37: balance between harmony and space, perfect for family holidays

- Dufour 390 GL: great boat stability and large spaces

- Dufour 360 GL: great speed and stability, perfect for living onboard

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A one-week sailing holiday is enough time to get used to this amazing experience at sea. Seven days will be enough to slow down and enjoy the moments while having fun and learning new things at the same time! 

Seasickness can be quite common but shouldn't be a big deal: usually, it takes a few hours to get used to the sea movements and you can speed up the process by doing tasks on board that will distract your mind from the shaking. If you still feel unwell, medicines and wristbands are a great solution and can be bought in any local pharmacy. 

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If you think this article was helpful and you're about to leave for a sailing holiday, share it with your crew!