Tips for the Skipper

If you decide to rent a boat without a skipper (bareboat) you need a trusted and experienced captain. This is usually the one who, as a connaisseur, will canvass the renters to reserve the boat for your cruise. The captain must be an adult.

To rent a sailboat, normally you need a valid license.  Depending on the destination you will sometimes need to submit you Nautical CV (resume) for the responsible person in the base to evaluate your navigational skills and experience. In some destination as such as the Caribbean your skills and experience are sufficient even without being in a possession of a valid skipper’s license.  

Make sure you are present at the place of embarkation at the right time and plan a little bit in advance to conduct the methodical inventory of the boat.

Of course, do not forget to check the weather forecast to have a clear vision of the situation, even to tailor your cruise based on the weather conditions.

Before setting sail, make a little briefing with your entire crew, to make sure everyone knows the drill in case of danger or man overboard. Your teammates will be able to be much more responsive and useful in such situation. A good dialogue is essential to the success of your cruise and good understanding among everyone.

It is best to start by cruising a short sail downwind, to test the boat and check that there are no surprises to indicate in the inventory.

It is recommended that during your cruise, once completed the handover of the boat, going as fast as possible to the furthest point to be able to return slowly and not to be late at the return. It is also preferable to prepare a backup route and shelter in case of sudden damage.

Do not forget to warn the port or to call to reserve a place.

If you are sailing with a novice crew, choose a less difficult route.

For summer evenings it’s best to use a gas lamps to light the boat, you will avoid consuming the batteries. Do not forget to turn them off after use!!!

Make good planning for night shifts, explaining beforehand what to do well. Make sure your teammates are not too tired and that they are comfortable with night navigation. Anyhow, you will sleep with “one eye open”.

Finally, do not forget to update your logbook accordingly which is mandatory and represents an official document.

#tips