Anyone can take the risk of going to sea on a rented yacht, just not everyone knows how to organize such a trip. In fact, it is much easier than it seems at first glance.
Specialists of the European service Nautal, which allows you to rent yachts around the world, told about simple rules, following which, you can make yourself an unforgettable vacation. Waves, spaciousness and picturesque places will leave vivid impressions that cannot be obtained even in a luxurious five-star hotel.
Choosing a country
Before starting your trip, you should decide on the region. The Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the best for yachting. Even Australians who are not deprived of the sea are ready to fly from the other side of the earth, just to get the opportunity to walk between the Spanish, Greek or Turkish islands. The best time to conquer the Mediterranean is during the high season, when the yacht can be stopped in the middle of the sea and swim at your leisure. The water area of the Mediterranean Sea is safe due to the fact that there are no sharks, poisonous jellyfish and almost invisible tides. You can go from island to island and not worry about anything. In each of the European countries, you can choose a unique route. There are more than two thousand islands in Greece alone - these beautiful places can be explored for half your life. At the same time, Turkey, for example, is considered the most comfortable country for yachting. There, even the smallest marinas and marinas, for example, like Ekinchik near Marmaris, are equipped with amenities for yachtsmen, and if you go to a local restaurant for dinner, you may not have to pay for parking. The main thing is to decide which country to go to for impressions.
Making a route
The most important stage is building a travel route. To do this, you need to understand how many days the charter is designed for. It is impossible to cross the Mediterranean Sea in three days - at best it will be possible to overcome only 60-70 miles and visit a couple of islands. “The Nautal website already has ready-made routes, they are loaded by experienced sailors who know a particular area well,” says Alexandra Tucha, specialist in yacht rental and communication with yachtsmen of the Nautal service. already have experience. "
Experienced captains recommend choosing the shortest distance for the first transition so that on the first day everyone in the team gets used to pitching. In a short time, the body is able to adapt to unusual conditions and stop feeling discomfort. Sometimes even four hours is enough to get used to the waves. On other days, you can spend more time on the open sea, but still you should not overload the body. Therefore, at an average cruising speed of a sailboat of five knots, that is, five miles per hour, it is better to pass 15 to 25 miles per day. If the boat or boat has a different design speed, then you should count in time and spend no more than 4–5 hours on the water. Then you will have time to stroll through small towns and sit quietly in a tavern.
Actually, the most pleasant part of the journey begins with the calculation of the route. After a detailed discussion with like-minded people about the stops and the port of departure, it's time to look for a boat for charter.
We are looking for a suitable marina
Depending on the well-thought-out route, it is necessary to select the locations where the charter yachts are located. For example, in Greece, in the Athens region, there are two large marinas where sailboats, catamarans and other vessels are rented: this is the Alimnos and Lavrio marina located in the city, which is already in the neighboring municipality. If there are no suitable yachts for the period you are interested in in the nearest marina, then it is worth expanding the search area. It may even be necessary to adjust the route if there is a good option, but at a more distant point. In general, when planning a trip, as a rule, they first find a yacht, and then they start looking for suitable air tickets. And if both factors coincide in terms of prices and level of comfort, then you can start renting.
Any setbacks or mismatches shouldn't be frustrating. The sea is a very capricious, but fair element, it will not let you go where you do not need. Therefore, you just need to relax and search.
We book a monohull or catamaran
According to the observations of the Nautal service specialists, sailboats and catamarans with a length of 12 to 14 meters are the most popular in Europe. These ships have several cabins and can accommodate up to 10 people, including the captain. As a rule, they are rented for one week - from Saturday to Saturday. That is, on Saturday, yachtsmen come to the marina, who in the afternoon receive yachts, load provisions from neighboring supermarkets, spend the night in the port, and in the morning, on Sunday, go out to charter. You should come back to the port on Friday, while you can spend the night on the yacht, and return it on Saturday morning. You can also rent a yacht for a multiple of a week. Some companies are ready to rent ships for several days, but in this case it will be much more difficult to find a suitable yacht at an affordable price.
When choosing the right watercraft, it is important to decide for yourself in what conditions you want to spend your time. For example, there are two common options: a monohull boat or a catamaran. They have major differences. An ordinary sailboat is cheaper, but it comes with a normal tilt in the wind of 30%: in this position, you will have to fix all the dishes in the kitchen, and lying on the deck will be somewhat problematic. The catamaran is more stable, it is more convenient to cook and sunbathe on board. However, it is often more expensive. It should be noted that, in addition to the rental price of the vessel, it is necessary to calculate the cost of fuel, food for the crew, the cost of mooring in marinas and a deposit, which for a standard yacht is several thousand euros, but is returned at the end of the trip, after the vessel comes back to port without damage.
Putting together a team
A good team is the key to an interesting yachting trip. Scandals and disputes between people in a small space can ruin life and the whole vacation. Therefore, the choice of travel companions should be taken very seriously. Even if you go on a yacht with old friends, remember that the sea will definitely test your friendship for strength. There were cases when people, after traveling, never spoke to each other again, or, conversely, became best friends.
“The most important travel assistant is the captain,” says Octavi Ouya, CEO of Nautal service. “Most captains have strict rules of conduct, the main one of which is:“ Make the passenger happy. ”With this formulation of the question, it will be easy to solve many problems that arise.” It is not surprising that Russians rent yachts in more than 70% of cases already with a captain - this service costs an additional 150 euros per day, but it saves the team from mistakes that an inexperienced skipper can make.
It is necessary to agree with the team about all the details of the trip while still on the shore. Meet before leaving and honestly discuss everyone's wishes. It is important to understand what each passenger wants: in this case, it will always be possible to come to a compromise option. And remember, the sea will put everything in its place. It is worth relaxing on a yacht and enjoying new experiences and the salty wind.
We pack things
The sailors have a rule: any suspicions are interpreted for the worse. And if there is a possibility of bad weather, then it cannot be ignored. A waterproof jacket, non-slip shoes, a cap and sunglasses must be included in your luggage. Moreover, instead of a suitcase that would be difficult to fit on board, it is recommended to pack your belongings in a gym bag.And do not forget about swimming trunks and swimwear, otherwise what is the point in such a trip at all?
