How to Plan a Sailing Trip – Step by Step Guide!

The first step in planning a sailing trip is determining the cost of such a venture. Calculating a budget and sticking to it as you plan your trip is essential to a well-organized and smooth running vacation.

If you are planning a trip with other charterers, split the cost among the other sailors on board the vessel to make it fair and cut down on the costs for any one individual.

Planning ahead for both basic necessities and other details, even the most trivial, can save a charterer a lot of time, money, and frustration!

Choosing the Right Boat

The choice of boat is largely dependent upon personal tastes, preferences, and budget constraints, but there are plenty of yachts from which to choose.

Some vessels differ greatly while others may vary only slightly or superficially. Once a budget is decided upon, begin searching for charters that fall into your price range. After the range is determined, you can start cutting down your options by the type of boat, amenities available, and other perks or options for a particular vessel.

The best advice is to research sailboats and find which type fits your needs best. If it fits within your budget, extras and add-ons can always be included later, but the first decision should always be the boat itself and you can build from there.

Always find out about a boat’s safety equipment and features, the electronics system, and amenities and basic necessities that are provided. You should not be surprised by what is and is not included on a boat when you set foot on it for the first time.

Air Travel & Hotels

Often overlooked is the cost of airfare, which is not included in the price of boat charter fees. For convenience, many charter companies have travel agents or a recommended agent who will help clients book air travel and hotels as needed, often for discounted or special rates. In addition to travel, the cost is needed for provisioning.

Provisions are another cost that is not included in an initial boat charter price unless it is part of a special package. However, packaged provisions are usually only intended to last the first few days of a sailing trip. These provisions are simply to get sailors out on the water sooner upon arrival.

If you decide to shop for your own provisions, you can expect to spend the first day of your trip stocking up on supplies and not out on the water. Either option should be decided in advance to avoid additional delays.

In turn, always book your flights after you have determined that the boat you are planning to the charter will be available for the time you want it. This is why advanced planning is necessary, or you could be stuck with plane tickets or a boat that will not meet your needs or expectations.

Agreements, How to Protect Both Sides?

Booking a charter boat takes a bit more than a verbal agreement. A deposit is required to hold the vessel you’ve chosen and a contract will need to be signed. The contract is meant to protect the charter company and the charterer should any problems arise.

A contract typically details information about insurance and liability information, policies regarding cancellations, and rules for the expected condition and handling of the sailboat.

Before signing a contract, ask questions regarding the loss of sailing time due to weather or other possible circumstances, refund policies, boat delivery, price breakdowns (including rental fees and additional charges), and policies and procedures for charter boat issues.

Once a contract is agreed upon and signed, you will begin sending incremental payments until the entirety of the cost of the charter has been paid. Once a sailing trip is completed, upon inspection of the boat, the initial security deposit will be returned to the charterer within 10 business days.

 

The Benefits of a Sailing Trip

The benefits of a sailing trip can be summed up in a single word: options. Chartered sailboat trips give you and your guests many options to help you create the trip you’ve always wanted to take with a budget that meets your needs.

Price ranges and types of sailboats go hand in hand, and you can have your pick among different sizes, accommodations, and luxury add-ons. Destination options are also numerous and varied depending on the location. Charterers can explore the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or any other site that charters boats.

A sailing trip affords sailors freedom, sunshine, and easy access to the water without the hassle and extra cost of hotel rooms. Anything extra you decide to buy of participating in is your choice, but you can stick exclusively to the boat if you choose. Very few vacations have everything you need in one place!

 

Conclusion

Making plans for a sailing trip can be almost as much fun as the trip itself. The process of researching sailboats and making the final decisions builds anticipation for the real thing.

The more involved and aware you are of the planning that goes into the vacation, the less likely it is for unexpected issues to arise simply because they were not considered beforehand.

Organization can be your best friend when you find yourself onboard your chartered vessel, especially if you are a novice sailor. Planning shouldn’t begrudgingly be done, but wholly embraced and made to be the first part of your sailing adventure!

Have you been on a sailing trip?  Please, feel free to share your own experience by leaving a comment below.