FAQ

Trips offered by us are hands – on training, mile building and team building adventure events. It is not luxury charter. We assume that participants are willing to learn new skill – sailing henceforth everyone on the trip is treated like a crew. It means that you’ll have opportunity to help docking, navigate, steer, set sails, stand watch, tie knots, and do all the sailors do while they’re on a passage.

Sailing is this type of skill that requires significant amount of knowledge to absorb. This knowledge only partially can be found in books or tutorials. It is the best just to try doing it under supervision of someone more experienced. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit some new places, do some sightseeing and just enjoy different type of holiday.

During the trip you’ll cooperate, interact and basically live onboard with other participants.

Please note, that joining the trip implies that you’ll participate in everyday duties like for example cooking meals. We’ll prepare rota so everyone will take their turns. And no need to worry if you aren’t Master Chef.

Note that if you come alone, you may need to share a cabin with someone you’ve never met before it may require from you open mindness and tolerance. If you value your privacy – consider booking the whole cabin for yourself or bring someone with you. 

Seasickness is natural and happens to almost everyone. Usually lasts first 24 – 48 hours while at sea. Habit is to ‘acclimate’ the crew if only route permits. The first leg is planned for 10 – 12 hours, and then the sailboat goes to the marina for overnight rest. Based on my observations on the next day, most of the people are not falling sick again.

Most important is not to surrender but do something. Hand steering is probably the best remedy because it makes people focus on a compass, and the inner ear calms down. You may also try to have a conversation with someone, take photos, etc.

Pharmaceuticals will help but will make you feel sleepy and without energy. They say that ginger help, as well as a special armband, which are acupressure – like remedy. I’ve heard they work on some people, but honestly never met anyone like that in person. Actually, after ginger, I’ve seen quite the opposite results

It is essential to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and try to eat.

Most importantly is to stay safe while trying to ‘return’ content of the stomach. It is better to do it on deck rather than overboard. If you fall off the boat – it is a life-threatening situation. The deck can be washed with a bucket of water.

There are four cabins on board. Three with double berths and one with bunk berth. You’ll stay in one of those cabins. Obviously, if you come as a couple – you’ll stay together. I’ll try to accommodate single travelers in the cabin with bunk beds, but if the majority of the crew will come single – no choice there. Look deeply into each other eyes and chose your partner in crime.

You may as well purchase ‘single cabin occupancy’ price is 50% on top of the trip price. You can as well sleep in the convertible saloon, but please note that it is a public place where people socialize and central communication passage on the yacht. You won’t have too much privacy.

One cabin is for skipper’s exclusive use.

The boat is registered for 8 people, including the skipper. So it will be seven crew on one cruise.

Can I buy a place to sleep in a convertible salon?
Yes, but only if all other places are sold out. Please note that I offer a single occupancy service, which means that you will sleep in the salon, and people who purchased ‘singles’ will stay in their cabins alone.

Skipper always tries to complete the trip to 100%. However – weather conditions or malfunctions may cause diversions. It is never optimal for anyone, but well – this is sailing. The skipper will always try to get you to the destination as close as possible to minimize hassle.

Trips are planned with a large buffer of time. Sailing, as such, is scheduled to take a maximum of 50% of the time allocated for a particular stage.

For example, there are 250 nautical miles to complete within 168 hours (a week). Typically covering 250 nautical miles takes around 50 hours (average speed of 5 kt.) It means that cruise can be completed within 29% of the allocated time.

We aim to arrive at the destination latest by 10 o’clock on the morning of the last day of the cruise. Keep that in mind, while arranging your travel.

Please note as well that safety is the top priority, weather can impact safety and can also affect on-time performance. If the weather will because of diversion I cannot take any responsibility for travel arrangements and associated costs.

Should such unfortunate events occur, and we divert more than 150 km from the planned destination (in the straight line), as compensation, I’ll give you a voucher with a 50% discount for a cruise next season.

The same way I’ll treat those who will have to come to a different place for the start of their cruise.

I think it is fair.

Official check-in is at 17:00 on the first day of the cruise. If the yacht is in the harbor earlier, and there is a space available – you can come a day earlier. Day of crew change is the cleaning, provisioning, and maintenance day as well, so you’ll witness all those and may participate if you wish to do so. I suggest you arrive in the town of embarkation one day earlier and depart one day after finishing the trip. It will allow you some time for sightseeing. Should you decide to show up a day earlier – it will be great to say hello, but cannot guarantee you that I’ll have a place to accommodate you if there is a place – no problem to stay one night longer.

Preferably by 12 o’clock on the last day of the trip. I need some time to clean and to shop.
If there will be a place on the boat, and I’ll not depart on the same day in the evening – no problem if you stay one more night.

At the beginning of each cruise, the skipper sets the schedule of cooking (galley watch), and those who are on duty on this day are responsible for food. The skipper will try to make at least one meal a day, but please note that he also has other duties, so he might not be able to do so.
In the harbor, we may decide to go to the restaurant together instead of cooking onboard.

Usual home-cooked food. Most popular is usually spaghetti or risotto.

Marinas usually have facilities of that kind. On the yacht, there are two bathrooms. One is for ladies and one for gentlemen. They are cleaned once a day. There is hot water, and if it isn’t, let know the skipper. As a courtesy to the others – clean the bathroom after you use it.

Most importantly, don’t throw ANYTHING into the toilet. Sewage pipes are thin and get clogged instantly.

During longer passages – please be mindful of how you use water. The water tank is big, but still, it has limited capacity (500 liters).

If you chose to go on one of the longest passages in the offer – please take wet wipes with you. Don’t dispose of any of those into the toilet.

Did I mention not to dump anything into the toilet?

Nothing special. Just bring good humor and enjoy your sailing holiday. It’s advisable to have a look at the list of the equipment recommended to bring. If you have sailed before and you’ve brought your certificate of competence and logbook. It is worth practicing tying up knots, especially: bowtie line and cleat.

If you’d like to get prepared better for a trip, have a look at the offer of sailing courses, for example by NauticED

Listen to what skipper says, especially what he mentioned during the safety briefing. The skipper will explain rules to remain safe onboard. Read standing orders available on the vessel.
Other than that: whenever you move on the yacht – secure yourself by catching assist handles, elements of furniture (try not to grab stuff that may break, like i.e., GPS antenna). Wear a safety jacket, secure yourself with safety harness when you are on the deck and swell is high. Don’t use an open fire. Be careful while cooking. Don’t consume alcohol while offshore. Communicate about your doubts and fears, and ask. There are no stupid questions.

It is also worth making some sailing training. Some of it can even be acquired free charge, for example at NauticED

There is no one “profile” of the people who participate in such trips. The age span ranges from 16 to 75 y.o. Occasionally there are families with children. Participants might be international. Some of them have some sailing experience others don’t have any.

All of them are connected by being wonderful human beings, loving sea, and adventures.

Yes, you can. For little children, I suggest cruises with more of ‘land time’. Sailing is great for upbringing children and youths. Teaches discipline, teamwork, cooperation, and is an adventure. Imagine your toddler standing on the helm of 12-tonne sailboat. Imagine his satisfaction.

Please let me know well in advance that you bring your kids with you. I’ll need to buy additional safety equipment, and for the lifejacket choice, I’ll need to know the approximate weight of your child and buy some toys or books.

In my view, four – five-year-olds can participate in a trip of that kind.

Teenagers can come by themselves, but you’ll need to provide me with a statement allowing it.
I agree to have onboard maximum one unassisted minor between 16 – 18 y.o.

Kids up to 15 y.o. Only under the supervision of the adult.

To confirm the reservation, I require 50% of the advance payment. The remaining amount can be wire – transferred at any moment before the beginning of the trip or by cash when you are already on board.

After I receive advance – I’ll send you an e-mail confirmation. It may take a few days- sometimes I don’t have access to the internet.

Important: please use the trip code as a title of the transfer. It makes my life m easier.

Most likely I am offshore without an access to the phone and the internet. I’ll respond for sure once I’m closer to the shore.

In the course of most of the trips – yes. There will be one or two nights at sea needed. It will be an exciting experience for you, for sure

Passport or ID card. You must have all documents valid and comply with cross border policy in the country of arrival and departure. I will check documents at the beginning of the trip, and if you are missing any of them – I will not take you. This is your obligation to make sure you have checked your traveling restrictions.

Bring as well a certificate of competence if you have any and logbook if you collect miles. Make sure you have travel insurance or European Health Insurance Card with you.

Please note that due to development of COVID 19 certain states require various types of documentation that may need to be presented on the border. Please try to follow news in this regard, and prepare whatever might be needed.

Alcohol is not allowed while at sea in the harbor up to you. Tobacco can be smoked outside on the deck but on the lee – side of the boat, so you don’t smoke on non-smokers.

Drugs (including marijuana) – absolutely and strictly forbidden. If I only notice that you try to bring something like that onboard – I offload you immediately, and on top of that, I notify the police. I’m sorry to be that strict, but I’d not like to have vessel detained.

If you get drunk while we are at sea – I’m offloading you in the nearest harbor and don’t reimburse costs. I like to have a drink myself, but the sea is just not the best place for alcohol parties.

No. Boat’s construction can stand conditions of the wind force above 8B, and swell larger than 4 meters, but it is very uncomfortable and might be dangerous.

Stages of the journey are planned with a lot of margin for bad weather. A tactic in such a case is to wait in the harbor in case it occurs. Harbor is actually the best place to enjoy the storms and gales. If there is a storm warning issued – there is no discussion about departing from the harbor.

I prefer to come late and make you travel some additional kilometers to the airport rather than put all of us in a hazardous situation

Yes, on marinetraffic.com, or in-app Marine Radar. Please remember that signal from AIS (automatic identification of ships, showing our speed and position) works on the radio network. It means that we’re not always visible as we might be too far from the ground station, and there are no ships around to relay our signal. Inform them about it, that you may occasionally disappear for several hours. If you want your family to have peace of mind – ask me what our estimate is to the next harbor and let them know. Besides – feel free to write on your social media how much do you like being on the trip 😉

It is best to consult your doctor if that type of activity will be suitable for you. Definately you must bring your medicines in the amount exceeding your needs for the period (e.g. take 10 days supply for 7 days trip). Make sure to tell skipper about your condition and instruct him how to help you if it gets worse.