Thinking About Going on a Sailboat Charter? Always Remember These Safety Tips

1. August 7, 2017 If you're looking to get away from it all for a little while, consider going sailing. It offers you a vacation unlike any other. After all, sailing gives you the unique opportunity to view your world from off the coast. Surrounded by tranquil waters you can easily de-stress and be free from any sort of distraction. 1

2. Sailing has also been shown to be incredibly good for you. For starters, the sound of the wind in the sails as well as the splashing and swooshing of water has been found to affect brainwave patterns, soothing it to bring out your inner calm. The saltiness in the sea air also contains some charged ions that help the body absorb more oxygen. This in turn, balances your serotonin levels, the very hormones that make you happier. Now, when you want to have the ultimate getaway, it's not necessary for you to invest and maintain a boat of your own. Consider instead privately chartering a boat for yourself and perhaps, a few of your closest friends. This way, you can have all the privacy that you want and can spend the day sailing to spots of your choice instead of going with the boat's regular itinerary. In fact, a crewed private charter can even create your very own wildlife adventure where you can spend the day spotting sea lions, seals, dolphins, and whales. Clearly, chartering your own boat would guarantee you and your friends a memorable time. That said, it's also important to make sure that you stay safe as you go on your sailing adventure. To help you, here are a number of sailboat charter safety tips to keep in mind: Be Smart About the Weather Be sure to check the local weather before your departure. Listen to television or radio for the day's weather forecast. Check online with a reliable weather service. On the other hand, weather near the sea can be very dynamic during certain times of the year. if you see that clouds are already starting to darken and the winds are picking up, it's better to postpone your sailing for another day. Go Through a Pre-Departure Checklist Before you go on your adventure, it's always advisable to have a pre-departure checklist. You use it to make sure that there are lifejackets, sound producing devices, navigation lights, and distress signal devices onboard before you leave the port. If you charter a crewed craft, all these details are taken care of for you. 2

3. Prepare Your Float Plan As an added safety precaution, you should prepare a float plan and give it to a friend, family member or a staff member at the port. Typically, the float plan includes your name, the boat type, your trip itinerary and the types of communication and signal equipment available onboard. Put Your Lifejacket On or Keep it Close By The moment you set sail, it is wise to wear your lifejacket or at least, keep it as close to you as possible. More often than not, the most tragic sailing accidents happen due to passengers not wearing their lifejackets. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 90 percent of boat fatalities are due to drowning because victims were not wearing lifejackets. Follow all of these tips and your sailing adventure should be enjoyable and hassle free. Enjoy your time on the water. Better yet, make it an annual activity with your friends. As you make your way back to shore, talk about when everyone is free to charter a sailboat again! About Schooners North: Our team at Schooners North specializes in creating memorable sailing experiences for all of our guests. We offer both public and private sailboat charters aboard our 80' wooden schooner Spike Africa, which you can enjoy with some of your close friends and family. We also offer memorable meals while you are out on the water. Contact their friendly team for more details. Sources: Guidelines for Staying Safe on Your Sailboat, thoughtco.com Safe Boating Tips, discoverboating.com Pre-Departure Checklist, discoverboating.com Boat safety tips, dnr.wi.gov 3