Prepping for a Holiday on a Sailing Yacht – Where on Earth Do You Start?
A couple of months to go before stepping aboard a yacht…
Excitement rising.
Mild panic setting in.
Visions of turquoise water – mixed with quiet worries about knots, seasickness and whether you’ve packed the wrong shoes.
Whether you’re chartering in the Mediterranean, crewing for friends, or finally trying life beyond the Thames and the RS Toura, here’s a calm, practical place to begin.
1️⃣ Start With the Sailing Itself
Before buying a single item of kit, ask:
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Are you the skipper or crew?
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Is this bareboat charter or flotilla?
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Coastal pottering or offshore passages?
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Warm Med sunshine or Atlantic breeze?
If you sail regularly at somewhere like Upper Thames Sailing Club, you already understand wind awareness, sail trim and boat balance. What changes at sea is scale, systems, and seamanship.
If you haven’t helmed a yacht before, consider:
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A refresher weekend
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Revising basic yacht terminology (winches, halyards, reefing, heads, guardrails)
Confidence reduces stress enormously.
2️⃣ Get Your Paperwork Sorted Early
Not glamorous. But essential.
✔ Passport validity
✔ Travel insurance (declare sailing!)
✔ EHIC/GHIC card (if Europe)
✔ Any qualification certificates (Day Skipper etc.)
✔ Charter contract and damage deposit details
If hiring abroad, check licence requirements early. Some countries are stricter than others.
3️⃣ Think Clothing – But Think “Boat Practical”
You need far less than you think.
The golden rules:
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Non-marking deck shoes
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Light waterproof (even in summer)
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Hat with retainer
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Sunglasses with strap
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Sailing gloves
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Soft holdall (hard suitcases are boat-hostile!)
Even in the Med, evenings can feel chilly under way.
And yes, things will get damp.
4️⃣ Seasickness – Plan for It Even If You “Never Get Ill”
Confidence is admirable. Preparation is wiser.
Options:
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Stugeron (if suitable for you)
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Acupressure wristbands
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Ginger products
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Stay hydrated
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Stay on deck, eyes on horizon
The first 24 hours are often the bumpiest — body adjusting, not necessarily weather worsening.
5️⃣ Learn the Boat Systems
Unlike a dinghy, a yacht has:
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Engine controls
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Battery systems
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Water tanks
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Gas systems
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Marine toilet (with rules!)
Nothing creates tension faster than someone not knowing how the loo works.
Have a proper handover briefing. Take notes. Ask questions.
6️⃣ Food & Provisioning Strategy
Are you marina-hopping with supermarkets nearby?
Or anchoring in quiet bays?
Plan:
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Breakfasts (easy and consistent)
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Simple lunches
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2–3 “proper” evening meals
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Snack drawer (vital morale tool)
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Plenty of water
Avoid complicated first-night cooking. The crew will be tired.
7️⃣ Safety Mindset
Even on a relaxed holiday:
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Know where lifejackets are
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Understand jackstays and harness points
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Know the man-overboard procedure
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Keep one hand for the boat
If you already volunteer on safety duty at your club, you understand how quickly situations escalate. Offshore, response times are longer.
Calm competence beats bravado every time.
8️⃣ Tech & Navigation
Are you:
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Using paper charts?
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Relying on plotters?
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Backing up with Navionics?
If you’ve enjoyed plotting routes on the Thames or following river marks, this is simply the bigger version.
Bring charging cables. Label them. There are never enough sockets.
9️⃣ Mental Preparation
This isn’t a hotel.
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Cabins are small
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Showers are brief
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Space is shared
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Wind changes plans
But…
Morning coffee at anchor.
Sailing into a new harbour under canvas.
Sunsets at sea.
Worth every minor inconvenience.
A Simple 8-Week Countdown Plan
8 weeks: Confirm bookings, check passports
6 weeks: Order kit you don’t own
4 weeks: Refresh sailing knowledge
3 weeks: Medical kit & insurance
2 weeks: Provision planning
1 week: Soft bags packed, weather checked
Departure day: Relax — adventure begins
If you sail regularly on a river, a yacht holiday is not a leap into the unknown — it’s a widening of the playground.
And who knows… once you’ve done it, the Thames may feel very small indeed.
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