Whether you’re a seasoned sailor who’s a little rusty, or you’re setting sail in your own charter for the first time, preparation is the key to an enjoyable, successful trip. Planning your travels by boat is all about anticipation, too, and thinking about what will happen should only make you look forward to your holiday even more.
From practical matters like having the right documents on board and checking local regulations, to more fun aspects such as planning your itinerary and booking those must-visit restaurants, there’s a lot to think about as your departure date approaches.
It’s true that chartering a boat can be a bucket list kind of experience. But if you want to make the most of every moment, don’t even think about setting sail before taking care of the following.
Your Complete Charter Pre-Departure Checklist
1. Documentation
When you go on any kind of vacation there will be a list of documentation that you need to bring. This is even truer when it comes to chartering a boat or yacht. You’ll have to ensure you have any required licences, plus your boat rental documents, in addition to the usual items.
Here’s a handy, quick-reference checklist to refer to.
- Passport: Make sure this has sufficient validity remaining for all of the countries you’ll visit.
- Visas: Get any traditional or electronic visas required for wherever you’re heading to.
- Driving licence: An International Driving Permit is recommended, as it’s so widely recognised.
- Cash and debit or credit cards: Carry some local currency with you, as well as plastic. Inform your card issuer and check regarding charges before you travel
- Travel insurance documents: Complete with contact details, as well as what’s covered, in case of a claim.
- Charter hire documents: Make sure you’ve read the Ts & Cs, and have contact details in case you need them.
- Boat licence(s): Find out what documents you’ll need in this boat licence requirements guide.
2. Review local regulations
Check carefully regarding any local regulations. These might apply to the sort of boat licences you’ll need in each country you visit. There may also be rules about matters like where and when you can sail.
If you need guidance, you can contact the Borrow a Boat holiday planners. Also, or alternatively, get in touch with the charter company or boat owner who will have local knowledge. Official government websites can also be a reliable source of information.
3. Itinerary planning
Before you can go any further with trip preparation, you need to consider where you’ll be going. Without doing this, you cannot book a table at a restaurant, check weather forecasts, and so on.
If you want to relax and enjoy your trip, don’t be tempted to cram too much into a short space of time. Allow for any contingencies, and remember that the weather can have a huge effect on sailing times.
Thinking about what you want to do at each stop will help you to work out how much time to spend there.
4. Make reservations at popular restaurants
If you have your heart set on eating at a particular place, then make sure you reserve a table in advance. Restaurants in popular ports of call are understandably in huge demand, so book early to avoid disappointment.
This particularly applies, of course, to Michelin-starred eateries, or restaurants run by celebrity chefs. But it may well also be true of any place to eat that’s highly rated by the public, and/or revered by critics.
If it’s the destination’s number one restaurant on TripAdvisor, for example, then it stands to reason that many visitors are going to want to eat there. In the vast majority of cases, you’ll be able to cancel without penalty if your plans do change.
So you often have nothing to lose by securing your spot – and everything to gain. A fresh seafood restaurant with an ocean view might just turn out to be the most memorable meal of your life so far!
5. Grocery lists and shopping for food and provisions
Unless your charter rental includes staff, and the supply of an on-board catering service, you’ll need to consider what you’re going to eat while you’re away. Before setting off, you’ll need sufficient provisions to last until at least your first stop. It’s best to prepare for all eventualities by taking along extra stocks of non-perishable goods, such as dried and tinned products.
Plan where you’ll do your shopping before you get on the boat. Go online to find the closest supermarket to the port you’ll be picking the boat up from. If in doubt, ask the boat owner or charter company for a recommendation. Don’t forget to allow enough time for this, too, between arrival in the country and check-in at the port.
The best way to create a shopping list is to think about what every person on board will eat for every meal. Don’t forget to cater for children, and anyone on a special diet such as vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. You’ll also need supplies of snacks and drinks.
Here are some ideas for non-perishable grocery items to take on board.
- Breakfast cereals
- Tinned soup
- Baked beans
- Canned vegetables
- Tinned tuna
- Canned pasta – such as spaghetti rings, macaroni cheese, or ravioli
- Tinned potatoes
- Pasta sauces – stir-in sauces are very quick and easy to use
- Tinned meals – like meaty, bean-based or vegetable chilli, stews, curries and so on
- Canned pies – Fray Bentos specialises in these
- Hot dogs – these come in jars or cans
- Basmati rice – microwave pouches or regular packs, depending on whether there’s a microwave on board
- Pasta – you might want to mix up the shapes if you’ll be eating a lot of this
- Instant mash – Idahoan is a good-quality brand
- Noodles – pot noodles and/or instant noodles
- Part-baked baguettes or rolls
- Salt, pepper, and other seasonings such as herbs and spices
- Condiments, preserves, and sauces
- Bottles, cartons, and cans of juice or other soft drinks
- UHT cow’s or plant-based milk
- Tea, coffee, and sugar
- Alcoholic drinks
6. Download helpful boating apps
Boating apps can be really useful, whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced sailor. Here are some popular ones you could take a look at.
Free boating apps:
- Anchor Watch / Alarm: Position logger & alert
- KnowWake: Local services for sailors
- Navily: Marinas and anchorages
- Tides Chart: Check local tides
- VesselFinder: Real-time vessel tracking
- Windfinder: Wind conditions
- Windy: Wind, weather & wave forecasts & alerts
Paid boating apps:
- Animated knots: Tying nautical knots
- iNavx: Handheld chartplotter
- Marine Traffic: Live traffic updates
- Savvy Navvy: For navigation
- SeaHelp: At-sea breakdown service
7. Weather forecasts and tidal information
This is something you won’t be able to do very far in advance. The closer to the time, the more accurate the forecasts will be, though it’s worth looking at this from 10 days before to get some idea of what to expect. Plus, the weather forecast will provide some guidance regarding what to think about packing.
Some of the apps listed above can help with tide and weather forecasts.
8. Check boat condition & equipment
To an extent, you can do this before leaving home, by checking the pictures and documents provided by the boat owner or charter company. Though of course you’ll have to leave that close-quarters inspection until you actually collect your vessel.
The charter company or boat owner should supply any necessary safety equipment. But do double-check that this is all present, correct and in full working order before departing.
Here’s a brief rundown of what you should be checking for.
Required items – essential
- Fire Extinguisher
- Flare
- Horn
- Floatation Devices – wearable and throwable
- Running Lights
Extra safety equipment – optional
- Air Horn (spare)
- Bilge Pump
- Binoculars
- Distress Radio Beacon
- Emergency Raft
- Flags
- Flashlight & Batteries
- GPS
- Navigational Charts
- Mobile or Satellite Phone
- Oars or Paddles
- VHF Radio
There should also be a tool kit and a first aid kit on board. Check out what these should contain with this sailing preparation checklist.
9. Safety protocols
Familiarising yourself with some common sense safety protocols before your sailing trip is also a good idea. Here are some general pointers.
- Make sure everyone on board can swim in the ocean
- Learn to sail before you set off
- Appoint an assistant skipper who can also sail
- Check the boat and all equipment is in good condition
- Locate and ensure all safety equipment is in working order
- Always wear life jackets
- Understand tides, wind, and other weather patterns
- Know what to do in the event of an emergency
- Avoid drinking alcohol before you’ll be skippering
10. Check-in location and briefing
Organising your check-in is one of the most important parts of planning your charter rental. When booking the boat, you should supply your estimated time of arrival (ETA) so the owner or company can plan accordingly.
Do make every attempt to arrive at the marina on time. It’s wise to allow a little more time than you think you’ll need, in case of delays. Remember that finding your way in an unfamiliar destination might take a bit more time.
You may be able to pay extra for an early check-in, if you want one. If you arrive early otherwise, the boat could be ready, but this is not guaranteed. If you know you’re going to be late, contact the company or owner to let them know and make alternative arrangements.
You should be given a briefing on safety, equipment, and operating the boat. Though you’ll be itching to set sail by then, do listen carefully and query anything that isn’t crystal clear. Knowing how to operate the vessel safely could even save your life, so it’s something to take very seriously.