Bareboating Basics

Choose a Captain

Most charter companies will require a sailing résumé before renting you a craft. Though it’s not necessary to have owned a yacht, they will be looking for boating experience. If you’re a relative novice, a skipper may join you for a test run, or you can hire a captain for the whole trip, usually an extra $125 to $175 per day. It is advisable to have an experienced sailor on board for your first charter.

Sailing Tips Essentials - Ten Tips to Make You a Better Sailor!

What top ten sailing tips will help you enjoy sailing in the most fun and safe way? You might be surprised to know that it all starts long before you step aboard your sailboat. Use these little known secrets for day sailing, weekend cruising, or for coastal and offshore sailing. 

1. Pack the Right Clothes.

There's a saying that goes something like this "There is no such thing as bad weather-only bad clothes". Makes a lot of sense-in particular in a dynamic environment like sailing. Put together a small duffel bag with the "must have" sailing gear. Include a foul weather jacket, complete change of clothes, wide-brimmed hat. That way, if you get spray or rain or stay out longer than expected, you will stay dry and warm (or cool) in most any sailing weather.

A DIY Solution to Tired Standing Rigging

By Sebastian Smith • Posted: Mar 17, 2014

The entire job was done with the mast still standing.
Photo courtesy of Sebastian Smith

Along with a watertight hull and robust steering gear, there’s a third prerequisite for seaworthy sailboats: strong standing rigging.

Before the round-Atlantic voyage we’re now partway through, I worked hard to ensure our Valiant 40 Moon River was up to speed in the first two departments. But I dreaded the expense and difficulty of changing the rigging on her 55-foot mast for a couple of reasons.

First, I had zero experience with wire rigging, but could not afford to bring in a professional rigger at $100-plus an hour. Second, the Morris Yacht Club on City Island, New York, where I kept Moon River didn’t have a crane big enough to pluck out the spar. I’d have to do everything with the mast up.