Sailing Education Archives

Charter Provisioning

April 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Many charter companies can stock and provision your boat before you arrive. This is a good idea for the basics but there is usually little imagination in the food that is supplied.

Communications while Underway on a Charter

April 6, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Contact between vessels, or a boat and a land station, is usually carried out using VHF (Very High Frequency) radios.

The Deck – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Gaining knowledge about the boat, its systems, and its equipment is a great starting point for any sailing adventure.

Operating the Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Many modern sailboats are equipped with integrated engine throttle and transmission shift systems; called the push-pull cabling system.

Good Captainship

April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Being a good captain on a bareboat charter is a real skill. It is very unlike being a good captain on a military or commercial ship or even a captain in a local yacht race.

The Nautical Chart on a Charter

April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Even though most sailboat charters are within island groups where the next landfall is typically within sight, every boat should be equipped with complete large-scale charts of the area.

Bilge Pumps on a Charter Boat

April 5, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Boats have two types of pumps to empty bilge water; electronic and manually operated.

Charter Local Area Familiarization

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

Once you’ve arrived at the charter base, the company will give you an extensive briefing on the local area, where to sail, where not to sail, and they’ll also give you a recommended route to take for the time that you have allotted.

The Engine – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

While this is a sailing boat propelled by the wind and mostly without the need for burning fossil fuels the most devastating breakdown besides hull failure is the engine.

The Fuel System – Getting Familiar with a Charter Boat

April 4, 2024/by Grant Headifen

While it is reasonably rare to have a fuel problem on a charter it can certainly happen and you should be prepared to apply the (sometimes simple) solution below.