How to Make the Most of Your Summer Sailing Holiday

When we think of sailing holidays, most people think of sunshine, warm winds, crystal clear waters, beautiful scenery and delicious local food. You wouldn’t be far wrong, especially in the summer around the Mediterranean. So how do you improve on this?

The beginning of holidays are always stressful and for some, usually the mums or wives, the holiday begins weeks in advance with what to take. Whether it’s for a week or two or for the lucky few, even longer, here’s an example of what would be in my soft, foldable luggage…

underwear for 10 days – you can do a quick hand wash at some point
4 pairs of shorts
7 t-shirts
1 jumper
4 evening outfits that mix and match
flip flops, deck shoes and evening shoes
rain coat
toiletries
swimwear
towels if needed
hat, sunglasses, sun screen
Most people will spend most of the day in swimwear and shorts and t-shirt. Children especially are quite happy in swimsuits whether they’re on the beach or boat and in the Med everything dries so quickly there’s no harm doing a quick wash if needed.

Once on board, look after yourself but keep a good look out for others too. Problems such as sun stroke and heat stroke sneak up on people and can ruin a holiday for the suffering and others on board. How can you avoid these illnesses?

Drink lots of water each day and evening. Have a beer or a glass of wine but always with a glass of water. Even if you drink tea and coffee, you still need to drink at least 2 litres of water, if not more, to replace the fluids your body looses through sweating in stronger heat than you’re used to.
Wear a hat. An Aussie style hat with a 2 inch brim is best to help keep you cool as well as protecting your eyes from the sun’s glare.
Wear sunglasses. Choose wrap around style sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes.
Use sunscreen. Choose a high factor sun screen to protect you from sun burn, UVA and UVB damage as well as skin cancer.
Wear cool clothing – if you’re not in your swimwear keep cool with cotton and natural fibres.
If you do start to feel unwell, you need to rehydrate yourself. Electrolyte rehydration packs are available in most pharmacies but drinking water will help too. Lie somewhere cool with a gentle breeze and take small sips of water – drinking lots too fast can harm you more.

It won’t be long before attention turns to food. Generally on sunny holidays people don’t eat a lot in the day when it’s hot. Breakfast is best kept simple with pastries from the local bakery, cereal, tea and coffee, orange juice and fresh fruit – remember it’s important to make sure you’re getting all your vitamins and minerals!

Lunch is best eaten under the bimini out of the heat of the midday sun. Again, keep it simple and enjoy light, fresh salads, cold meats, cheeses, bread from the bakery, pasta and pesto, perhaps a special treat from the patisserie, and if you have a freezer an ice cream will go down extremely well!

As for dinner, having spent all day on board, it’s usually nice to take a wander ashore and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant – even if it’s just pizza! Sit down, relax, stop bobbing for a while! Although waterfront restaurants often look the most appealing, they are also usually the most expensive. In France and Italy, try having an aperitif on the waterfront and then moving a street back for dinner. You won’t necessarily get the best views but you can bet you’ll find a much better value and tasty meal.

For the best nights sleep, if you don’t want to pay marina fees, make sure you choose a spot that’s quiet. Whether you like quiet in the form of no noise from others or quiet as in no swell rocking the boat, it’s up to you, but it’s a very lucky sailor that gets both in close proximity to facilities ashore.

Something I’ve learnt from sailing with numerous people is that you must all agree who is the captain for the trip, the day or the manoeuvre. There can only be one captain at any time to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and arguments. It is also the responsibility of the said captain to brief the crew, whether as a whole or individually, in what they would like to be done. With clear communication between everyone on board, many arguments and disagreements can be avoided and a happy group maintained.

Keeping the boat clean inside and out is important and it’s also important that everybody helps. A general list of daily cleaning is useful and if everyone chips in it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes each day. The list doesn’t need to be long either:

clean toilets
sweep through
take rubbish ashore
keep personal possessions tidy and in your own cabin/space
rinse decks and hull with fresh water
tidy lines, ropes, sails
Remember: A tidy ship is a happy ship!

With all these tips followed, hopefully you’ll have an even more fabulous summer sailing holiday!

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Top Lures for Ocean Lovers Taking Sailing Holidays in Mauritius

The incredibly scenic nation of Mauritius is surrounded by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and its lush green isles are a staple for any ocean lover reserving air tickets to the country. Following are the best attractions of a sailing trip in Mauritius.

The beauty of Mauritius according to most international travellers lies in its coastal scenery and one of the best ways to experience this beautiful scenery is by cruise. But for adventure lovers the preferred way is to sail through these pristine waters. Mauritius features many small islets scattered throughout the nearby clear waters of the Indian Ocean that can be explored aboard short scenic flights that are also available for sightseeing. For tourists seeking cheap flights bound for Mauritius for a sailing holiday across its crystal clear waters, following are some of the most scenic attractions in its waters.

Deer Island

Deer Island, popularly known as Ile aux Cerfs, is a small lush green piece of land located close to the main landmass of Mauritius. Apart from sail-boats, many access this destination by purchasing tickets on the cheap ferry service, which operates to the location from various parts of the country. Though thinly populated, this green landmass features a five star resort located close to many pristine sandy strips and is the perfect place to relax. Over the years, thousands of tourists have made a beeline for its shores in search of serenity after disembarking long-haul flights at Mauritius’. A veritable paradise, the Ile aux Cerfs features a wide range of indigenous natural flora and fauna, which are endemic to the area. Ranked among the top haunts visited by sailing enthusiasts travelling to the country, it is truly worth the money spent on tickets aboard long-haul flights and holidays.

le D’Ambre

Many of the sail boat trips operating across the Mauritius tend to converge at the le D’Amber, arguably one of the most scenic places located in the midst of the Indian Ocean. For travellers from faraway lands who book air tickets for a holiday in this picturesque nation, this small piece of green land with its sandy beaches is a dream come true. The upkeep and protection of the natural fauna here is done by the Government of Mauritius and foreign travellers are allowed to come ashore to delve in its sublime serenity. There are many smaller isles with pristine beaches surrounding le D’Ambre; with each as scenic as the other one, it is no wonder why it shows on the itineraries of most nature lovers taking flights to the country.

Flat Island

Known as the le Plate in French, this site is home to two of the currently operational lighthouses in the Mauritius. Entry tickets to the lighthouses are pretty popular among visitors who arrive here on sail-boat trip. The commanding views of the nearby areas are sure to give flights of fancy to anyone who visits here. This is probably the best kept secret among all the scenic destinations in the country and tourists who book air tickets to reach this Indian Ocean nation can ill afford to miss out on this spectacular destination.

lot Gabriel

Located on the northern side of Mauritius, this small isle is visible from the lighthouses on the nearby Flat Island. It is a protected natural reserve and home to numerous indigenous and unique life forms that only add to its charm. Home to unspoilt naturally occurring sandy strips, it is the perfect retreat for a day outing among serene and tranquil surroundings. Swimming or snorkelling off these beaches is also amongst the most popular activities pursued by those booking sailing trips to this paradise. Holidaymakers visiting this incredibly beautiful part of Mauritius are sure to take indelible memories with them on their flights back home.

Round Island

Located half an hour away from the coast of north Mauritius, this isle is among the most popular stopovers included as part of sail boat excursions. This nature reserve is home to numerous indigenous plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world and features numerous white sandy strips perfect for various beach activities. The popular wildlife endemic to this small landmass includes reptile species such as the Round Island boa, skink and gecko. Nature enthusiasts boarding international flights to reach this country should not miss out on an opportunity to observe these unique creatures in their natural habitat.

le aux Benitiers

A small inhabited landmass off the coast of Mauritius, the le aux Benitiers is home to coconut plantation that has existed for nearly a hundred years. Currently operated by a private firm, only a few lucky visitors are able to net entry tickets/passes to this coastal paradise and its unique way of life. Though accommodations available are very basic, its pristine beauty is unlike anything most city dwellers have ever experienced. Holidaymakers interested in bird watching should definitely make their way to the northern part of this lush green plantation, where one can see numerous migratory birds. Although only a few of those purchasing air tickets to arrive in Mauritius make their way to this place, this attraction off the beaten track is sure to be a memorable one. Many fishing sites in the neighbourhood are quite popular for deep sea fishing expeditions taken up by visitors on sailing excursion to the place.

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