Tips for First-Time Sailors in Croatia

You’ve decided to go sailing for the first time on your vacation. Well done! Whether you’ve been invited as a guest or are organizing the trip yourself with family or friends, it’s an exciting way to spend your vacation. However, before you step onboard, there are a few essential tips that can help you prepare for your first sailing adventure. Let’s go over the most important ones together.

Packing Light and Smart

Staying on a sailboat is a unique and luxurious experience, but when it comes to space for your belongings, don’t expect the same. Each cabin has only a few closets and drawers, so it’s important to plan ahead and pack your clothing carefully. If you’ve ever been camping, you have an idea of how much stuff you need and how limited the space can be. It’s the same with sailing boats. Also, another thing to have in mind is the weather. As they say, there is no such thing as wrong weather, only wrong clothing.

Sunprotaction is a must

In addition to packing clothes, it’s also important to think about packing cosmetics and medicine. The same rule applies as with clothes—keep things to a minimum, but some items are essential. As the title suggests, sunscreen is a must since you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors. No matter the time of year, the sun can be harmful without proper protection. 

Anticipate Seasickness

Anticipate the possibility of seasickness, but don’t be afraid of it. What does this mean? There are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of seasickness, which we will outline here or read our full blog on the topic of seasickness. However, our goal is not to alarm you in advance, especially if you haven’t thought about this before. Keep in mind that if you worry about getting seasick, you are more likely to experience it. Therefore, we recommend a relaxed approach, with an awareness of the possibility and a few tips to improve the situation.

First and foremost, arrive on the boat well-rested and refreshed. If you have the opportunity to spend the night on the boat before sailing, that’s even better. You’ll be able to adjust more easily to the upcoming conditions. Also, avoid certain foods that contain histamine, such as fermented foods (aged cheese, wine, and sauerkraut), processed meats, smoked fish, vinegar, and certain vegetables (like tomatoes and eggplants). One food that is believed to help alleviate symptoms is ginger, although there are no studies that clearly confirm this. If other crew members allow it, choose a cabin in the middle of the boat, as these tend to sway less. Additionally, cabins with windows are a much better option than those without.

Prepare your groceries

If you haven’t hired a chef during your stay on the boat, food is one of the points you should consider before boarding. Whether you are the person in the group taking on this responsibility or if several of you are deciding together, consider the number of passengers, the number of meals, and the planned route. Our advice is to stock the refrigerator before setting sail from the marina so that this task doesn’t weigh on your mind. If you plan to make stops in populated areas, that’s a good opportunity to restock your supplies. We’re not saying it’s a major issue, but it is definitely something to think about and plan ahead for in agreement with the entire crew. Anyway, we assume you will also visit some local restaurants along the way. For further research: other blogs might come in handy – 7-day menu on board or how to cook like a pro on board, boat supply in Split & boat supply in Rogoznica.

Plan the sailing route ahead

When you rent your sailing boat, you have complete freedom to choose where you will sail during your trip, where you will spend the night, where you will anchor, and when you will set off. However, it is not advisable to think about your travel route once you set sail. Do this in advance. Research the area, consider everyone’s interests, and choose a route that suits your style (check out our sailing routes). Finally, if you want to avoid the stress of planning your route for the first time sailing experience, navigating restricted marine zones, and dealing with docking issues, we recommend hiring a skipper. This will certainly help you relax and make the most of your vacation.

Be humble with water consumption

Another thing to be aware of before your first sailing experience is water consumption. The freshwater capacity is limited. Boats are equipped with one or two water tanks, and you can only refill the tanks in a marina or harbor. It’s used for showers, food preparation, and washing dishes. Most larger boats/yachts also have watermakers and this gives you more flexibility on your sailing route.

Therefore, be cautious with your usage. You don’t always have to take a full shower; rinsing just your face and hair might be enough or use the stern shower to reduce water usage. For drinking, don’t use the water from the water tanks. Equip the boat with enough bottled water, as even unboiled tank water may cause stomach issues. While you can refill tanks at marinas along the way, it’s definitely advisable to be humble with your water usage.

Toilet use

One of the most important things to pay attention to for first-time sailors is the use of the toilet. As an adult, you may think you know everything about using a toilet by now; however, the toilet on a boat has its own specificities. These specifics can vary from boat to boat, and the best advice is to ask the marina crew how to use it. However, some general advice is that you should not throw the following into the toilet: toilet paper, (wet) wipes, sanitary pads, food scraps, and anything else that could clog the pipes. This is very important to remember because, besides not being able to use the toilet during your trip, unblocking services incur additional charges. Read one of our most popular blog posts on the topic – how to save 300 EUR.

Proper behavior on board

Although this will be your first time sailing experience, we believe you are already aware of certain details related to staying on a boat. The deck can be slippery, and running is generally not recommended. Move cautiously while sailing and use handrails to avoid risks.

Wear appropriate footwear, preferably with non-marking rubber soles or at least shoes with white soles to avoid leaving marks on the boat. Additionally, space on the boat is limited, which means you should be considerate of others’ privacy. Keep in mind that not everyone’s the same; some people may enjoy solitude, reading a book, listening to music, or simply soaking in the beauty of the horizon without wanting to be disturbed. On the other hand, it’s important to be aware of your behavior. Boats are not soundproof, and your movements and conversations in the cabin can easily be heard, which can disturb other passengers, especially at night.

None of these tips are rocket science, but as you can agree, they are worth keeping in mind!