FAQ’s | Sailing The Med

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Getting There & Visas

1. How do I get there?

Ans. Please CLICK HERE and select your trip. Scroll to the bottom where you will find more information on getting there.

1 week prior to your trip, you will receive detailed instructions via email on how to get to the precise location for your yacht.

2. What airlines should I use?

Ans. We suggest you use www.momondo.co.uk and www.skyscanner.net to compare prices. Build your Trip as 2 x one way journeys to find the best prices.

3. Do I need a VISA?

Ans. UK nationals and all European nationalities will NOT need a Visa for Croatia, Italy or Spain. Australians, Kiwis and Americans do not need a visa for these countries either. South Africans travelling on their SA passport will NEED a visa for Croatia and must apply at least 1 month prior to arrival.

4. What about travel insurance – do I need that?

Ans. YES. You MUST have your own travel insurance. We will always look after you as best we can and we hold a Public Liability Insurance. Not all insurers cover you and your possessions when on a sailing holiday. You should check with your insurer well before you depart. If your insurance is up for renewal we highly recommend – TOPSAIL Insurance. They have single trip and annual policies that will 100% cover you for incidents related to being on a sailing holiday.

Extra Cost

1. Are there any additional costs?

Ans. Food and drink and mooring fees are not included in our “Bareboat” holidays. We ask all persons to contribute at least €100 across the week towards shopping for food & drinks. This will mostly be for breakfast and lunch on the yacht we well as marina fees which vary according to time of year and choice of location for the night. This amount is managed by the crew and skipper during the week and may be less or slightly more depending on crew desires.

2. How much does a Marina cost?

Ans. It varies (widely) even from week to week in high season. Average cost is about €6-10 per person for the boat to moor up overnight, but includes access to onshore facilities like showers etc. Sometimes we anchor outside a marina, and use the dinghy (rubber duck boat) to go ashore – it means we can dive overboard in the morning for a swim before breakfast.

3. What about evening meals?

Ans. We have excellent local knowledge and have organised discounted group dinners at a number of locations in truly amazing settings. Cost for dinner can range between €7 (if you just want a simple pizza) up to €30 if you want seafood main, entrée and drinks. Your lead skipper has undertaken research to ensure your palate will be satisfied during the week and the trip is as much about gastronomic delights as it is about the sights.

What To Bring

1. What should I pack?

Ans. Travel Bag
Pack in a soft duffel-type bag to maximise space on the yacht, no hard suitcases where possible.

Apparel

Bathing suits/shorts x 1 (for the guys) x 7 (for the girls) 🙂
Deck shoes or non marking trainers, flips-flops/sandals
At night, restaurants are casual – shorts are fine
Sunglasses x 2 and a hat x 2 (essential)
Evenings can be cool – bring something warm (jacket)
Waterproof jacket (it may rain)

Toiletries

High factor sunscreen & Aftersun
Cleansing wipes & Lip balm (with SPF)
Anti-nausea medication if you get sea sick

Essentials and nice to have’s

Phone charger and battery pack
Disposable underwater camera / GoPro
Your own water bottle to minimise plastic use
A book for down time
Earplugs and an eye mask
Towel

Documents

Travel insurance (ESSENTIAL – see below)
Valid passport
Euros – You must have at least €50 cash for contribution towards the kitty

What not to pack

Heavy clothing
Expensive jewellery
Linens and pillows, they’re provided for you

Who Am I Sailing With?

1. What kind of people will be on the yacht with me?

Ans. Friends of friends!
Captains James and Simon are originally Sydney men who have lived in the UK for over 10 years. Our skippers are friends who have learnt to sail with us. They are London based professional people and they bring their friends and partners providing a very different experience to flotillas where there is a local kid skipper!
We get a great mix of quality people each year who like to take a real holiday, slightly off the beaten trail, in true adventure style.

2. Ages? Am I too young or too old?

Ans. 30-55!
We have a mixture of great people we have friended over the years from Sailing, Dancing and antipodeans who have settled in the UK. We also welcome a number of people who fly over each year from the US, Australia, and various countries in Europe. One thing we always check is that the group is balanced on each yacht and that everyone will get along. Age is a mindset on our trips but the age group can range from 30 – 55 years of age with a few outliers who are the life and soul of our trips.
An amazing mixture of single people, couples, and free spirits who never grew up! We don’t discriminate on age but rather “vet” each and every person who comes to make sure they’d be a good fit. Let’s be honest – an interesting person 10 years younger (or older) than you is far better than an annoying person your own age!

Where Do We Stay?

1. Sleeping arrangements

Ans. Bunk beds or double beds – sharing.
The boat has comfortable accommodation for 8 – 10 people depending on your yacht. Each cabin sleeps 2 persons. Unlike other Med operators who still charge more than Us, we do NOT have 2 people sleeping in the saloon (your lounge), nor does the skipper sleep in the saloon. Each yacht has a min of 2 or 3 wet room style bathrooms with hot and cold water. Ladies sometimes find it preferable to shower in the evening at the marinas’ shower facilities. Each boat comes with linen so you will NOT need to bring any bed linen. We do suggest you bring an extra towel however.

2. Do we anchor? Do we visit Marinas?

Ans. We like to have 3-4 nights in marinas/town harbours or quays and 3 nights at anchor in secluded bays/coves where your morning ‘shower’ entails diving over board into pristine water. Each has their pros and cons as you will discover so we ensure that we have a nice balance between both.

3. What if I want to go ashore to explore a village or town?

Ans. Go for it!
Just let us know when you’ll be back. If a few people really like a location we can extend our stay and alter the itinerary.

On Board

1. Will I have mobile phone coverage?

Ans. Yes. You must ensure you fully understand the roaming rates and charges from your own mobile provider – they can catch you with hidden charges – make sure you get a copy of the terms and conditions, and phone them to ask.

2. Will I have internet access?

Ans. Yes, in the evenings there is almost always access to a WIFI connection either at restaurants or cafes. There will also be cellular data available most of the day on each yacht.

3. Does the boat have electricity?

Ans. The boat has 240V electricity with European plugs but these are limited to use when in harbour. There is a 12V supply with an inverter for charging low current essential devices (mobile phones, camera batteries, etc.)

4. What facilities are there on the boat?

Ans. A fully stocked kitchen with gas cooking hob, a fridge plus a cool box. Showers on board, At least 2 toilets & showers, electricity, some cool sat nav. devices and loads of beautiful maps. Tea, coffee & essentials.

5. What facilities are there in Marinas?

Ans. This varies a lot, but usually a small shop for groceries, good showers and a restaurant – but in the bigger harbours, you have an entire township or city to explore.

6. What if I want to relax and cook dinner on the boat?

Ans. That’s fine too – we always find that one or two people will opt for a quieter evening on any given day of the week – you might not be able to put down that awesome thriller novel, and just keep on reading, while the others go ashore.

The Sailing

1. How many miles per day do we sail? How many hours per day?

Ans. We tend to sail in two stretches each day. Firstly, we sail a few hours after breakfast (2-3 hours) to our lunch destination – a crystal clear bay or beach, swim and relax for a few hours, then a second sail maybe another 1-3 hours to our evening destination. Sailing time tends to be a great time for banter and getting to know people.

2. Can I try my hand at sailing? Will you teach me some things?

Ans. Absolutely! It’s a lot of fun to learn the ropes, how to tack and turn the boat, how to winch in the various ropes once you need to pull the sail across to the other side – it’s easy and enjoyable. Captain James is a very experienced sailor, and he will safely take you through any of the aspects of sailing that you might like to learn or try. On our biggest flotilla trips, all crews will be contesting the annual Sailing the Med Cup. A little fun yacht race with prizes for the winning crew. Ready, set, go….

3. What if I am already experienced at Sailing?

Ans. Ideal. You can rack up miles for your sailing log – and see if you can beat Simon’s top speed under sail. We are more than happy to hand over reins if you want to helm and our skippers never try and dominate.

Healthy, Safety & Insurance

1. What if I am already experienced at Sailing?

Ans. Captain James has advanced First Aid qualifications and is experienced with evacuation from vessels at sea. He also has qualifications in Sea Survival and Offshore safety and many years’ experience as a beach lifeguard in Australia. We also generally have at least 1-2 other people who are a Nurse or Doctor. We do however require all persons to have comprehensive travel insurance in addition to the Public liability insurance held by Sailing The Med.

2. What safety measures are in place?

Ans. All our yachts meet all the legal and compliant requirements for Lifejackets, First Aid, Radios & Comms, GPS navigation, Dinghy, emergency Life raft, Fire detection and Firefighting equipment. Captain James carefully plots each day’s course with the use of local nautical maps, almanacs and sailing guide publication. He is assisted by GPS and depth sounding technology, to ensure you are brought safely to every new destination. All skippers are briefed each morning on the day’s plans. Skippers are in contact with each other constantly using VHF radio and mobile phones.

3. I’m worried about seasickness?

Ans. Don’t be! It’s rare and easily preventable.
Summer sailing in the Med is very calm and it is rare to encounter the conditions, which set off sea sickness (excessive motion/rolling). If you suffer from car sickness, we recommend a few seasickness pills or bands (you can buy in Boots) just in case. Your skipper will also have a supply, but generally you WILL be fine!

Worried about Covid and losing your money?

As we successfully did in 2020, anyone who was booked on a trip which could not run due to UK Covid travel restrictions was immediately transferred to the following season or offered a spot on another trip. All for no additional cost.

In 2021, we know vaccines are coming and summer is expected to mirror that of 2020, plus we will allow a 25% down payment and finally, of course, our guarantee that is the trip can run, you will not lose any money.