If you own a boat, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like that feeling of setting sail and feeling the wind and salty sea spray on your face – and then looking at the horizon and wondering what adventures you’ll end up having. It’s exciting and something that those who love sailing aren’t ever going to want to give up.
Of course, those adventures won’t be much fun if you’re feeling anxious and stressed about them, which is why it’s so important to plan ahead and make sure you’ve got everything dealt with ahead of time so you can have a fantastic adventure. With that in mind, here are some things to think about; read on to find out more.
Make A Checklist
One of the best ways to make sure your adventures on the water are stress-free is to make a checklist well before you even think about setting sail so you know precisely what you need and what you need to get done before you head out. Once everything’s ticked off, you’ll know you’re ready and stress can be left far behind you as you sail away.
What goes on the list will depend on a few factors, including where you’re going and how long you’ll be away for, but there are some general things you’ll probably want to include like inspecting the boat for damage, testing your navigation equipment, topping up the fuel, and ensuring you’ve got all your safety equipment like life jackets, flares, and a reliable radio on board.
Do Regular Maintenance
Another key to enjoying your boat and the adventures you can have on it is to ensure you carry out regular maintenance. It can be a lot of fun to carry out maintenance and even some small repairs yourself, and you’ll definitely get a feeling of accomplishment which can make using the boat feel even better.
While it’s great to have some skills when it comes to maintaining your boat (especially if something goes wrong when you’re miles away from land), sometimes it’s best to let the experts take care of things, and that’s where good boatyards come in. A reputable boatyard can do everything from routine servicing to major repairs, so no matter what you’ll end up with a seaworthy vessel (plus many boatyards offer storage, so you can keep your boat safe even when you’re not using it as a bonus).
Know Your Limits
The water is a dangerous place to be, and as long as you keep that in mind, it should serve you well. The fact is that whether you’ve been sailing for years or you’ve only just started, it’s important to understand your limits – and your boat’s limits, come to that. It’s easy to get over-confident when nothing’s going wrong and the water is nice and calm, but things can change quickly, and that confidence can be a problem if it goes too far and you end up getting into a dangerous situation.
That’s why it’s so important to stick to routes and conditions you’re comfortable with and don’t try to push things too far too soon – you’ve got to learn what to do and how to do it, just like anything else.
