| In a nutshell -
not too much!! Most first-time sailors arrive with far too many
clothes and shoes. Here are the essentials. Please pack
everything in a soft duffel bag that can be folded up and placed
in a locker, NOT in a suitcase.
Just a few ideas and some
advice as to what you will need to bring to have a comfortable
stay on a charter yacht in the Greek islands.
Luggage
Yachts have a limited space
for storing large bulk items such as hard sided suitcases. So
please back your vacation items in a soft sided suitcase, it
should also be collapsible.
Packing
Remember that storage space
in your cabin is limited. In most cases you have a hanging
locker and shelf space. In some cabins there are draws as well
as lockers. Dress codes in the islands are very casual. Men,
shorts and polo shirts are the preferred evening dress, Ladies
light summer dresses or similar to the men.
During the day you will be
mostly in swimming or light cool clothes, that can be rinsed out
as you take a deck shower, so multiple out fits are not really
required.
Electricity
Our yachts all
run there main systems on 12 volt dc current. They also have 220
volt auxiliary systems that work off a Generator or hard wired
from a dock facility. Hairdryers and our regular 220 volt items
can be run on the yacht when it is not sailing and at anchor or
in port only.
Laundry
Doing laundry on the yacht
is not really possible as we have a limited supply of water, and
no real area one can dry clothes. On some islands there are
laundry services, but do not depend on them always being open.
Hanging towels over the life rails, is a typical way to dry
things quickly. Do not leave them long as the sea air and
humidity will make them wet again.
Shoes/
Foot wear
While sailing you will be
required to wear shoes. These need to have non marking soles,
and can be deck sneakers, boat shoes, non marking running
sneakers etc... You will also need a pair of land or shore
shoes, these can be any thing you like. However, you will be
required to remove shoes at the end of the gang way before
returning on board.
Bathrooms/Heads/Showers.
All cabins have there own
private heads, (bathrooms). Each with a marine toilet, that is
manually operated. Hot and cold running water with basin etc.
Storage space for personal bathroom items, a room to take an in
cabin shower.
Showers in cabins, where
they are private, can be hot and stuffy. Also the shower head is
a miser type water controller.( you do not get high pressure, so
that you use less water). On deck is a conventional high
pressure shower that is always available and much more pleasant.
Drinking
and Alcohol
The sun in Greece is very
strong, and on the water its effects are multiplied many times.
Drinking during the day is a
must and required, only not large quantities of alcohol.
Water is the preferred substance, at least one large (1.5
liters) bottle during the day. De-hydration rates are 5 times
greater on the water than on land.
Drinking beer or wine during
the day de-hydrates you quicker and makes you sleepy and
sluggish. It can also help induce sea sickness. Sweet sodas make
you thirstier, and with small children the sugar can effect
behavior.
Weather
The summer is almost
continual sunshine, however the different areas of the Aegean
have vastly different wind patterns and weather influences. If
you are a family ask about sailing un the Saronic Gulfs and
southern Peloponese islands, or alternatively up north in the
Northern Sparodes Islands. In these areas the winds are light
and moderate with short distances between islands.
If you have sailing
experience and understand about sailing in high winds (30+
knots) and want to experience the thrill of large seas
(2+meters) then ask about sailing in the Cyclades or along
the Turkish coast in the Dodecanese Islands
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