Sailing with children always requires an additional base and planning in advance, please contact us and we will help you:
Encourage your children to get involved. Teach them how to read the wind, steer the vessel, and navigate using landmarks. Get them involved in pulling the ropes, raising the sail and keeping a lookout. Their new skills will provide them with some serious bragging rights and they’ll be more excited by the prospect of sailing. Plus, an extra pair of hands – small or not – is always helpful!
Allow them to choose an anchorage or destination. Let them choose whichever one appeals the most.
Take note of the wildlife. Who needs a trip to the zoo when you can spot animals in their natural environment?
Plan for water-based activities to keep the kids moving and having fun. You can hire fishing gear, a stand-up paddleboard or kayak through us. And of course, snorkelling is a great activity for everyone to enjoy with all snorkelling gear included with your vessel. There are plenty of sheltered anchorages to admire the colourful reef and fish.
Buy a waterproof camera. It’s a great investment that will provide children (and adults) with endless entertainment and precious memories to treasure forever.
Remember that there are many islands and land based adventures to be had when you charter with Charter Dock A
Take board games so everyone can have a laugh in the evening. There are the old favourites like Uno and Monopoly (Look at Monopoly Deal for a compact size), but did you know that modern boardgames really take entertainment to a new level. Check out these games to make your family evenings loads of fun: Telestrations, Rollick and/or Reverse Charades, Catan and Exploding Kittens (yes, that’s the name of a board game!)
Many of our chartering families travel with younger children and they often ask us for safety tips. Like any travel involving younger kids, it is important to set a few safety rules for travelling on a yacht.
Taking your family on a yacht charter is an amazing experience. You will not only give your kids a holiday full of adventure, but you will also be giving your family time together, away from the business of life in a tranquil and breathtaking place.
As the old people say, when you get to the end of life you will not be looking at what you have accumulated, you will be looking at how well you lived and loved. Giving your family time and experiences, especially while the kids are young, is the greatest thing you can do for your kids.
1. Choose a destination
While sailing with children you should choose a sailing destination that offers warm water, easy sailing and weak wind. You should have in mind when is a season period in destination you choose.
2. Choose a perfect boat
While sailing with children you should choose a more stabile sailboat, that is more comfortable. Probably you should go with catamaran or motor yacht instead of a sailboat.
3. Plan your sailing trip in details
While sailing with children you should pack well, bring all the necessary equipment, bring light and more warmer clothes (cause the nights can be colder). Plan your sailing day in advance, one day for swimming, another for slow sailing in warm areas , swimming, diving and other water sports in hidden coves.
Whether you take children onboard with you or not is fully up to you and what you expect to get out of the experience. Sailing is so much fun for the children and the whole family makes memories that last for a lifetime. Still, if sailing with children, make sure you take precaution and read the below tips:
- Children must have life jackets when onboard
- Seasickness – in case of seasickness make sure children (same is valid for some sufering adults) are outside on the deck inhaling fresh air and not inside of the rocking the boat
- Safety net – in case you have very small children this is a very useful extra piece of equipment which you will need to order in advance. It offers good protection for children while they play on the deck as it stops them from sliding overboard.
SAILING WITH BABIES
You can say that it is much easier to sail with very young children who are not mobile yet, but here are some tips:
- When they are so small, the most important thing is to keep them away from unnecessary diseases
- Choose a sailing period when the air temperature is not too low or too high, as well as a destination where the waters are calm and sailing is easy
- Take a comfortable baby carrier preferably from cotton
- Give your child space with favorite toys and a large number of pillows in case of a turnover
SAILING WITH TODDLERS
When a child begins to get to know the world around him, things become much harder for you. Sailing with toddler is much more difficult, but not impossible, only you have to change priorities.
Tips for sailing with a toddler:
- Always have a life jacket when you are on the deck
- The best plan is to have accommodation on land and make smaller and larger boat trips, sometimes for shorter periods, sometimes for longer
- Do not expect sailing to be like without a child, your priorities must be focused on the toddler
SAILING WITH A SCHOOLD CHILD
It becomes much easier when children are more mature and you can dream again about your perfect sailing adventure.
Tips for sailing with children:
- Sailing can be very educational for children, take care of them and show them how to sail (skipper will do it for you) and familiarize them with every detail on board
- Remember to bring water sports equipment: you can rent from the SUP, Seadoo rental, water skiing, canoes, diving equipment, pipes and banana boats, dingy with a strong outboard motor (not all rentals have appliances on offer, but we can always provide determined from other sources).
- You can anchor in a hidden cove, thanks to which children can enjoy bathing, diving and any other conceived activities
- Always look at the weather forecast before setting the sail. Sometimes the weather changes in a few minutes and although a little stronger wind is fun for you, your child may feel uncomfortable and it may deter them from sailing forever
- Always be equipped with enough food and drinks
Contact Charter Dock A for any questions!
