Guest Contribution
You can gain many memorable experiences by travelling, but travelling by sea yields a unique experience that can make the journey more memorable than the destination. Whether it’s with the way that you’re rocked gently by the waves, or the chance to encounter a plethora of sea creatures, few things can remind us of the vastness of the world in the way that crossing an ocean does. All these things lend to the unique appeal of a cruise. However, the journey is not without its own set of risks. If you plan to cruise on your own yacht, here are some things you need to consider.
The Inherent Dangers of Traveling Via Yacht
The very first thing to understand is that you can’t sail a yacht without proper training. Cruising is a potentially dangerous venture because there’s a good chance you could encounter problems such as inclement weather, starvation, thirst, and even pirate attacks. These are all dangers that you need to be prepared to handle. Some things you need to secure besides training are:
Navigation
You need to know how to get from point A to point B. This is especially difficult at sea due to the minimal points of reference you have. While you can learn anything from the internet these days, a navigation training course is critical if you want to have your best chances of successfully reaching your destination. You also have to invest in navigational tools such as GPS, compass, and map. This is extremely important because getting lost at sea can be incredibly dangerous.
Safe Docking
It’s equally important to have a safe place to dock your yacht. A safe docking zone like the ones at Emerald Landing are essential for when you need to perform maintenance procedures, repairs, or when you simply want to do fun activities like power boating at your destination. Leaving your yacht at an insecure docking zone increases the risk your yacht might get broken into, or worse, stolen.
Logistics
Another thing to consider is whether you have enough supplies for the trip, especially if your destination is far away. Your three primary needs are food, potable water, and fuel. Next, you also need a satellite phone, radios, flares, survival kits, and batteries. Finally, you need to ensure that you have enough emergency supplies such as first aid kits, MREs, whistles, and a spare supply of drinking water that can last you for at least two weeks. Remember that maritime emergencies are different from road trip emergencies. Out in the water, there’s no guarantee of when or if you’ll be found.
Final Word
We cannot emphasize the importance of getting a properly trained crew. If you can afford a yacht, you can definitely afford everything else on this list. Remember that safety, too, is an investment and you can never be too safe. Maintain your yacht, train your crew, sail the waters responsibly, and more of all, don’t forget to have fun.