Travellers Checklist

We realise that you might not have travelled on a boat before and could be wondering exactly what you may need to bring with you for your holiday. Here are some helpful hints.

(You might laugh at some of the suggestions above, but these are made from our experiences of what people bring and forget! If you've read the list and are unclear about any items, please use our contact form and we'll get straight back to you.)

* Bottled water, 'soft' drinks, beer, lager and a selection of wines are all available on board at sensible prices and we're still waiting for someone to 'drink us dry'! We don't supply spirits, so if you're partial to a G&T or dram in the evening, you're welcome to bring your own bottle(s).

While you're on board - ("What about...?")

Before we sail, the skipper will get everyone together for a Safety Briefing, and cover a few practicalities concerning the boat. Having heard several sighs of relief at this point in the past, we thought we'd cover a few of the 'old chestnuts' here. You can either click on a topic below or scroll down the page to view them all.

Smoking: there is no smoking allowed in any covered area while on board. The only designated smoking area is on the foredeck (the pointy end).

Mobile Phones: depending on your service provider you will get mobile phone coverage in some areas. However, in order not to disturb other guests we ask that if you must keep it switched on, that you switch it to 'silent' mode and don't hold 'phone conversations in the company of others.

Food forms a major part of your holiday which is why we pay special attention to meals on board. You will be offered three meals a day, plus snacks. Breakfast is normally at 8.00am when we offer a full cooked breakfast accompanied by cereal/meusli fruit juice and toast. Lunch is normally served around 1.00pm, depending on what we're doing on any particular day. Lunch could typically consist of freshly made soup followed by baked potato with salad. Dinner is normally served around 8.00 pm and will be 3-courses followed by coffee and a cheesboard if required. We can accommodate special diets (vegitarian, vegan etc) and food allergies providing that you make us aware of any such requirements.

All of your food is freshly prepared on board by our cook, with all produce being bought locally on the day that we sail. If you have any particular dietary requirements or food allergies then we can acommodate these providing that you let us know when you book your holiday with us, or at the latest seven days before we sail.

Drinks in cabins aren't a good idea and usually end up getting spilled, or glasses broken. However, if you like to take a drink of water to bed with you, we've got re-sealable plastic bottles of water that you can safely keep next to your berth. Please don't take hot drinks or alcohol back to your cabins.

Toilets: don't panic! We're very civilised on board and despite of what you may have heard about marine plumbing, there are no levers or handles or taps involved! Our toilets are all electric-flush,and little different to a 'normal' WC. The toilets flush with seawater and proper use will be explained before we sail.

Water: we always replenish our water tanks before we sail.  The most water useage on board is for food preparation and dishwashing and therefore we ask that you use the fresh water responsibly and avoid long or unnecessary showering. Some guests have asked in the past what the 'problem' is with the water supply, but we can easily undertake 9 day cruises and maintain a boat of squeaky-clean people. The only problem that we have is the amount of water that some guests use! If we need to replenish water supplies during a cruise this will involve diverting to a harbour with the necessary facilities which can waste time.

Showers: the two guest bathrooms are both equipped with a 'power shower' which can be used at any time between 0700 and 2200 when we are not sailing. Proper use of the showers will be explained before we sail.

Bedding: you don't need to bring any bedding. All berths are made up with two pillows and a duvet.

Mains electricity : 240v mains power is normally available from 0715 every morning until around 2200 in the evening.

Getting ashore: we tend to avoid commercial piers and will normally lie at anchor wherever we stop. We transport passenges ashore in our inflatable dinghy which may mean a 'beach landing' or climbing up steps or ladders.