Sea voyages

Welcome, Sailor! Since you're here, it means the zero hour has struck and you've made the decision to go on a sea voyage. Congratulations! If this is your first voyage at sea, get acquainted with a few tips that will make your rest on the yacht more pleasant. You'll know what to take on the boat and what to pack.

What does it look like?

Fabulous! Usually on Friday after work we set off from Łódź towards the port. We travel together in a 9-person minibus and along the way we visit cool places. Part of the crew prefers to fly in, and from the airport we give them a lift to the port by car.

Every day we sail from port to port, visiting various towns, whether in Croatia, Greece or Italy. If we're set on sightseeing, there isn't much sailing - a few hours a day. At night we sleep safely on the yacht in the port.

After a week of sightseeing, we return to Łódź, visiting some interesting place along the way, e.g. the Plitvice Lakes or Vienna.

What do we do on trips like this?

We sail! Generally speaking, we sail on the yacht or in the sea, we dive, we fish, etc. We visit everything that's in the vicinity of the ports we visit. We sing, we party and we have a good time. The trips are mainly geared towards having a good time, visiting many interesting places and tasting the sailing adventure.

On warm seas (Croatia, Greece), the sailing time itself is short (a few hours). The distances between islands are quite small. In the case of voyages on cold seas such as the Baltic, we sail significantly more because of the large distances to cover. The time of continuous sailing can last even two days (including a night passage). We then sail in watch mode (4 hours each).

But I know nothing about sailing!

Don't worry! You'll find out everything, you'll learn and you'll get to know the sailing slang. Before we set out to sea you'll learn everything about safety, you'll get to know the various devices found on the yacht.

Once we find ourselves on open water, you'll take the helm and you'll see that it's not difficult!

What to pack into?

Before we start choosing the things to take on the voyage, it's worth thinking about what to pack them into. The best for this purpose are all sorts of bags, backpacks and sailing duffel bags. After unpacking the things on the yacht, we can calmly roll them up and stow them at the bottom of a locker or somewhere under a bunk. A bad idea is backpacks with a rigid frame or stiffened suitcases on wheels.

What to take on the voyage?

There's no clear-cut answer to this question. The seas can be capricious, especially the Baltic. It's definitely better to take more things than to regret it later. Even a warm woollen hat comes in handy on a summer voyage on the Baltic Sea, and on Croatia a solid raincoat.

It's worth remembering to take cash (the currency of the country we're sailing to) or payment cards. Small change will come in handy for port fees, or using the shower and toilet at the port.'

Things to take

travel documents: ID card or passport. Check whether the documents are still valid.
EHIC card - it's worth taking the card issued by the NFZ (National Health Fund). You can get it free of charge at one of the NFZ branches or submit an application online at obywatel.gov.pl.
waterproof clothing: the ideal choice is a marine foul-weather suit (especially for voyages on the Baltic). In the summer months and on warm seas, a good waterproof jacket and trousers (PVC) come in handy.
wellies - working on the yacht in the rain, wellies (with a white or rubber sole) come in handy. Useful on the Baltic.
yacht footwear: comfortable footwear with a light or rubber sole, so it doesn't dirty the yacht's deck. Flip-flops for the showers in ports and water shoes, e.g. in Croatia, will also come in handy.
hoodie, fleece, warm clothing: in the evenings it can be cold, especially when the wind blows. One warm hoodie or fleece comes in handy in the evenings or early in the morning.
sleeping bag is downright necessary for a voyage on the Baltic. It's worth it being warm and with a hood. In Croatia yachts are usually equipped with bedding, blankets and pillows. Still, your own little pillow may also come in handy.
fleece, softshell, windstopper
sunglasses
sunscreen

It's worth packing electronics in waterproof bags or sailing dry bags. As for charging mobile phones, the yacht has a 12V voltage. Usually phones or camera batteries are fine being charged every 1-2 days, so there's no point buying 12V chargers especially for the voyage.

People who use their mobile phone very often can buy special power banks. Sometimes a low-power (max 300W) DC (12V) to AC (230V) voltage converter for charging electronic devices (e.g. mobile phone, laptop) also comes in handy. Such a device isn't always standard on a yacht, and without a generator or a connection to the shore power grid, it's sometimes the only alternative providing 230V AC voltage.

In ports we always have 230V and you can calmly recharge cameras, laptops and mobile phones.

On warm sunny days, sunscreen and head coverings also come in handy.

Getting to the port

Usually everyone gets to the port from which we set out to sea on their own. In the case of a larger group of people travelling from Łódź, I try to organise a joint trip. For Croatia there are several options, e.g. by your own car, a hired minibus or a coach. To other places we try to fly. It all depends on the prices and the location of the given port.

How to pack so you don't go crazy?

The guide was prepared by Marianna.

The list presented in a separate post is a list of essential things that are often forgotten when setting off on a voyage. Very often couples go sailing. There are people who like to pack separately, but also those who are minimalists, choosing the most necessary things. I definitely belong to the latter group.

We had the chance to be on two voyages. Both were on the Adriatic Sea. After two such trips I created a list of things to pack for a 10-day voyage. After the last voyage I decided to share this list, so that everyone can get the best out of their holiday trip.

Before you start packing, prepare a checklist; thanks to it you won't have to check 10 times whether you've packed everything. And after putting the things into bags, it's all the more helpful ;) I divided the list into 2 main parts: clothes and accessories.

It may seem that there's little underwear (knickers and socks) on the list. Not necessarily… If you like to sunbathe or bathe in the sea, you'll use your swimsuit more often. Besides, on a yacht it's most comfortable to walk barefoot or in water shoes. Socks will come in handy in the evening, when we sail into port and there's time for sightseeing.

The second very important thing is the toiletry bag. If you're travelling as a couple, you absolutely must have separate sets of cosmetics. And how do you pack so you don't go crazy? Drugstores have sets of empty travel containers available. That amount of cosmetic is entirely enough for a 10-day trip. Thanks to this each of us has their own shower gel or shampoo. Toothpaste I also buy in two (the travel ones) or keep a sample I got from the dentist for the occasion. So far I haven't needed a hairdryer, but you can always discuss this topic with the other crew members and decide who packs a hairdryer.

I do the same with the first-aid kit. I pack medicines as a single blister or a few sachets. I don't pack whole packages. I pack only 1 bandage. If something really happens, a doctor will be needed anyway, or you'll buy what's needed.

If you're ready for the adventure, then be well packed too ;)

Clothes for Men

10 pairs of underwear and socks
10 tops (can be 6 t-shirts, 2 shirts, 2 polo shirts)
5 pairs of trousers (shorts, sports, long, tracksuit and travel ones)
Hoodie
Gilet (optional)
Raincoat
Pyjamas
2 pairs of shoes (trainers, sandals or flip-flops)

Clothes for Women

10 pairs of underwear and socks
Bras (1 classic, 3-4 sports)
10 tops (can be 6 t-shirts, 2 shirts, 2 polo shirts)
Blouses (2 light ones over a swimsuit, 8 tops/t-shirts/tops including 2 long-sleeved)
2 dresses
5 pairs of trousers (2 shorts, 2 sports, long)
Hoodie
Gilet (optional)
Raincoat
Pyjamas
2 pairs of shoes (trainers, sandals or flip-flops)

Accessories

For the water

Swim shorts
2 swimsuits
2x water shoes
2x swimming goggles
Nose clips, goggle spray

Other

Money and documents (ID cards, EHIC card)
Cap/Hat
Sunglasses
2x quick-drying towel
2 separate toiletry sets + hairbrushes
Dry shampoo
First-aid kit (essential and additional medicines, UV filters and after-sun creams, Fenistil, calcium, magnesium, OFF, plasters, dressings, bandage, Altacet). Essential medicines are the ones you have to take daily, or during the trip. The additional ones are those just in case, i.e. Stoperan, Smecta, something for colds, painkillers).
A card game, crosswords