First Sailing Trip: No Experience Needed?

On a skippered charter, a cabin charter or a small-ship cruise, a professional skipper or crew is responsible for the vessel. They plan the route, sail the yacht, moor it and make the safety decisions. Guests do not need any qualifications, and many have never been on a yacht before.

A bareboat charter is different. Someone in your group takes legal responsibility for the yacht, so they need a recognised skipper's licence, and someone on board needs a VHF radio certificate. Charter companies may also ask for a sailing CV. Skippered versus bareboat charter compares the two in detail. Requirements can differ between operators, so always confirm before booking.

On a skippered trip, nothing is compulsory beyond following safety instructions and keeping the yacht tidy. Most guests end up helping in small ways, and most skippers are happy to teach:

• Putting out and taking in fenders when coming into a harbour.
• Handing or holding a line when mooring.
• Taking the helm in open water, under the skipper's supervision.
• Pulling in or letting out a sail when asked.
• Helping with shopping, cooking and washing up on trips that share these jobs.

If you want to learn properly, tell the skipper on the first day. If you would rather swim and read, that is fine too.

At the start of the trip, the skipper gives a safety briefing. Listen carefully, and ask if anything is unclear. It usually covers:

• Where the lifejackets are, how to put one on and when to wear one.
• How to move around the deck: keep one hand for yourself and one for the yacht, and stay clear of ropes under load.
• How to use the marine toilets, which block easily.
• How the gas cooker works and how to turn it off.
• Rules for swimming from the yacht, including never swimming while the engine is running.
• What to do if someone falls overboard, and where the emergency equipment is kept.

Swimming safely from a yacht and the wider safety information cover these topics in more depth.

The biggest adjustment for most first-timers is space. Cabins are compact, bathrooms are small and often shared, and storage is limited. Water and power are used with some care. Most people adapt within a day, helped by long days outdoors and evenings ashore. Life on a sailing yacht explains what to expect from cabins, food, water and the daily routine.

The motion of the yacht also takes a little getting used to. Many people feel slightly queasy on the first day and then adjust. Sheltered island routes help. Read seasickness on a sailing trip and ask a pharmacist or doctor about remedies before you travel.

You do not need to be especially fit, but you should be able to step on and off the yacht, climb a few steps between deck and cabin and keep your balance on a moving deck. Boarding is often over the stern or bow from a quay, and climbing back aboard after a swim means using a ladder.

Being a confident swimmer makes the trip more enjoyable, as much of the day revolves around the water. Non-swimmers can still sail, but should tell the operator before booking and wear a lifejacket when asked. If you have mobility needs, read accessibility on sailing yachts and discuss them with the operator before you reserve.

1. Who skippers the yacht, and what is expected of guests?
2. How are cabins and bathrooms shared?
3. How are meals arranged, and can dietary needs be accommodated?
4. What happens if the weather changes the plan?
5. Is the trip suitable for someone with motion sickness, limited mobility or a medical condition?
6. Can solo travellers book a single cabin or share with another guest?

For Croatia Sailing Week trips, how it works explains the format and the booking options. The planning guide and what to pack help with the rest of your preparation.