So my husband and I spent our summer holiday on a 36 foot yacht sailing along the Dorset coast line with my parents- and sister-in-law. My husband’s family are long standing sailors and my husband is a Yacht Master and has wanted to take me sailing for at least nine years. Previous to this trip I had spent 2 nights on a yacht just a few months ago and visited the Southampton Boat Show a couple of times, so this was quite an adventure for me.
Here is what I learnt from my week sailing
- I prefer sailing with calmer winds and in the sun
- Other boats hitting you is scary
- Getting your bedding correct for the weather is important (a 5 season sleeping bag is unnecessary during summer; even a British summer)
- As a light sleeper ear plugs and eye mask are essential
- I can easily survive a week without internet access
- There are many valid reasons why a laptop is necessary; such as playing music, dvds and downloading photos
- Just because the wash facilities look good it doesn’t mean you actually get a good shower
- It is easy to get sunburn in the British sun when you have breakfast
- Swimming in the sea when there hasn’t been much sun to warm the water is bracing
- Large items that can not be reduced in size or stowed away are very frustrating
- Sharing washing products such as toothpaste and bodywash with your husband when there are separate sex washing facilities is very frustrating
- I enjoy the navigation aspect of sailing more than the actual sailing
- Crochet is a very handy hobby as it is compact and it is possible to put it down at almost any time