Because it must be said that a well-prepared cruise is a guarantee of success, here are a few tips from the experiences of a few professional skippers to make the most of your boat cruise abroad.

1: Is the boat well prepared?

The number one cause of a failed cruise is that the boat is not up to standard. It is important to check with the charter company that the boat is well prepared and has all the options negotiated when the contract was signed. The week before the cruise, do not hesitate to ask for the list of the boat's equipment and inventory to check that you have everything you need on board. There is nothing worse than finding out once you arrive on the boat, sometimes late at night, that there are no pillows and blankets or that the dinghy is very small and without an engine, that for example there is no cable to connect the sound system to your iPhone or that there is no spinnaker for that sailing trip you have been dreaming about for so many weeks...

Is everything OK on your boat?

2 : Is the trip there and back ok ?

If the boat is usually booked a long time in advance, it is sometimes more hasty to book the means of transport that will allow you to get to your boat and back after your cruise. Book your plane tickets preferably at the best prices, but make sure you have enough luggage capacity for the equipment you will be taking with you. Opt for reputable companies for your different means of transport to avoid unpleasant surprises before boarding and at the end of your stay. This can become quite complicated especially when you are travelling from one destination to another. Very important, check that all your crew members have planned the arrival to the boat. It is sometimes surprising to see that the obstacle course required to get to the port where the boat is located, is more economical by grouping the flights and booking a shuttle for the whole crew from the airport to the marina.

3 : Is the equipment to be taken on board complete ?

Food, watch equipment(watch jacket and overalls), windbreaker, glasses, sleeping bag,... Make a list of the equipment needed for your cruise well in advance and pass it on to the crew members! This list should be drawn up according to the destination and the equipment already available on the boat. But one rule of the skipper is to be respected: prepare for the worst, you will not have any bad surprises.

4: Are the crew members well briefed?

You will always have a crew member who will arrive in a hurry without a sleeping bag and in a T-shirt. It is important to remember this the week of departure. It is never hot on a boat unless you are sailing in the tropics. Always bring at least a waterproofjacket and trousers, as well as a good pair of sunglasses and a sleeping bag. The rest is just incidental! If you are taking on very inexperienced crew members, remember to bring Boarding Ring goggles, which are a very effective way of combating seasickness.

5 : Are the route and navigation stages well marked?

Although charter boats generally have maps of the sailing area, there is nothing like buying a navigation guide in advance which covers your area to be able to spot the anchorages and marinas for the stages, and to plan the route as well as possible according to the weather forecast. Finding your bearings on online marine charts will also allow you to calculate distances and begin to identify the routes to take and the dangers to avoid. In any case, prepare a navigation plan with plenty of options in case the weather is not what you expected: a navigation plan is precisely made so that it cannot be followed to the letter!

All you have to do now is get out there and make the most of it! Good sailing