My friends are planning a vacation. They are planning on renting a
sailboat for 5 days. The plan is to use the boat to navigate to a
few different islands. The boat sleeps 8. (I assume it's a big
boat.) No one in the group has sailing experience. They are
providing a skipper for the first 2 days, then we're on our own for
the next 3 days...


Is this at all possible? Or is this complete absurdity?

There seem to be many nuances that you just can't learn in a day or 2.
(the knots, docking, making sure the boom doesn't kill you, etc)
I've been told they will provide a skipper for the first 2 days, then
the group is on their own for the next 3 days...

Frankly, I am surprised a place would even rent a sailboat of that
size to a group of novices.

Anteater stated: I've been told they will provide a skipper for the first 2
days, then
the group is on their own for the next 3 days...

From what I've heard, if you don't catch on in 2 says, you'll end up paying
for the skipper for the whole trip...read the fine print...and yes, if none
of you has ever sailed before, it is my opinion that you are asking for
it...



--
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

OzOne wrote:
First, it depends where you're going.

True. Places with big tides and rocks are not user-friendly for novices
on vacation.

Actually I got disillusioned some years ago with going on cruises with
friends for vacation. Usually they want to get drunk at 9am and it
interferes with the days sailing.


Second, if you aren't capable after the 2 days with a skipper, you'll
be paying and feeding him for the rest of the trip.
Having a skipper is not a bad thing at all, they are familiar with the
area and the people and will be able to get you into places and do
things that you would never otherwise. they know the best spots and
will take you there rather tahn you wasting time somewhere else.
Oh and you will always get a good nights sleep, they'll find the
calmest places and take responsibility for anchoring you safely.

Well worth considering IMHO.

Definitely agreed, especially for vacation, especially for novices (who
would probably sleep well anyway). However it could be a problem two
ways- paying for it may be beyond their budget; and the boat may be
tight enough for the charterers that having one more body, especially a
stranger, may be stressful.

I have been on one captained charter, and while the captain was very
good, the wives was not happy having him parade around the cabin in his
underwear first & last thing every day. But the boat was a 1970s
racer-cruiser and not laid out for privacy. IMHO the captain was worth
it, but then we budgeted for it from the beginning.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:



I have been on one captained charter, and the captain was very
good, the wives & I were happy having him parade around the cabin in his
underwear first & last thing every day. The boat was a 1970s
racer-cruiser and not laid out for privacy. IMHO the captain was worth
it, but then we budgeted for it from the beginning.

Navigator wrote in message ...
DSK wrote:



I have been on one captained charter, and the captain was very
good, the wives & I were happy having him parade around the cabin in his
underwear first & last thing every day. The boat was a 1970s
racer-cruiser and not laid out for privacy. IMHO the captain was worth
it, but then we budgeted for it from the beginning.


Bwahahahahahah

Doug asked for that one!

Joe wrote:

Navigator wrote in message ...

DSK wrote:



I have been on one captained charter, and the captain was very
good, the wives & I were happy having him parade around the cabin in his
underwear first & last thing every day. The boat was a 1970s
racer-cruiser and not laid out for privacy. IMHO the captain was worth
it, but then we budgeted for it from the beginning.



Bwahahahahahah


I feel bad because it was so easy.

Cheers

Navigator wrote:
I feel bad because it was so easy.

Yep... a lot easier than knowing the difference between Baltimore & Boston.

DSK