Tips for Cruising

Tried and True –

TIPS FOR CRUISING

By Susan Koning, s/v SHENEMERE

I was recently hanging out on a secluded beach with my sailor friend in Indonesia as we discussed how popular sailing has become post-covid. It seems like everyone wants to sell their house and go sailing. We agreed that the sailing part of the sailing lifestyle is small in comparison to the amount of maintenance and service you have to do when you own a boat. Between the two of us, we have a few decades of blue water cruising experience and we quickly went through the most important things we have learned the hard way about living aboard and traveling the world by boat. These are the highlights we came up with and they don’t include anything about actually sailing from place to place, but are some tips to help increase your confidence and make life onboard easier.

By all means take the classes, get the certifications, watch YouTube, go to boat shows, and get as much experience as you can on the water. Gaining hours on any boat while you are getting ready to cruise is a key component to success. The best way to learn is by doing, so go on and get out on the sea. I cannot stress this enough. A lot of folks new to sailing focus on the boat and mechanics, however, the most valuable thing you will need as a blue water sailor is experience. So, while you are getting your boat ready to cruise, take every opportunity to sail your boat or other peoples’ boats to acquire valuable experience.

PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS REQUIRED

So the saying goes that “cruising” is fixing your boat in exotic places. Isn’t that the truth? Boats require constant maintenance: engine, heads, anodes, bottom paint, windless, rigging… on and on. Be prepared to troubleshoot, research the internet, and ask your mates for advice when you need help fixing something. It is part of the whole experience so best to embrace breakage as your constant companion and get in touch with your inner MacGyver. Rejoice your accomplishments as you learn new things every day.

FEAR IS EXPECTED

If sailing was without its dangers and challenges, everyone would be doing it. Embrace your natural fears and trust your boat and your captain and crew. You’ve prepared the boat, you trust the structural integrity of the boat, and you are confident

in the capabilities of the captain. “I trust the boat and I trust the captain.” This should be your mantra. Everything else comes from your learned experiences.

There is only one captain; no room for debate when in jeopardy. It is not a democracy, trust the captain’s judgment, and/or pick your battles.

YOUR ANCHOR IS THE BEST INSURANCE

Anchoring, mooring, and docking your boat are skills that require practice. Docking a boat in tight quarters has many variables — wind, currents, tides, and your boat’s maneuverability, never mind an audience — so, get a coach, practice, and have many helping hands as you learn. Getting a mooring ball isn’t usually too difficult; the most common mistake with moorings is how you tie your lines to the mooring. Many a boat goes adrift when only one line is tied or improperly protected against chaffing of the line.

Anchoring is probably the most important part of cruising, but you’ll get plenty of practice as you sail from bay to bay exploring. I am no expert at anchoring. I still get acute stress when we anchor but have found these basic steps helpful: find the right depth for your boat, avoid any reefs, boats, or obstructions, and point the boat into the wind.

Dropping the anchor in good holding like sand or mud is optimal. Let out enough chain; the recommended ratio is at least 5:1 (chain: water) — five feet of anchor chain for every foot of depth you are anchoring in. Too many new sailors don’t put enough chain out; I personally feel good at 7:1. Once dropped and the chain is fed, it is recommended you let the anchor settle, meaning tidy up, have a cup of coffee or a cold beer, and let the anchor dig in. Take a bearing on land as to your position to a tree or house, etc. to make sure you aren’t moving. After a while, consider putting the engine in reverse very slowly to about 1200-1300 RPMs and look for the GPS to come to zero

Rough Passage

29 day passage worth of laundry. Fiji to Indonesia was a hot passage; not much else was worn but a sarong for both myself and my hubby.

(meaning you are not moving). This is a good rule of thumb should the wind pick up; you’ll be more confident that the anchor will (hopefully) hold fast. You might even consider diving on the anchor to get a visual on how it is holding. Finally, set an anchor alarm on your GPS or any one of several anchor alarm apps available on your smartphone. Don’t be that person that drops the anchor and jumps in the dinghy to race ashore without double checking the weather forecast. There are too many stories of the wind picking up and the person’s boat ends up dragging through the anchorage while they are ashore having dinner.

Be sure to communicate with your crew at the helm where you want to anchor. If you’re at the bow of the boat, you can simply point, make a fist to stop, or thumb up to reverse… Whatever you decide on, it doesn’t need to involve screaming orders in a crowded anchorage.

FEEL YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Learn to read your environment; feel the change in temperature, wind direction, and clouds. This is a function of paying attention to your surroundings. Does it smell like rain? Did the temperature drop or has the sea state changed? Look for the gusts of wind as they travel across the water. You’ll quickly learn when it’s time to reef the main or close the hatches. Feeling the changes in your environment will very quickly become part of your DNA.

IT’S YOUR CAR

Regardless of what dinghy you have, it is your main mode of transportation to and from the boat. When you take your dinghy ashore, you’ll want to be aware of the tides. If the tide is coming in as you beach your dinghy, you’ll want to throw out a dinghy anchor or if the tide is going out, you’ll need to drag it up the beach. If you’re tying your dinghy to a dock, it is common courtesy to leave the engine down so the prop won’t bang into and damage the other dinghys. Always be sure to start the engine prior to releasing the line; there are way too many stories of folks adrift by not following this common sense procedure.

Important dinghy safety includes a “boat kill switch” worn on the operator’s wrist and attached to the ignition. Should the driver be pitched out of the dinghy in rough conditions, the engine will go dead. This prevents incidents of runaway dinghys running over, maiming, and killing the driver or passengers as it circles around and around unattended before either it runs out of fuel or someone can jump into it and take control — a dangerous maneuver that is not recommended!

Keep in mind that clamoring into the dinghy and driving ashore is mostly inconvenient so you won’t want to have to go back for your sunscreen or insect repellant. I always have a backpack ready with my essential items: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, tissues/wipes, umbrella for sun andw rain, facemask, and flashlight.

Today’s technology allows for much better weather predictions, but that is all it is: a prediction. The number one rule is to “wait for weather.” Wait for favorable winds to take you to your next destination and don’t be pressured to leave on account of someone else’s timeframe. It’s always good practice to secure anything that could fly off of the tables or shelves prior to departure since you’ll never know what the sea state will be until you’re in it… and then it’s usually too late.

The old saying holds true, if you’re thinking about reefing, it’s probably too late. Reef your sails early in anticipation of bad weather. Consider reefing in the evening so you don’t have to clamber onto a wet deck at night to adjust your sails. In rough seas, always keep one hand connected to the boat and move in calm, calculated movements as you support and stabilize yourself against the jostling shifts of the boat.

In the event of a lightning storm, be prepared to stow your most vital electronics (phones, tablets, handheld GPS, etc.) in the stove. This is also a good time to find a secure place in the cockpit (tethering yourself to a secure place within) or tucked into a berth with a lee cloth.

Always have your emergency grab bag handy should you need to abandon ship. An EPIRB, flares, drinking water, and passports are just a few of the things you’ll want to always have ready in a waterproof bag. Understanding your emergency equipment and MOB maneuvers will help alleviate anxiety.

Rest assured that storms don’t last forever. You will get through it and have an adventurous story to tell at the next watering hole.

THE GALLEY

There is so much information on how to cook on board, it is ridiculous. The key takeaway is K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple…) Cook for the conditions and either have a meal prepared in anticipation of rough weather or have plenty of snack food when you are unable to cook underway. Stackable pots and pans and good quality airtight containers that all fit well within your galley are worth their weight in gold. Try not to bring cardboard onboard as it tends to harbor roach eggs, pests that once onboard are hard to get rid of. Plastic is a real problem in our oceans but when used/ reused/recycled responsibly, Ziploc bags are the easiest way to store frozen foods, etc.

Canned food and long-life milk products have come a long way and there are many creative ways to cook with canned meats and vegetables when fridge space is limited. Sometimes the paper labels on cans come off; that will be the “mystery can” that is never opened so be sure to label the tops of cans with a permanent marker. You will want to stockpile an inventory of “your staples.” If you don’t eat it at home, you aren’t going to eat it on the boat. Knorr® Alfredo and Hidden Valley® ranch packets are something I loaded up on because I can’t find these items internationally. However, basic food items like tuna fish, coffee/ tea, sugar, pasta, rice, etc. are found everywhere, so I only keep a small inventory to avoid spoilage. Enjoy the opportunity to visit local fresh markets and try different fruits and vegetables as you travel. There are many substitutions you can use when cooking without the exact ingredient, so be flexible and embrace creative cooking. Making homemade wine and pickling fish are just some of the things you can play around with onboard.

More boats have compact washing machines onboard, but it is by no means a necessity. A bucket of water with a little laundry detergent and a splash of vinegar (eliminates odors) will do the trick. You can stomp, agitate, and wring the clothes in the bucket. The key is to not use too much detergent; this will allow you to rinse the soap out as well. A good wringing will get rid of as much water as possible, and when you hang the clothes on a breezy day, they will dry in an hour or two. To prevent clothes from fading, I turn them inside-out when I hang them or I dry them under the awning.

On a side note, you should keep plenty of vinegar onboard for cleaning mold. Bleach doesn’t kill mold, but vinegar does. Never put bleach down your heads since it will cause the hoses to become porous and trap odors. Vinegar is a great odor eliminator for smelly heads.

IT’S JUST LINENS

I used to have an unhealthy attachment to bedding and linens. I soon learned that all I needed was a single change of sheets and a couple towels. No need to overdo it as these items take up precious real-estate onboard. The same can be said for clothes; you really don’t need seven pairs of shoes or 20 t-shirts. Light cotton sarongs are great towels, and in the tropics they can be worn by women and men as comfortable onboard garments. I also have a few men’s cotton dress shirts that I picked up at the thrift store; they are great sun protection.

ELECTRONICS

TO SWIM OR NOT TO SWIM

It’s been a long hot day sailing and you finally anchored securely in a beautiful, secluded anchorage. The water looks inviting. By all means, jump in, but do consider the visibility of the water. You don’t want to splash into murky water and confuse a predator into thinking that you are dinner. “Dinner o’clock” is not the best time to swim either; dawn or dusk is a more active feeding time and you don’t want to become part of the food chain. Also, be conscious of the currents before you take the plunge. Throw a piece of lettuce into the water and see how fast it is swept away, or lower yourself into the water hanging onto a line or ladder to test the currents. If you don’t, your crew might be picking you up down island. Be sure to tell someone on board that you are going for a swim and if you have plans to swim away from the boat.

The salt air is the death of electronics. Invest in air tight bags to store electronics when you aren’t using them or just use large Ziploc bags. Have a few portable hard drives so you can share movies, music, books, and charts with other sailors. A fun idea is to have a small portable projector so you can watch movies in the cockpit with a group.

ENJOY THE MOMENT

After the hustle and bustle of land life, it’s a big adjustment to just slow down and appreciate a pace less hassled. I have met many sailors who are still rushing about even after years of cruising. I feel somehow they are missing out on the best part of the cruising experience — a long chat over coffee, a leisurely walk on the beach, or a casual get together at sundown. It’s the progression of the day… slow, calm, and appreciative of the moment… to be present in the opportunity to have released the dock lines and set sail.

Meet the sailing community. Ask other sailors about places that you plan to visit. It is a generous information-sharing community so ask about the marinas, anchoring, and entrance and about things you can and cannot get so you can stock your boat accordingly. Take time to introduce yourself to your neighbors, to learn from shared experiences, and enjoy your new and often eclectic tribe of sailors. Because of your common interest, you will be making instant bonds that oftentimes lead to lifetime friendships.

• Too many sailors get stuck in the “getting ready to go” phase and never quite manage to leave the dock. Beware of getting stuck; you don’t really need the collapsible bikes, etc. Stay laser-focused on the necessities and set goals. The key is to get out and sail as often as possible.

• Everything has a home. Keep tools, flashlights, binoculars, harnesses, basically everything on board in an assigned location. If you have to search for your flashlight or binoculars in an emergency, it might be too late. Never mind that in small spaces, clutter is a stressful distraction.

• Immigration, customs, and port authorities internationally have become a bit more cumbersome since COVID so pack your patience, prepare your paperwork/ visa etc., and stay informed of changes.

• Just because the baguette in French Polynesia is the best you ever had and it is only $1, please don’t offer to elevate the price as a show of appreciation to the vendor. You might just inflate the price for the fellow cruisers in your wake. This holds true for tipping as well.

• Always ask the price of goods first — taxi, bus, veggie market, and fuel — so you are familiar with the “going rates,” can negotiate better, and don’t get taken advantage of.

• It’s a small community of cruisers and you’ll soon find that it is a small world after all, so be careful of gossip.

Wishing fair winds and following seas to all cruisers new and old.

Author Susan Koning kayaking in Komodo, Indonesia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I started crewing on sailboats in the 90’s where I met a South African single handed sailor in the Caribbean. We sailed together through the South Pacific and got married in Fiji. After selling our first boat in New Zealand in 1998, we went back to the United States and worked to get our current boat, a 51’ Beneteau Idyll, and set off again from Miami, Florida, five years ago. We are currently in Indonesia preparing for an Indian Ocean crossing to Africa in May.

It’s not everyday you sail with friendly strangers, but it will be very soon.

Back in February, when the sun was shining and the Miami International Boat Show was in full swing, we received an invitation… one so irresistible we had no choice but to accept!

In the days that followed, we sailed to the coast of Georgia in a Royal Cape Catamaran 570 Fl alongside Rafael Anthony Denez (aka Rad: a nickname that, as it turns out, is very fitting for the man himself). It wasn’t just the three of us either, with Sheila O’Neil — a certified stewardess and compatible crewmate — also joining us for the voyage.

From Miami to Georgia, with Love

In the lead up to the two-day coastal adventure, we were working hard at the Miami International Boat Show. As luck would have it, our booth was right on the marina, soaking up the rays while encouraging boat owners to sign up for our soon-to-launch platform, SailAMate.

(What is SailAMate, we hear you ask? Think of it as if Airbnb and Uber were to have a child, on water, with a twist. It brings together like-minded boat owners and travelers, providing discounted water-based trips in exchange for skill-trading.)

Rad came by our booth by pure chance, asking about SailAMate before offering us a tour of his boat docked in the marina. Rad also mentioned his plans to take a trip to the coast of Brunswick, Georgia, after the show, telling us he might have space for two more guests.

That ‘maybe’ turned into a ‘definitely’ and so we packed our bags and prepared to board!

Sharing Stories, Trading Skills

Aboard Rad’s catamaran, named Alesha D in honor of his daughter, we sailed thirty miles from Miami to take advantage of the Gulf Stream before it drifted further out to the Atlantic Ocean. The current propelled us up the coast of Georgia at a speed of ten knots, giving us plenty of time to sit down, relax, and watch the world go by.

The journey also gave us the perfect excuse to disconnect from everyday life. With no Wi-Fi or cell reception, we had the opportunity to replace virtual interactions with real-life connections instead. We discovered that Rad was a UPS pilot dreaming of retiring and making the boat his home one day. Sheila spent many years working for Corporate America (at IBM!) before turning down a relocation to New York to stay in Florida. Her impressive knowledge of sailing, endless traveling stories, and determination to prove that anyone can sail no matter their age or gender left us in awe. We really couldn’t have asked for better company than Rad and Sheila!

Of course, in true SailAMate fashion, we volunteered our skills in exchange for the free trip. Eli provided his talents as a sous chef, cooking up tiny pizzas in Rad’s famous air fryer, while all of us took shifts keeping watch of the boat until the early hours.

EVERYTHING BEYOND THE ORDINARY

Catching the mist above the water at 6am, watching the dolphins play in the waves, sitting at the flybridge (the chosen hotspot from dusk till dawn), and feeling a deep sense of peace — the trip may have only been for three days, but every moment was worth remembering.

home in Texas! Zero light pollution meant that every star could be seen, and Rad’s astronomer binoculars make ten times as many stars appear compared to the naked eye.

After building SailAMate from behind a desk for over a year, venturing out to sea and viewing it from a whole new perspective was a truly magical experience. We learned so much from the adventure and we couldn’t be more grateful to Rad for sharing his home with us. His life motto of “slow down” has continued inspiring us, staying at the front of our minds as we plan SailAMate’s launch — and trust us, it’s going to be huge!

The SailAMate pilot launches in Florida, USA, later this year, with plans for a global rollout in 2023. To sign up for early access, visit SailAMate.com. You can also stay updated via our Instagram page (@sailamateofficial), with exciting announcements to come!