First time charter, first time in Northern Ionian

Captain Haddock

Captain Haddock

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Hi Everyone,

I'm in between boats at the moment so whilst I'm saving for my next I thought I'd get my annual sailing fix and try a yacht charter for the first time.

I'm going with Sunsail at the beginning of October taking the Levkas, Corfu, Paxos route for two weeks.

My question is this, what do you take with you on a charter?

I was intending on taking the following:

Charts
Portland plotter/Dividers
Pilot book
Hand held GPS
Lightweight waterproofs
Fleeces for the evenings
Pocket Binos
Hand Bearing Compass
Usual holiday stuff - Sun protection etc.

Is there anything else the panel recommends? Am I being a tad over cautious?

As I've been sailing for years now I have the habit of being prepared and as this is the first time I'm sailing a vessel other than the one I own. I just don't trust the charter company will provide everything I need to navigate, is this unfounded?
 
We did a 'whole Ionian flotilla a number of years back. Was provided with a chart (laminated thing - got in here in the office) but never used it. Never used any nav instruments. No GPS anywhere. Lightweight Waterproofs were used (we went in October) + Fleeces. Binocs - there are some nice things to see. Hand Bearing Compass - no. Immodium!

The lead crew gave nav instuctions each morning " Come out of the harbour, round the point and stick it on xxx degrees" and that was enough. They provided a pilot book of their own making and the lead crew briefed and helped on arrival. It was really nice just not worrying about anything - apart from the last day when they insisted that we get the boats back to base through some pretty nasty stuff. SWMBO didn't like it in the light weight bouncey AWB, some novices were terrified. But it was all eyeball stuff. Vague warning about the bit of rock that was unmarked off Paxos. Never saw it! But then it was supposed to be under the water about half mile off. So we stayed a mile off.

Some very nice places.
 
All the nav work is eyeball stuff..... I did take a handheld GPS and found it usefull for ETA etc. If you have a handheld VHF maybe useful as our VHF was below.
Charts and pilot books should be provided by the charter company.

Wet shoes would be good for stoney beaches. We also had quite a few jelly fish around, the kids had wetsuits .....but we did go in May.
 
We've just got back from a Sunsail flotilla in the Sporades (wow it was gorgeous....) - we had a new Jeanneau 32, complete with chartplotter on the binnacle, & in any case it was all line-of-sight sailing, so navigation was a piece of p***.

Binoculars were provided (unfortunately in a case almost identical to our own ones, so now we have to post them back to Sunsail....), as were plotter, dividers etc.

If in doubt, call the Sunsail helpline - they can tell you exactly what will be on your boat (even down to the stereo equipment) & what you might need.

Have heard some bad things about Sunsail in the past, but our experience with them was great /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
They should have sent you a what to take list. Most nav stuff found on board including all of your list. charts are on a rather large scale but safe enough cruising. Did south Ionian with Sailing Holidays as they are a little less regimental as they own the yachts outright. All yachts had GPS not sure about sunsail but I would have thought that they would be one of the better kitted. Best advice is go and have a fantastic time, its your holiday afterall. Fantastic scenery and moorings to be found in most places.
 
Echo all the advice. Minimalist gear only needed. Boat should be fully equipped, but you can check beforehand if you are worried. Can get cool in the evening and possibilty of rain. Sea will still be warm enough to swim in and ambient temperature and sun enough to need protection.

Navigation is mostly Mk1 eyeball but it is useful to have waypoints for harbour entrances etc as it can be tricky picking some of them out against a rather harsh backdrop

Enjoy
 
The charts, bins etc will all be on board. handheld GPS might be useful. Other stuff? Mozzie sheet and repellent, small torch, throwaway swim/stone/rock/deck shoes, kagoule-in-a-tiny-bag, ipod FM transmitter (plus ipod!), sunglasses+strap, hat and cheap gardening gloves (for anchoring).
 
I always buy the charts and pilot book before I go, even though I know they'll be on the boat. I like being able to write comments in the book, say about a good bar or restaurant somewhere. I love reading up about the places we'll be going to, and I plot positions on the chart, plus the waypoints for the harbours and likely anchorages and put them into my handheld GPS, long before I even think of packing. It all adds to the excitement! Roll on September, although I don't know where we're going yet.
 
I'd second most of the above - but I don't know if I'd bother with the charts - you can get all you need out of Rod Heikels excellent pilot book.

I always take (good) binos and a HH VHF - the binos on the boat are usually crap and they are very handy - although it line of sight sailing the visibility sometimes gets a bit 'dusty' - tho this may not be a problem in October?

Two musts for me are a supply of decent wine (the local stuff seems to be either VV expensive or crap - maybe I should be looking in different places?) and as someone else pointed out iPod + charger/transmitter.

I have been three times with Sunsail (last time a couple of weeks ago - bareboat in the Ionian) and tho nothing is perfect I recon they offer very good value for money - the boats are as good as any and you have everything on board to sail safely and comfortably.

Enjoy!! Its a blast /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Thanks everyone for the great advice, we can't wait!

I think I'll pick up Rod's pilot book and bring my handheld VHF and Ipod transmitter looks like I'll be leaving my Nav gear behind.
 
You don't have to buy the full works. A new edition of the Ionian volume was published last year in very handy softback format. Has a lot of good background information about the area as well.
 
I've not been with Sunsail so can't comment on what they normally provide. I've chartered six times now with Setsail though, and they always provide the Heikell pilot along with the necessary charts, dividers and plotter. Also GPS, either hand held or mounted in the boat.

One thing I would add to the list though is a plug-in inverter. We bought one from Halfords which plugs into the cig lighter socket. Only 125W, but that's ample for running a laptop or charging camera or phone batteries. Agree with the others about taking a handheld VHF as well. Did that for the first time this year in teh Sporades and it was much better than having to dash down below. When you're being given mooring/anchoring instructions it's easier to see what they're on about as well.

Hope you enjoy it (actuyally I'm sure you will).
 
Our yacht in South ionian had the paperback aboard. take shoes suitable for going ashore if you have a dinghy. there are lots of sea urchins.
 
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