Girlie questions for Med liveaboards

[ubuysa]

This is Mrs Ubuysa writing and I'd like to address some questions to the females living permanently (or near permanently) aboard in the Med - particularly in the eastern Med around Greece and Turkey. We plan to move aboard this summer and we aim to base ourselves in the Greece/Turkey area. We haven't bought the boat yet (still looking) but we expect to be in something like a 45ft Jenneau or similar. So, on to my questions. We plan to live a basic life, no frills, no marinas, not eating out every night etc. So...........

1. What girlie items can you not do without?

2. I plan to be a tee-shirt and shorts person, but what clothes will I really need, including for the winter?

3. What girlie things are easily obtainable out there and which should I learn to do without?

4. I don't expect to find a Vidal Sasson sylist around every corner, but neither do I want to shave my head like GI Jane. How easy/hard is it out there to get your hair cut reasonably?

5. What other girlie things do I need to know/take/leave etc...........

HWMO is doing most of the planning for the boat, so I really only want to know about the female side of things. You know what us girls are like /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Many thanks.........Tessa C.

 

[Shakey]

I can't answer all your girlie questions 'cos I'm not a girlie.

From my experiences in Greece, you can find girly stuff relatively easy, I never overheard my female colleagues complaining about the unavailabilty of hairspray, tampax, make up, clothes etc. Greek doctors will provide contraceptive pills, but it may not be the same as the one you use so you may need to stock up on that item.

The only item I found not on sale (or v expensive) was strong ie. 24SPF+ sun cream. I know this is more a unisex thing, but perhaps the Bubbles don't need it and the tourists don't want it 'cos they want a tan.

If you're out there for a longer period of time at sea then invest in some quality sun cream!

Most towns have hairdressers, you're expected to make an appointment same as in UK. Did hear varying reports about the quality of haicuts though.

Don't forget to take plug adaptors for your hair straightners and hair dryer!

As for winter, it can be surprisingly wet and cold so take fleeces to complement your sailing jacket.

If you're out there for a long time you'll soon meet up with the ex-pats who'll point you in the right direction for your various needs.

I would also strongly recommend learning the basics of the language. Once you get away from the tourist areas very few locals speak English.

Can't really comment for Turkey.

Hope this helps.

 

[MapisM]

Plug adaptors for hair dryer

Just curious, why couldn't you use it in your own boat?

 

[Alastairdent]

Re: Plug adaptors for hair dryer

Not a girly, but my gf (very yachty person) does say that a girl needs a bath, 'cause shaving legs in a shower isn't as good.

So maybe you need to investigate/invest in lady's electric razor.

Living aboard is hard on skin - get really good moisturiser. Stuff on sale out there is probably more suited to med skin types.

 

[roam]

great question, Tessa. thanks for asking it.
- from another 'about to be liveaboard'!

c'mon ladies, there must be plenty of advice you can give us.

i had actually thought that asking for good quality, high spf moisturiser would make a good idea for birthday and xmas presents since no-one can get away with giving us knick-knacks and ornaments any longer!

 

[snowleopard]

have you read:
'The Cruising Woman's Advisor' - Diana Jessie
or
'Dragged Aboard' - Don Casey

 

[Becky]

I am planning to do the same thing, but mainly in the Caribbean.However, we are planning to do the Rally Portugal this summer as a practice run. I have resorted to books to gain as big an insight as possible. The one I found very helpful was Beth Leonard's 'The Voyagers Handbook'. This covers everything concerned with world-wide cruising, and I have found it to be a great source of information. But for the personal things women need and/or want, I suspect that it is rather suck-it-and-see.
The Med should have plenty of shops selling those things specific to women. After all, there are a lot of women living there already. I am planning to take plenty of my favourite makeup and lotions. Also, as mentioned, lots of moisturiser and suncreams. These will be needed while getting there as well as when we arrive. It will keep reasonably well. I have selected a simple hair style that I can manage myself. I am planning on 'worst-case scenario' for this. Again, clothes must be easy to wear, hard-wearing, and quick to wash and dry. So, shorts and tea shirts certainly, with sundresses just incase I get taken out sometime. Sailing does take a heavy toll of clothes, bright colours will fade quite soon. In hot climes, you run the risk of mildew so I am planning to keep everything in sealable plastic bags.
Things like bedding need to be drip-dry, and stick to darker colours which will not look so bad after lots of laundering.
This is a huge subject, so read about how others have managed, and set up your own system. Best of luck.
Becky

 

[roam]

yes, have read the 'cruising woman's advisor' but i was very disappointed by this book. haven't found 'dragged aboard' yet.

beth leonard, lyn pardey and annie hill are all great authors on cruising and have very rounded approaches to all aspects, including the female side (esp. catering) but not specifically 'girlie' subjects. i don't recall any of them getting a hair cut, dealing with periods or shaving their legs. i think the boys are too squeamish for that!

 

[Shakey]

Re: Plug adaptors for hair dryer

With regard to hair dryers, they generally weren't needed 'cos it was so hot. Your hair's dry in half a hour no matter how long it is.

The girls had to use dryers and straighteners ashore 'cos the boats' electrics couldn't handle it - they didn't have inverters and we tested a 12V hairdryer but it kept blowing the fuses on the boats.

A 12V hairdryer rated at 800W draws a lot of current! And 800W is pretty poor for a hairdryer anyway.

In winter, you would need inverters or shore power to dry your hair unless you want an Ellen MacArthur.

 

[MapisM]

Re: Plug adaptors for hair dryer

OK, I see your point.
As a MoBo, I'm so used to "luxuries" as the generator and 220V plugs around cabins, that I didn't think about boats which must rely just on 12V...
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Melody]

Hi

I live on board about seven months a year as we run a sailing school and also do skippered charters in Greece. Here are some random thoughts -

Hairdryer Buy a small travel hairdryer out here so you don't need an adapter. They are cheap. Make sure your boat has shore power connection. It only costs a few Euro at a town quay (if you can find one with power!) and its worth it. Get a style that dries ok in the sun 'cos you won't be able to use a dryer most of the time (unless you have a super generator)

Hairdressers. A lot of the things that make things easier are down to 'local knowledge'. There are a few places in Greece where you can get a good haircut and really cheap, but I've not been impressed with a lot of hairdressers here. You rarely need an appointment, by the way, but don't expect them to speak English unless they are under 35ish. Cuts and colours etc much cheaper than UK

Beauty stuff. Greek women are really into makeup, so you'll find whatever you need. Some v. expensive, other stuff okay. Buy in supermarket or browse 'Beauty Shops'. I've found pharmacists very dear for simple things like deodorant. I don't wear much makeup but there seems to be every brand.

Sunscreen. Yes, bring some, but you won't have enough to last. This is something that you can buy everywhere and I don't know that its intended for Med skins - they don't really use it much, its for what they call 'Europeans'! Like many people who live in hot climates, I never actually sunbathe. You can tell the locals - they are the ones sitting in the shade. Make sure you have a bimini. I've also found that netting like for tomatoes is great on a boat - make a moveable piece that you can put up to protect you from glare, but you can still see through it.

Clothes. Greek women love clothes as well and many are VERY fashion aware, so you'll find plenty of stuff to buy here. However, you may have a problem trying to find stylish modern stuff if you are a 'traditionally built' woman. A lot of things are in smaller sizes. You'll find good bras - Greeks (like a lot of continentals) are much more into buying good foundation garments than most UK women. You may find it hard to work out what size you need, but you can usually try things on. Don't buy in tourist places unless you see a 'must have' as they are more expensive.

What You'll Wear. A lot of liveaboard Brit women wear khaki or beige or white shorts and T-shirts, and I've done that too. Boring. Its very comfortable and more feminine to wear bikini tops and a sarong (not round the shops, but on board!). You'll probably wear nothing when its really hot (definitely not round the shops!)
You'll be comfortable in the evening in loose cotton trousers or a long cotton skirt, strappy top or T-shirt, and you'll need something with sleeves in spring and autumn when it gets quite cold. Greece hasn't had a spring and autumn the past few years; its gone straight from winter to summer. Thick jackets one day, T-shirts the next. Very odd.

Shoes. again much cheaper here generally, and they sell more suitable styles - you'll want plenty of air around your feet. Being a school and v. safety concious we make our anchorperson always wear shoes. Med mooring means the anchor is used daily and I am always horrified at families who let their kids help with anchoring without gloves or shoes to protect from runaway chain. Slipon shoes that cover toes are best. You'll need plastic shoes if you want to swim ashore and these are cheap. Good sources are Kritikos and Dia supermarkets.

Bring a sewing machine if you can sew, then you can knock up all sorts of things from lovely coloured sarongs you'll find.

Colours may fade, but bright colours always look best in Med sun, much better than drab neutrals really.

The biggest problem I find when I'm away is washing. They don't have self-service laundrettes, and washing towels or sheets by hand is a real chore. You can get them washed in a laudry (about 20 Euro for a big bag washed and ironed) or you sometimes find someone local (ex-pat ex-sailor often) who'll do them for you for about 5 or 6 Euro.

Buy clothes that don't need ironing. Pure cotton may be nice in the sun but it does crumple, a cottom mix will look better when you come ashore.

Find a good bar that has ex-pats in it and tap them for local knowledge if you want information. They like to show off how well they know their adopted home.

Oh, three final warnings (a) hair that's been coloured goes like straw in the sun and sea unless you are really careful (b) teak decks make the bottom of your feet incredibly dirty (c) don't cook bacon in a bikini

Hope this helps

Cheers
Melody

 

[ubuysa]

Melody, VERY many thanks - this is exactly the sort of info I was hoping for. Thank you so much /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks also to everyone else who kindly offered some very useful advice.

We exchanged contracts on our flat two days ago, so we're madly packing stuff at the moment. We're renting a smaller flat whilst we find the boat. Gosh, I'm SO excited!!! Scared to death as well though.........

Tessa C.

 

[Melody]

Ok
Get in touch when you arive in the Saronic. Send me a private message and I'll give you my phone number.
Where are you looking for boats? Ditto above if you are trying to find one in Greece - great bargains to be had, but you need to be careful who you deal with.
Cheers

 

[tcm]

fab info but

...if your feet get dirty on the teak - the teak needs cleaning!

 

[seagypsywoman]

Shoes for winter

I have another question to add to this very informative thread.
What do you do in winter for shoes? I love the slip ons in summer, they are comfortable and feminine, but in winter all the locals here (southern Spain) wear high heeled boots or shoes (with pointy toes) and all I have are practical boat loafers!!! Ugh. Any ideas? I would still like them to be feminine and easy on the feet.
BTW I agree about the sarongs and bikini tops. And to town in summer you can just slip on a top over the bikini. I live in mine.

 

[Formercruiser]

Other thoughts....

A couple of tips about hair: keep it simple, forget hair dryers and electric styling things. Lots of yachtie couples cut each others hair; longish layered hair is a piece of cake for an unskilled hairdresser – bend forward and brush your hair upside down and all the layers come to the same length, all that is required is a trim in a straight line. Just be careful of fringes, may be a bit longer than all the rest. I cut my husband’s hair with rechargeable clippers, just followed the instructions that came with it and hey presto! Do it on deck and the breeze will clear up for you.

Indian hair oil is good, your local ethnic corner shop probably sells it. It’s coconut oil (often with a great jasmine scent) and a couple of drops smoothed into wet or dry hair go a long way to de-frizzing it. (Don’t Indian women always have beautiful hair?) It also acts as a thermometer by solidifying at about 22’C.

You can always buy the necessities of life everywhere, no need to stock up. High factor sunscreen is hard to find but you will become so tanned that you don’t need it. Make sure you have thin cotton trousers and long sleeved shirts to cover up with in summer, much cooler than sunscreen. Exercise pants/leggings are very practical sailing gear. Not many yachtie women bother much with cosmetics – it’s a casual lifestyle and you will be looking healthy, tanned and relaxed.

When hand washing (you will…….), don’t wring T shirt collars too hard as it ruins the elastic. Peg clothes out carefully or dry on hangers and they end up surprisingly wrinkle free. If they are stowed in an odd shaped locker, roll clothes rather than fold them.

The eastern Med is great (Turkey is our favourite esp N ) but it does rain a lot in winter. A thick jumper is worth having. We used a 4 tog duvet in spring and autumn and a 9 tog in winter (the spare duvet makes a great cushion for the saloon).

On the boating side, make sure you can sail it (or at least motor safely) and navigate. Don’t on any account agree to do all the cooking in exchange for Him navigating – a most unfair swap. Go to a sailing school and learn if necessary, most successful cruising couples work as sort of ‘co-skippers’.

Med moorings are bow or stern-to. Stern-to with a sugar scoop gives easier access to land but if you chose to go in bows-to (easier, more private, necessary if you have a wind vane on the stern etc) it can be a long way down to the quay. As women tend to have shorter legs, this can be a girlie problem – make sure you have some means of easily getting on and off – this could just be a milk crate to stand on or a natty ladder hanging from your anchor.

I seem to have rambled on a bit here but as an ex-cruiser, I envy you lot just about to set off. Its great.

 

[dedwards]

Re: Other thoughts....

One simple suggestion for the hairdressers: Get it done well over here before you go and take some photos of it. then all you've got to do is point to the piccies when you're abroad.

 

[Aardee]

Re: fab info but

If your feet get dirty you ARE cleaning the teak...?