FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

On most of our adventures, prior sailing experience is not required. Willingness to learn is a bonus though and the Skipper will be happy to teach you all that you need.

Unless you opt out, you will be welcome to partake in handling and managing the boat, including night watches - and we believe that this is how you enjoy all that the adventure has to offer.

Our Skipper is a professional RYA instructor, so if you take a deeper interest, it will not take much persuasion for him to share his knowledge.

Looking to book a sailing course before your next adventure? Check out Find a Sail, your global sailing marketplace.

We recommend that you bring a soft collapsible backpacking / duffle style bag as suitcases are challenging to store onboard.

Generally, we recommend packing no more than what you would bring on a summer backpacking trip in the mountains.

On top of regular staples, consider packing these:

• Thermals. Handy for night sailing or if it’s particularly windy, even in warmer climates.

• Swimming suit

• Warm socks

• Sun hat

• Scarf (for sun protection)

• Towel

• Headlamp/flashlight, ideally with red light option

• Wind and water proof jacket and trousers.

• Snorkeling gear

• Ear plugs

• Non-marking shoes

• Sunglasses

• Book

• Passport

• Currency

• Insurance

• Marine-friendly sunscreen

• Marine-friendly products if going down the drains of the boat (we will provide shampoo, conditioner, soap and all cleaning products onboard on most sails)

• Bug spray

• Sailing gloves

• Refillable water bottle

• Hammock for chilling / sleeping on deck

• Camera or other device for capturing memories

• Comfortable, lightweight clothes suitable for hot, sunny weather

• Personal medications and first-aid kit

Safety is our number one priority. Our Skipper is a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Instructor with extensive experience all around Europe and North America. He will never push a questionable situation and will always stay on the safe side.

Our First Mate is RYA Day Skipper with experience in various European and Canadian destinations, including delivery passages. All our sailing vessels are equipped with full complement of in-date life-saving equipment including liferaft, life jackets, harnesses, flares, radio, and life buoys.

If at any time you have a question regarding safety or any concerns, please speak to the Skipper or First Mate immediately.

Our experience has it that seasickness is quite uncommon and if it happens, it is very unlikely that you'd be seasick for more than part of a day.

There are good methods to fight a nascent seasickness onboard without the need to resort to medication. However, if you are prone to being sick in a car, or just in case, we recommend you bring some seasickness medication with you (we have good experience with medication containing the natural active agent Scopolamine / Hyoscine, however, always consult your doctor). We will also provide mint and/or ginger tea onboard which can also help relieve seasickness. 

We strongly advise that you obtain your own travel, medical, flight, and cancellation insurance, including coverage for Covid-19 related issues. Please note that Wander the Waves cannot be held liable for any costs or expenses that would normally be covered by such insurance.

We always begin our sails by asking each Client about their particular desires for the week ahead. While we endeavour to meet as many of your hopes and dreams as possible, there are limitations. Sailing is a slow-travel experience, and weather plays a major factor in the distance we are able to cover. We cannot guarantee reaching certain destinations requested.

We unfortunately cannot control the weather for your adventure, and therefore cannot offer any refunds for adverse weather conditions. In the case of severe weather that prevents sailing, we will endeavour to find entertaining activities on land until we are able to get back out on the water. The decision of whether or not it is safe to sail is solely up to the discretion of the Skipper and First Mate.

We love having a range of ideas from the crew, and we also believe that getting to experience a bit of what everyone wants will make for a greater experience. However, if there are some very keen sailors who would like more time on the water, while others wish to explore the land, we are happy to accommodate where available. In this case, the Skipper can take those out who would like to sail, and return for the other crew later in the day.

We charter boats that are modern, comfortable cruising sailboats. Accommodation is typically provided in double cabins and a bunk cabin. Most boats have 2 additional beds available in the saloon if desired. The saloon also hosts the galley (kitchen), with a cooker, oven and a fridge. There are typically 2-4 heads (toilets with shower) and an additional outdoor shower, all with hot water. As space is limited, everything is compact, but comfortable and functional.
Please refer to the actual boat booked for your adventure for details and layout.

Electricity for charging your devices is available through 12V car sockets. Make sure you bring a suitable charger & a power pack. Mains power is typically available only in marinas.

The boat is a tight knit space, so we ask Clients to be considerate of others' personal space as well as mindful of noise in the night.

For our typical catered sails: A week long sail includes 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 3 Dinners, Snacks, Water, Tea & Coffee. Also included are 3 bottles of wine per dinner onboard. All meals & cooking is family-style.

We usually have 4 dinners ashore as the majority of our clients want to experience more of the local cuisine. It may arise that your group may want to take lunch ashore too on occasion if we happen to dock in a gorgeous town for the afternoon. However, there will always be enough food onboard for lunches, and additional dinners should you choose to eat onboard. 

How does this work?

● Breakfasts will always be buffet style set up by us with plenty of choice according to your requests in the form provided.

● There are 10 catered meals onboard - 7 lunches and 3 dinners. There will be an additional 4th dinner ready in case we cannot get ashore one of the nights.

● Teamwork makes the dreamwork (especially on a boat😊 ) and we will happily accept help with preparation of our family style meals. 

We provision the boat on the day of boarding. Where possible, we strive to source fresh local produce to give you the best experience of the country we are guests in. During the week, we replace fresh provisions where available.

Please check the respective terms of your chosen sail to confirm the details of the food service.

Self-catered sails: The crew is responsible for provisioning the boat and feeding the skipper.

We strive to minimize our environmental impact, especially in areas with little to no recycling facilities.

To reduce our use of plastic, we do not provide bottled water onboard. Our boat carries ample amounts of drinking water, and we use proven high-efficiency on-tap active charcoal filtration to ensure good tasting water. We also provide spare drinking water in large water jugs for emergencies.

To help us reduce our use of plastic, we encourage our guests to bring their own refillable water bottle. 

On catered sails, Wander the Waves provides 3 bottles of wine per dinner. If the budget allows, we typically get some extra, plus beer, radlers, and ingredients for Sarah's famous Aperol Spritzs and G&Ts.

However, please feel free to bring your own favorite drinks.

One of our favourite things about southern countries is the incredible wine they have to offer, and we are excited to sip with you while at anchor or in ports.

At the same time, we encourage drinking responsibly, due to the nature of the risks involved in sailing.

Drinking responsibly: If at any point during the sail a crew member is under the influence of alcohol and behaving in a way that would put the boat/crew at risk, the Skipper has the authority to remove this client from the sail immediately without refund.

Drugs of any kind are strictly forbidden on Wander the Waves sails. If you are found to be in possession of drugs, Wander the Waves has permission to remove you from the sail immediately without refund.

Preferably off the boat. If smoking on board, we ask that you do so downwind, on deck, and away from non-smoking guests. Please be mindful of the ash and tar, as they can stain the white decks. Smoking is not allowed inside the cabins or below deck.

That being said, there is something magical about a sundowner & a pipe.

We respect your privacy and will honor any written request not to be photographed. If you wish to opt-out, please inform us in writing prior to your voyage.

Otherwise, we reserve the right to take photographs of our clients and their experiences on our voyages. By joining our voyage, you consent to the use of such photographs on our website, social media, and marketing publications.

We highly encourage you bring your own camera as well and share your experience with fellow travellers. If you wish to tag WtW in your social media posts, please feel free to do so.

Wander the Waves may make a short video of the trip, and a photo album. If you wish to request extended video and photo coverage, please contact us for availability and fees.

To minimize our environmental impact, we provide marine-friendly toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and soap on most sails. Please avoid using non-marine-friendly products in the onboard showers. We encourage you to bring your own marine-friendly products, including sunscreen. Check your sail for more information.

Yes, we do! We love to welcome new members to the Wander the Waves family, and we want to reward our loyal clients. For each new guest that you refer to us, you will receive €40 off your next booking. 

The new guest must mention your name at the time of booking. Please note that this referral program is not valid for bookings of Private Bespoke Charters, as these already carry a group booking discount.

Certain conditions apply, please contact us for full information. Thank you!

At Wander the Waves, we strive to provide exceptional service and create a memorable experience for all of our guests. If you feel that our crew has gone above and beyond during your voyage, gratuities are highly appreciated. It is customary to tip 10-20% in the charter industry, and any amount is entirely at your discretion. 

Your tips are distributed evenly among the crew, and they are always grateful for your recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Depending on the boat and adventure, you will sail with 6-8 likely minded travelers. Most of our clients are aged 20 - 60, but our previous sails are a testament that we can all be enriched by 1 year olds and 80 year olds. 

Don't worry though, there will be no babies onboard unless specifically stated. 

Children (1yr+) are welcome on specific family and children's sails that we offer. We also accept private bookings for families with children.

Minors aged 13 years and up can join our regular sails, but only when accompanied by a guardian. Please contact us for details.

Customers must let Wander the Waves know about any medical conditions that would impact their ability to sail. These may include, but are not limited to severe allergies, heart conditions, and physical disabilities. If you have any doubts, please consult your doctor. 

If you have a disability, please contact us before booking. We have experience with sailing with disabilities and we will tailor the adventure to your needs.

Please make sure you pack all medical-related items with you (not limited to medications), and let WtW know how to use them in emergency. 

If you have a disability, please contact us before booking. We have experience with sailing with disabilities and we can tailor the adventure to your needs.

Patrik is first and foremost a sailing instructor. While Wander the Waves themselves does not provide official sailing courses, should you take a deeper interest, Patrik is eager to teach you onboard and can generally bring you to around a Competent Crew standard on our sails. 

Should you wish to pursue your sail training further, please check Patrik's dedicated sail training project, the Yacht Master Class.

Looking to book a sailing course in general? Check out Find a Sail, your global sailing marketplace.

ARRIVAL: Please arrive at the marina at 6pm on the arrival date. We eat out for a chance to enjoy local cuisine and get to know each other. Safety briefing will follow after breakfast the next day.

DEPARTURE: We usually arrive back the evening before departure and dine out. The boat must be disembarked by 9am on the departure date. Specific details will be provided for each individual trip.

Deposit of 50% must be paid at the time of booking to reserve your spot. The balance is to be paid 60 days before the start of the sail. See our full terms and conditions.

In the event of cancellation by the Client after the boat has been booked, Wander the Waves will not be able to offer a refund. Wander the Waves will endeavor to help you find a replacement for your place on the boat, but we cannot guarantee it. We strongly recommend taking out personal travel insurance to cover any unexpected cancellation event and we are happy to comply with travel insurance cases. See our full Terms and Conditions

In case of an emergency, we are only a radio call away from a Coast Guard assistance.

 
Patrik also has first aid training, sea survival training, and expertise with dealing with adverse weather conditions. 

Please check appropriate entries in the menu.

please don't hesitate to contact us!