{"id":53923,"date":"2019-12-18T16:01:28","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T15:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/blog\/ten-tips-for-the-perfect-family-sailing-holiday-with-children\/"},"modified":"2023-05-17T12:23:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T10:23:03","slug":"ten-tips-for-the-perfect-family-sailing-holiday-with-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamyachtcharter.com\/gb\/blog\/ten-tips-for-the-perfect-family-sailing-holiday-with-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten tips for the perfect family sailing holiday with children"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Family holidays are special occasions that make foundational memories in the constantly changing landscape of a child\u2019s mental and emotional development. What better place to do that than on a chartered yacht, sailing between islands in the sparkling blue ocean so close to nature. If you are planning a family sailing holiday, here are our tips to help make life a little easier on board and help you all have an amazing time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

1 Rent a catamaran and go sailing with friends<\/b><\/p>\n\n

These two things go hand-in-hand. Whether you are chartering <\/span>bareboat<\/span><\/a> or hiring a <\/span>professional skipper<\/span><\/a>, life is always better with friends. Although boats are confined spaces, a catamaran offers a feeling of privacy and personal space as each family can inhabit a separate hull, making it the perfect option for sailing with children. Even a small 38ft catamaran sleeps 10, so two families of four fit really nicely on either side of the yacht with the skipper and the empty bags in the single forepeak cabins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Catamarans are wonderful for family cruising. They are steady in the water and don\u2019t heel over, which can be alarming for children. They have loads of inside space and the galley is at the same level as the cockpit, which means the kids can be inside or outside and you will still be able to see them. Cats are also easy to get in and out of and the trampoline up front is a great safe place for kids to chill and relax.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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2 Arrange a safety net\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to only go sailing with your children when they are able to swim, but if you want to go sailing with really small-fry, you should speak to your Charter Planning Specialist about getting a safety net installed. A safety net is attached to the stanchions of the boat and is designed to prevent knee-high sized humans from going overboard. A harness is also something which you could consider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

3 Wear life jackets<\/b><\/p>\n\n

While underway, all children must wear life jackets if they are outside. When sailing with children, either bring your own or let your agent know the size, weight and age of your children so they can have the correct size life jackets for them on board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

4 Stick to the rules<\/b><\/p>\n\n

Establish simple safety rules and ensure the children learn them and stick to them. If you have chartered a crewed yacht<\/a>, the captain will give a short safety briefing, but this important job really does rest with you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Briefing begins before you depart, so talk to your children about staying safe on board before the trip starts and reinforce once you have boarded the boat. Give them a guided tour and include things like how the head works, how to avoid the boom, how to move around the boat and where the handgrips and handrails are. Here are some useful rules to include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n