Frequently Asked Questions

A holiday afloat is one of the very best ways to enjoy 'time out.' Here are ten good reasons why you should take a yachting vacation:

- Choose your own itinerary
- Avoid the crowds
- Enjoy the freedom
- Holiday at your own pace
- Discover magical cruising grounds
- Know the total cost of your boating holiday before you leave home
- Choose your own level of comfort
- All you have to do is get to the airport and we'll organise the rest!
- You don't have to be a sailor to have the holiday of a lifetime
- Get to places off-the-beaten-track away from the tourist routes

You don't need to be a sailor to have the holiday of a lifetime! Sail Connections is able to provide you with a carefully chosen skipper/ sailing guide to meet your needs.

If you have no boating experience, or not enough, opt for a skipper. If you are an experienced skipper yourself, but realise the benefits of having a holiday afloat without the responsibility of being in charge, you're wise to opt for a skipper . and relax !

A skipper can offer you:

- Local knowledge in the destination you're cruising
- For experienced sailors --- the opportunity to relax and enjoy your holiday
without the responsibility, and you can still participate.
- For the inexperienced --- an opportunity to learn the rudiments of sailing

Your boat is your own floating hotel and will have a complete inventory on board (eg navigation equipment and charts, bedding and linen, complete galley). Your vessel will be fuelled and water tanks full ready for you to step aboard and go cruising. Please ask Sail Connections for an inventory for your particular boat.

Generally all you'll need is your personal gear. Life aboard can be very casual. The basic essentials to pack are your suntan lotion, sun glasses, sunhat, swimmers and your smile ! Sail Connections can advise you on dress sense and respect for customs in your particular holiday destination.

Other tips --- take your favourite CD's, duty free film, reef walking shoes in the South Pacific and a light cotton long sleeved shirt to protect you from the glare of the sun.

We recommend that you organise to take some foreign currency for your holiday, before you leave home.

Provisioning is an extra cost. Selection is by personal choice and preference. Sail Connections will assist you to plan your provisioning before your leave home. Every destination is different. We are happy to share our local knowledge with you, about what foods are available, and what to buy where.

Generally you have three options:

Have your shopping done for you and stowed on board ready for your departure. Generally you pay a fee of 10 - 20% for this service.

Enjoy the cultural experience of shopping yourselves in your holiday destination at the local market and supermarket. We'll recommend the best ways to do this from our own experiences.

A mixture of the first two options. Consider having the heavy goods and standard items stowed on board (eg bottled water), and get into the spirit of your holiday and enjoy the exchange with the local people in the market for your fresh fruit and vegetables.

In most destinations you can dine ashore sometimes, but to plan your itinerary totally around restaurant meals is very limiting. There's often a favourite secluded anchorage where a BBQ on board at sunset is the perfect end to a great day cruising.

Sail Connections will help you to plan your itinerary, and will update you on favourite shoreside restaurants to visit.

If you have a skipper, you will need to provide for his meals with your provisioning order.

Depending on the Terms and Conditions of your charter, be it WMT or CT, your meals may or may not be included in your charter fee. In any case it's important that the chef has a prior knowledge of your preferences and dislikes for food before you board. Sail Connections will provide you with a Preference Checklist which will guide you through providing the right information so that your professional chef is able to cater for your personal needs. In this way any food allergies or any dietary requirements can be advised well in advance.

Having a chef on board doe not prevent you from enjoying the delights of dining ashore from time to time. Sail Connections will advise you on your itinerary options including the opportunities for dining ashore in your particular holiday destination.

There are no hidden costs and you can know the total cost of your holiday, apart from personal expenses, before you leave home. There should be no surprises and no large credit card bills for extras after your holiday is over and you've arrived home. We can advise on shore excursions and average costs for provisioning.

Sail Connections can package your sailing holiday to include airfares, transfers and your time aboard, depending on your country of origin.

Once your boat is stocked and you're on your way, all you really need is a fresh loaf of bread every day!

We can advise you on the current exchange rate in your holiday destination.

A chart briefing and boat familiarisation is mandatory before commencing your bareboat sailing holiday. You are ready to 'weigh anchor' when you feel comfortable that you have acquired all the information you require to navigate safely and to handle your boat with ease.

As part of your holiday package we offer you our cruising information and sample itineraries, and we can recommend the best charts and cruising guides so that you have a good knowledge of your particular destination prior to leaving home.

At Yacht Base you will have an in-depth chart briefing, and a walk through the boat to familiarise yourself with the particular systems and instrumentation.

Charter Terms and Conditions vary between charter companies. All bareboat charter vessels are insured with an excess applicable to claims. Some companies offer a non-refundable damage waiver thereby limiting the liability. Logic generally dictates that in the case of a collision at sea, the rules of the sea apply. Loss of an item overboard can be deemed as negligent and you can be liable.

Formalities are similar to renting a car in some countries. For bareboat sailors, responsibility includes a refundable security bond paid at base prior to departure.

Sail Connections prefers to supply your Charter Terms and Conditions at time of invoice prior to payment.

You Don't have To Be A Sailor To Have The Holiday Of A Lifetime!

Sailing holidays are ideal for groups of friends, families and business people. They allow quality time together.

Most bareboat charter companies stay in contact with their fleets daily by VHF. With modern day communications you can be as close or as far away as you need to be. Ask us about cellphone coverage and connections to the Internet in your holiday destination.

Most bareboat charter companies stay in contact with their fleets daily by VHF. With modern day communications you can be as close or as far away as you need to be. Ask us about cellphone coverage and connections to the Internet in your holiday destination.

Every year Director Founder Jeni Tidmarsh leads a flotilla in Tahiti. She also chooses a new destination to cruise. Ask about our Sail Connections flotilla sailing holidays in Tahiti, Turkey and in the Caribbean. For 2002 and 2003, we are planning flotillas in New Zealand in 2003, and in Turkey and Corsica in 2002.

"The concept of the Sail Connections flotilla is to have a fantastic holiday made easy by access to lots of local knowledge. You have the freedom to sail with the flotilla and to enjoy the benefits of our local knowledge, or to make your own itinerary, and join the flotilla as you wish. If you find an anchorage where you want to stay, enjoy your freedom and join us later. You'll always know where we'll be. Every day we discuss our options of what to do and where to go, shore excursions and favourite anchorages, to dine ashore and of course to meet the local people. We have great holidays --- ask us to email you some of our pics!"
- Jeni Tidmarsh, Director Sail Connections.

"We cruised the fabulous islands of Tahiti in luxury with Sail Connections flotilla group. We came back feeling 10 years younger and have made lifetime friends."
- Neil & Karen Barr

Sail Connections is a small team dedicated to your personal boating needs. Our experienced crew offers you our local knowledge to help you to enjoy the vacation of a lifetime. We offer assistance in planning your personal cruising itinerary and have a wealth of local knowledge endorsed by personal experience in most destinations.

"Thank you for all the help over the last six months - it all went like clockwork - we shall return!"
- Janette & Rod McKenzie

Sail Connections itineraries are personalised for each client. Some destinations require overnight hotel accommodation before and after your sailing vacation. Other packages can be tailored to include on-shore stays. Whatever your needs Sail Connections will endeavour to create the right package for you.

Be as adventurous or relaxed as you desire.

For the energetic there's always lots to do on a holiday afloat and every destination offers you something unique. Enjoy the outdoors: sailing, cruising, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, diving, catch a fish and BBQ your 'catch of the day.'

Explore uninhabited islands and tropical atolls, beach and reefcombing, bushwalking. Exercise ashore tramping, cycling or horseriding. Experience island village life, enjoy a village feast, shop at the local markets, visit the children at the local school. Sample the cuisine at a local island restaurant, or dine and dance at a resort hotel.

Ask us about the destination of your choice. Ask us about the destination that suits your needs the best.

There is something for everyone. Sail and motor yachts to suit all levels of comfort and all desires. A vacation in the destination of your dreams aboard a skippered sail or motor yacht ~ perhaps a private luxury crewed vessel with your friends and family.

An independent vacation aboard a bareboat yacht
Sail Connections will advise the vessel and holiday package that best suits your budget and personal requirements.

And you're always welcome to join one of Sail Connections unique flotilla sailing holidays