{"id":9142,"date":"2017-12-19T08:30:28","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T21:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=9142&preview_id=9142"},"modified":"2022-07-22T01:11:36","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T15:11:36","slug":"guide-to-sailing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/guide-to-sailing\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m on a boat: the Intrepid guide to sailing like a pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog was originally published on October 27, 2014.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

There are a lot of myths about sailing the high seas. Some people think you need to know the nautical names of every sheet (sorry, ropey thing) and smell of seaweed all day, others reckon you can only do it on a giant cruise ship with four cinemas, two casinos and a pants-exploding buffet station.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It turns out they\u2019re both wrong. After reading obscure historical tomes, books of knots and googling some stuff, we\u2019ve stumbled on another way. We like to call this way \u2018Sailing adventures on a big yacht\u2019 (it\u2019s a working title).<\/p>\n

Just picture it: kicking back on the deck, the waves of the Cote d\u2019Azur lapping against the hull, a dog-eared copy of Treasure Island<\/i> on your chest and a wedge of Camembert close at hand. Take that<\/i>, Queen Mary II. It turns out the only thing you need to be an Intrepid sailor is, well, you.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe us? Have a look at our in-depth guide to sailing:<\/p>\n

\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Master your nautical jargon<\/h3>\n
\"A<\/a>

Photo by Fab Lentz on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

This is crucial. How can you be expected to sail around the Bahamas if you don\u2019t know your Intrepid sailing lingo? But never fear, dear friends, we\u2019ve got a little lexicon here that\u2019s sure to turn any Cabin Boy or Girl into a Lord Admiral. Case in point:<\/p>\n

Nautical jargon: \u2018Splice the mainbrace!\u2019
\nIntrepid speak: \u2018Can I have another rum and coke please?\u2019<\/p>\n

Nautical jargon: \u2018We\u2019re tacking two sheets to the wind.\u2019
\nIntrepid speak: \u2018Let\u2019s go enjoy the breeze in that secluded cove over there.\u2019<\/p>\n

Nautical jargon: \u2018Hard to port\u2019
\nIntrepid speak: \u2018Shall we turn left?\u2019<\/p>\n

Nautical jargon: \u2018Land ho!\u2019
\nIntrepid speak: \u2018Check out Capri. Is that Clooney\u2019s yacht over there?\u2019<\/p>\n

RELATED: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SAILING JARGON<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Learn the ropes<\/h3>\n
\"A<\/a>

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

You know, if you want to. When you\u2019re sailing through Thailand’s idyllic islands<\/a> and waving to some free-diving sea gypsies off the starboard bow, it\u2019s sometimes nice to do so while standing at the helm like a real life sea captain (I think we\u2019ve all been there). Our sailing adventures can be as hands-on or hands-off as you like. Help the crew with the sails; practice tacking and reaching and all those other fancy nautical things; or just lie back on the deck with a cocktail and a good book \u2013 the choice is yours. Try getting that kind of flexibility on a big old floating resort.<\/p>\n

\u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pack appropriately<\/h3>\n
\"Aerial<\/a>

Photo by Sweet Ice Cream Photography on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

For obvious space reasons, it\u2019s best to leave the grand piano, pet llama and fold-out four-person mattress at home. Same goes for bulky suitcases, ten pairs of shoes and the surfboard. Pack light. A small rucksack with the basic essentials, some sunscreen, your favourite book and a drink bottle are the main things you\u2019ll need each day. Don\u2019t worry too much about snorkel gear and the rest \u2013 that\u2019s all part of the service.<\/p>\n

RELATED: 5 WAYS TO STOP SEASICKNESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stretching your sea legs<\/h3>\n

\"A<\/a>The best thing about our sailing voyages? They\u2019re not all sailing. This isn\u2019t a Christopher Columbus-type mission. We\u2019re not going to be testing to see if the world is flat or sailing into the big blue yonder in search of new land. All of our itineraries come with plenty of land-based adventure too, from sipping cocktails on the cliffs of Santorini and beach barbecues in Ko Tao to hiking through the forests of the Iles d\u2019Hyeres Archipelago. So don\u2019t worry about stretching those sea legs or getting cabin fever \u2013 it turns out variety is the spice of sailing, as well as life.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Say no to scurvy<\/h3>\n

\"Passengers<\/a>This is good advice for us all: don\u2019t get scurvy. Of course, the chances of this happening are about as high as training a talking parrot to sit on your shoulder during the voyage, especially with the menu we have planned. Spanish sailors in the 1600s didn\u2019t have Grecian olives to snack on, nor did they pull in at St Tropez for some fresh seafood and a crisp Riesling. On many of our sailing trips, most meals are made on board, but there are also plenty of opportunities to fill up on the local fare during on-shore excursions. Each passenger puts in for a kitty and chips in for the communal fare, whether it\u2019s a sizzling stir-fry on Ko Samui<\/a> or barbecue on the white beaches of the British Virgin Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want to stretch your sea legs? Check out our full range of sailing adventures<\/a> today. Yar!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feature image\u00a0by\u00a0Matthew Wheeler<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are a lot of myths about sailing the high seas, but with Intrepid’s handy five-step guide you’ll be ship-shape in no time. 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