Sailing away and chasing those dreams.......

Preparing for a longer voyage.

As sailors, there are so many things to consider before pushing off from the dock. We spend time and money preparing our boats, but little to prepare our minds and bodies for the open ocean; a place where a quick call to the emergency services is not an option.

It’s also a good time to think about your requirements now that the post-covid world is starting to open up and we’re thinking about longer voyages to far flung shores!

The old saying comes to mind, ‘If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail’ or, a favourite in the Royal Navy, the 5 P’s - Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. So here’s our top tips for preparing and keeping yourself and your crew happy and healthy at sea.

Know your crew’s medical history.

Do your crew take any prescription or over the counter medication? Do they have any conditions or allergies?

Has a health professional, who really understands the rigors of an ocean crossing, assessed them recently and deemed them fit?

If they have medications, make sure that they pack enough for the entire voyage, plus extra to last beyond arrival because you can’t always get what you need in every country. Many experienced sailors put half their medications in one place and half in another, in waterproof containers, just in case. Some crews include a health professional to take the lead on all things medical, but, what happens if that key person becomes incapacitated themselves?

Make sure you have a summary of the important health conditions for each crew member in one place that can be accessed as needed.

Take enough drinking water and drink it!