Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

A relatively short trip to an anchorage

is a good thing. At least until you know how they will handle sailing. The last thing you need is a guest that's sick who you can't get off the boat for a while. Also, things to do in the evening other then drinking. You don't need drunk guests falling over the side. I'm thinking about things like board games, Mexican Train, cards and the like. It helps to pass the time and stretches out the alcohol consumption over more time. It helps if you give specific directions as to what to bring. "One pair of sandals, one pair of tennis shoes , two T shirts one bathing suit" because if you don't thy may show up with a hard suitcase the size if the cockpit. Take each guest individually to the head and show them exactly how to operate it. Tell them exactly what you will allow to be put in it. Some dirt dwellers are completely terrorized by marine heads. It's like talking to your doctor. Two minutes after you leave the office you can't remember the post operation instructions. They take one look at the levers, valves and switches and it "dear in the head lights". Then, of course, the five minute life jacket, life raft and MOB speech. Guests on board are fun. It gives you a chance to let someone else experience what most of us, sometimes, take for granted. Dropping the anchor for you is just dropping the anchor. To someone new to sailing/cruising it's the start of a new adventure.

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