A VELA

SEGURIDAD

– Si vamos a navegar es para disfrutar del viento, el mar y la compañía, así que todos vamos a asegurarnos de que regresamos sanos y salvos. Los primeros a bordo repasaremos los procedimientos y normas de seguridad aunque ya las conozcamos.

Рpara los que navegan por primera vez tambi̩n veremos la forma de movernos por el barco.

– Aunque pienses que no te vas a marear, habrá que tomar pastillas antimareo porque si te equivocas el resto de la tripulación tendrá que hacer tu trabajo, y además, cuidarte. Si no tomas pastillas 30 minutos antes, no zarpas.

– Si navegas por primera vez, no comas mucho ni te pases con el alcohol, pues puede pasarte factura.

– Durante la navegación, entrar en el barco puede ser una experiencia desagradable, sobre todo si la mar está revuelta. Si necesitas algo del interior y no estás acostumbrado, pídeselo a cualquier veterano.

– Después de varios días en la mar es normal sentir que la tierra se mueve cuando desembarcas.

– En el velero hay salvavidas para todos y quien trabaje en el puesto de proa y palo deberán llevarlo.

EQUIPAJE

– Es fácil que te mojes o la ropa se humedezca. Lleva siempre suficiente ropa para cambiarte y mantenla seca.

– El calzado debe ser deportivo con suela de goma pero que no sea oscura, ya que las marcas que deja en cubierta son difíciles de quitar.

РLa ropa externa debe protegerte del viento y el agua. Si tienes ropa de agua, mejor. Aunque naveguemos con sol, el viento te puede hacer sentir algo de fresco. Si vamos a navegar de noche, lleva algo de abrigo tambi̩n, incluido un gorro de punto.

– Trata de vestirte con muchas capas, en vez de una prenda para cada ocasión, estarás más preparado y tu equipaje será menor.

– Aunque en tierra salgamos, el ambiente será informal así que no te va a hacer falta nada sofisticado.

– Piensa que en un velero no hay mucho espacio, y que sus paredes son curvas, así que trae la ropa justa y en una bolsa deportiva blanda.

– Aunque a veces hay sábanas y mantas, tráete el saco de dormir y la toalla.

– No olvides la protección contra el sol: gafas, cremas y gorro. Y si además es época cálida, un bañador y ropa corta.
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SAFETY

– Sailing is about enjoying the adventure of wind and sea with good company of friends and discovering new places and see the world from a different angle. On the other hand it is crucially important to understand that it is equally important to ensure we all return safely and if possible without (material) damage. During the first days I will try to make you familiar with the general safety procedures and rules on a sailing yacht. Its is bit like being on a plane where there are no passengers but only crew and a pilot.

– Never think «I wil not get sea-sick because I never get sea-sick». It is unpleasant for the person affected, and bad for the rest of the team. It means, that the team finally has to do the job of the sicked man. If it is only one, is ok, but if 50% of the crew get sick, it is not nice at all. So, as prevention, all members of the crew wil have their anti sea-sickness pill at least 30 minutes before leaving the harbour. The person that will not follow this order, will not board the boat. We will stock a reasonable amount on board, but if you have your own remedy please dont hesitate to bring it with you.

– The night before sailing for the first time, dinner has to be light with not too much of an alcohol excess. Having a strong hangover helps to get sick on board.

– While sailing, going inside the cabins can be a bit of a challenge if the boat is moving with the waves. Things can fly, you can fly, and besides, you can get sick easily, so, if going down is necessary, then try to be a shortest time possible. If you don’t feel well and need something from inside, you can ask me or someone else to do it for you.

– Normally after a day or two you get used to the movements of the boat and after a week you think that the earth is moving when you get back on land. The two days of «training» should get us all used to the boat and the movements at sea.

– On the boat there will be life jackets for everyone. All people working at the mast or on the bow, will have it on.

– About how to move on the boat, and this kind of things, Koert and me will explain «in situ»

– Feet have to be dry and warm all the time. That’s really important. Ok, they can be wet during a rain shower or when beating upwind, for about a couple of hours, but not more. Solution for this is carrying a pair of dry shoes & spare socks, and/or a pair of (sailing) boots.

LUGGAGE RECOMMENDATIONS

– Socks enough for having warm and dry feet.
– Sporting or sailing shoes, with a soft rubber sole for good grip and eventually impermeable boots. It is important that your shoes do NOT have a black rubber sole, as that will give a lot of black stripes to clean on the white deck of the boat !!
– Wind and waterproof jacket. Hopefully it wont rain, but nevertheless a good outdoor or sailing jacket is a pre to keep dry and warm when facing the wind when the sun goes under. And something able to stop the wind. If you have waterproof trousers they can be useful as well.

-Something thick and warm to avoid the cold at night

-a fleece hat can be useful at night.

-It desn’t mean that we need a lot of things, it means that the best way of dressing is like an onion. T-shirt, Polo shirt, jumper, fleece jumper, impermeable stop wind something.. It it is warm you can take something out. If cold you can put everything on.

– Some clothes for going out will be needed as well as on the island we will make excursions and we will assist the different parties that are being organized. The whole atmosphere will be very casual, so little need to bring sophisticated things.

– All clothes have to be confortable and sport. Sailing is sport with periods of calm and relax and periods of intense activity. The chill factor is important, so with little wind and sun, we can be sun bathing, and when we go upwind against a modest breeze with no sun, it can be chilly.

– With regards to the amount of luggage to bring, and how to pack it, you must think of sailing as backpacking with a tent. That means, dont bring things on board «just in case» they might be useful, the problem is not that much the weight, but more the storage space. A boat is having all odd shapes, so a normal suitcase will not fit well. It is better to bring a soft bag that can be easier stowed away, and when it moves around doesnt break anything. Similar to this idea of backpacking with a tent, you will have to bring your own sleeping bag and towel. (No need to bring your tent though ..)

– Last but not least. If the weather is such as the weather is today in Barcelona (little wind and very sunny) you should not forget to bring your sunglasses and sun proof. And a bit depending on the final forecasts probably as well a pair of short trousers, and maybe even a swimsuit for those of us used to the colder waters of the nordics.