Sailing Tips for the Girly Girl

The Girly Girls Guide to Sailing

First, I am a girly girl.  I wear heels, and i dont leave the house with out at least some mascara.  I need to wash my hair every day or else it mattes up or dreadlocks.  I like my air conditioning on ‘high’ when i sleep while i’m under a down comforter.  I like what i like.  So when i was asked if i wanted to come along on a sailing trip to island hop the western caribbean, of course i said yes…but i was nervous.

The boat, “Living the Dream” is a 27′ Albin Vega Sailboat.  The interior living space is significantly less than 100 square feet, and only in the dead center of the cabin does the height reach 5′ 7″…just enough for me to stand.  The sleeping cabin is shaped like a wedge in the front of the boat, and a full grown human cannot sit up at all, let alone straight.  There is a toilet, however, this no room to close the door as it comes directly to the front of the toilet when closed.

I wash my hair in a bucket, and the shower is a bag with a hose that hangs from the mast.

I’ve been out here for 8 days now, and i’ve begun compiling tips for other girls who would like to attempt a similar trip.

1) Coconut Oil – again, i cannot sing the praises enough.  Please see my blog “Ode To Coconut Oil” for more uses, but suffice to say its amazing.  It’s a fabulous skin moisturizer for both your face and body, and it is also a very effective skin detangler.  It’s great for cooking, and also calms a sun burn (so i recently discovered).  Bring the bottle and small spray bottle.  You will never stop finding uses for the stuff.

2) Baby Wipes – yes, there is a toilet, but you just need baby wipes.  trust me on the baby wipes, their just great to have along.

3) Bar Soap takes up less room and lasts longer.  This tip was from my friend Lisa who has worked and lived on yachts for the last several years.

4) Sarongs – they are not so wrong, they are so right.  It’s a cover up, a blanket, a towel, and a dress.  Bring two, one is always wet.

5) Pouches of tuna – there is no refridgerator on this boat, so food is an interesting process.  The pouches of tuna are a great easy way to make sure you are nourished.  You will lose weight on a small boat.  There just isnt enough space for too much food so ‘boredom’ eating doesnt happen.

6) Ear Plugs – while the sound of the ocean is absolutely lovely, the boat makes a lot of noise as it creaks and rolls around on the waves.  While i love all those noises, the first few nights they were so unfamiliar, that i had trouble sleeping.  Fortunately, I’d learned many years ago when i travelled a ton for my corporate job to always carry ear plugs.  I take sleep very seriously.

7) Kindle or Nook – you’re going to have a lot of spare time, and since the boat is small…you’re gonna want to make sure you mentally unplug from the others on the boat.  Read.  Its good for you to detox from TV anyway.

8) Nail File – i broke every single one of my fingernails, and am halfway through my toe nails.  Dont bother with a manicure before you sail, it’s a waste.  But do bring a nail file and nail clippers as all the moisture can cause hangnails and the like

9) Cup with a Lid and Straw – my friend becky saw me eyeing up her twist cap cup a few months ago, and brought me one since i am forever knocking my drinks over.  I brought that cup with me, and it’s perfect for a boat…cause you are forever knocking things over.

10 ) Leave Your Ego at the Dock – you are whomever you are sailing with are going to spend a LOT of time together in very close quarters.  To make the ebbs and flows of personality and moods tolerable, you just cant take things too personally.  My captain and I had an “clearing of the air” a few days in, and it helped immensely.  Make sure to be an open, fair communicaor.  As my avid sailor friend, Nathalee told me before i left, “Patience, Lara, remember to be patient”.  Great bit of advice.

11) Gummi Bears/Worms – Again, the gracious miss Nathalee told me to bring Gummi Bears.  For the life of me, i could not imagine why, but being the sort that takes the advice that’s given, i brought some.  I found out what they are for – seasickness.  If you start to get a little seasick, just chomp on a few gummi bears and you’ll feel immediately better.  Someone we had met sailing had suggested that a bit of ‘sweets’ helps, and i remembered the gummi bears.  viola!  worked like a charm.