Plan your summer cruise
The first summer cruise is one of the great treats of boat ownership. Gloomy winter is behind us, the days are long and light, and you can look forward to escaping aboard your comfortable little ship to savour the finest form of independent travel ever invented. Whether you are planning a weekend away or a more ambitious three-week trip, the sense of anticipation starts lifting you out of the humdrum world of work. But your boat has to be ready to sail, and you must be prepared too, brushing up on your passage-making skills.
For cruising I like our boat to be fully stocked and ready to go anywhere, so that we are free of the shore wherever we decide to venture. You’ll find that, while making these preparations, all the important seagoing knowledge about sailing away from home gradually comes back so that, when the Blue Peter is finally hoisted, the boat and her crew should be raring to go.
GALLEY STORES
Most yachts have a cupboard of basic cooking ingredients, but when cruising we try to maximise independence by stocking up
