Tips for social distancing on boat

Written by Marin @Danielis on February 26, 2021 in Yacht Charter Advice

During this unusual and unprecedented summer that we are about to face, one of the certainties is that charter tourism will allow maintaining social distancing without giving up socializing with friends and relatives. In this article, we give some useful tips for safe navigation.

Since nautical tourism is currently considered a safe outdoor activity in many locations, large numbers of people across the world are turning to vacations on the water as an activity that allows social distancing. As sailors, we know that safety comes first, so it's important to follow all local guidelines regarding coronavirus - that way we can get through this period of extra precautions with care and attention. Here are some useful tips to enjoy your holidays and boat trips in the safest way possible.

Extra clean face masks

Face mask

It is important to have a good number of clean and well-preserved protective masks on board so that the entire crew can have a replacement available if needed. By doing so, you won’t have to give up on restaurants or public places because some of the passengers have forgotten the mask. The masks are personal, so you should avoid using someone else’s mask. The proper way of using them would be to wash your hands before putting them on and even in this case, you should avoid touching the inner side of the mask. Also, they should be changed once they are wet. Make sure that the whole crew is aware of these simple rules.

Non-contact thermometer

Non-contact thermometer

The constant daily control of the temperature of the crew is one of the fundamental points in the prevention of contagion. For this reason, it is recommended to have an infrared thermometer to check the body temperature of anyone who gets on board in compliance with safety distances.

Basket for shoes with disinfectant

Basket for shoes with disinfectant

Shoes are one of the main factors of spreading the virus since they are in contact with the ground where there are many microbes and germs. To overcome this problem, you can place a large basket at the access to the boat to allow everyone to deposit their shoes without touching the boat. It is also very useful to add a bottle of disinfectant gel to the basket so that each person can disinfect their shoes before depositing them in the basket safely. In addition to shoe disinfectant, it is good to provide the basket area with hand gel and generic boat cleaning products.

Sanitize surfaces and objects

Sanitize surfaces and objects

In addition to temperature control, compliance with the safety distance, and the use of personal protective equipment, it is essential to frequently and thoroughly clean all surfaces by using disinfectant sprays, as well as those objects that are touched the most, such as manuals, navigation, nautical charts, and cushions.

Disinfectant wipes in vacuum containers

Disinfectant wipes in vacuum containers

Storing disinfectant wipes in a zip bag, or any sealable airtight bag is the ideal way of keeping them disinfected consistently. This way, the wipes remain moist and easy to place on the boat within reach of the whole crew.

Use your own cutlery and glasses

Use your own cutlery and glasses

On the boat it is essential to make sure to keep personal items duly separated; this rule must be respected, above all, during the lunches and dinners that often characterize the summer interaction. A clever and nice way to follow this guideline is to provide guests on board with cutlery and glasses of different colors to avoid mistaking them with those of another occupant of the boat.

Use gardening gloves

Use gardening gloves

Gardening gloves represent a very valid alternative to latex or neoprene gloves: they are resistant, suitable for various navigation activities, and completely washable and reusable. By using this type of gloves, you will save on the cost of light gloves - which break very easily, especially when wet - and you will avoid piling plastic on board.

Lots of anchor, little port

Lots of anchor, little port

It may seem like a trivial piece of advice, but privileging the open sea for mooring in the port is an excellent way to avoid crowds and crowded places. So, equip your boat with everything you need to spend days without returning to port: check the water supply and the operation of any generators, make a smart shopping so you don't have to go back to the shop or order food and drinks online and make a list of all these needs to keep it updated.

Following these quick tips will help you enjoy your time on the water while remaining vigilant for the safety of your passengers, crew, and fellow sailors.

In addition to these suggestions, it is good to have in mind the guidelines dictated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure in the field of the charter to ensure the most complete safety for you and your crew.

Safety for you and your crew

The managers of passenger terminals, maritime stations, and passenger embarkation/disembarkation points should pay special attention in order to avoid a large concentration of people. A series of precautionary measures are therefore indicated. First of all, a specific prevention and protection plan should be established, as well as the correct management of infrastructures and passengers, who must be informed about the existing risks and the necessary prevention measures such as the correct use of certain devices for personal protection (masks, gloves), social distancing and hand hygiene. For this purpose, there are multilingual signs places everywhere. Except for this, it would be very useful to install QR codes associated with that information. That would allow the user to view the details on their smartphone or another similar device.

Charter Companies

In these unusual times, the charter companies adopted more strict measures concerning hygiene. All yachts are carefully cleaned and disinfected after each charter. All yachts are also ventilated prior to the guests’ arrival. The use of the ozone disinfection technique is growing, especially on luxurious yachts.

In Croatia there are online platforms and purchasing systems for most of the ferries and other land transport options, national parks, etc., which is a great way to avoid lines and other forms of gathering. If you want to eat outside of the boat, it is advisable to make reservations, since the number of people in the restaurants is restricted during pandemics.

The global pandemic affected our lives in many ways. It restricted our social gathering, deprived us of enjoying many events and attractions that include a large concentration of people, but the urge to travel and explore new places cannot be ignored. This year, maybe you won’t have an opportunity to experience the vivid and crowded Croatia, but it will give you even more – countless shades of green and blue, calming sounds of waves and crickets, gentle pine and lavender scents, feel of warmth on your skin and inner peace and quiet that we all have learned to appreciate more.