I know I've seen some lists posted here before. Could someone please point me to them? We have 4 friends new to sailing with us in 2 weeks. I'd love to share some sage advice for making our vacation together stress free.

Relax...Keep your fingers far from the winches...Relax again...repeat as necessary

Here's one thread with WAY more info than you need

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...part=1&vc=1

Ok, so keep your extremeties to yourself. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
I was thinking more along the lines of a kitty for shared expenses, the approved use of the dinghy when "someone" feels the need to go ashore late at night in a squall with no life jacket, the gal that leaves her toiletries spread all over the place and takes a 30 minute shower, or the guy that thinks the food and drink just get served by naked nymphs and he has no need to get up all week.
I'm sure we will figure it out, but it's always helpful to set the expectations up ahead of the rum.

wait, are you saying that the food and drink doesn't get served by naked nymphs! I have been misled!

We have all been misled.

My crew briefing includes establishing that we are a boat and we must take or make anything that we need. If you want to take a 30 minutes shower, we will have to spend twice that time finding and loading water, thus cutting into your vacation time - your choice. Also, do not dribble your personal stuff around - it's called consideration while living in a cramped space. If your crew cannot abide with simple courtesies, they will not be your friends by the end of the trip. Don't ask me how I know.

Regarding safety of the boat and crew, as Skipper, both are YOUR responsibilities. Ergo, if you think that a late night dingy run in a squall is a bad idea, it does not happen.

We've had non-sailing guests on our cat and found "Pooh School" was something that needed addressing. Easy enough rule, "if it didn't go in ya, it cannot go into the head."
3 young novice sailors had no problem with operating the facilities.
As far as cost sharing, someone suggested the food and drinks get split 4 or 6 ways depending on the number of guests and everyone tossed $50 or $100 into the kitty for things like ice and moorings, replenished as needed.
As posted, keep fingers out of winches, and if the Skipper needs help, he/she will ask. We found having the kids sitting on the port side louvers (we're on a Leopard 40) when anchoring or mooring had them close enough to see stuff, but out of the way of the skipper and anchoring team.

Don't sweat the small stuff, and remember, its usually all small stuff.

Always keep 24 hours or at least one good set of fixins for a party in stock on the boat. Use it the last night if it comes to that. With 24 hours of food and drink aboard life becomes much more flexible. That leads to rule number two. Those that cook and clean determine by 3pm whether dinner will be aboard. If dinner will be ashore the helmsman moves the boat to a place where dinner can be ashore. Get up the next morning and repeat that.

Anyone using the dinghy should be at least part of the dinghy checkout before you leave the dock. We try to have a dinghy captain "volunteer" with larger groups. The dinghy captain owns the painter, drying and bailing the dinghy and such.

If free access is the order of the boat then anyone leaving by kayak or dinghy must leave a clear note with the time of departure and bearing. If they cannot be trusted to do that. Keep the kill switch hidden.

The biggest water user gets to hold the fill hose. That usually corrects water use issues. Everyone should hold the water hose at least once.

If you have those that cook, clean, and serve? Outstanding! Those that do not cook, clean, and serve pay anytime anyone is ashore without complaint. Just like the cooking, cleaning, and serving went aboard.

If you have younger guests or anyone less than comfortable there should be a place those crew retire too out of the way declared ahead of time. Each boat is different so consider your crew and options before you leave the dock. In the way is never safe for anyone.

We expect to pay for all expenses aboard and allow our guests to cover any expense ashore they offer to. We treat the boat just like a beach or other vacation home.

I'd be telling them about packing and what clothes to bring/not bring, but you're probably way up on this already..

This was written for kids, but it is informative and they should get a chuckle out of it. It was done by member aarpskier

www.dropbox.com/sh/5t4ouuqxfsk6tw4/AACcWHvT51EQ9o-1MbS75mfHa

"The biggest water user gets to hold the fill hose. That usually corrects water use issues. Everyone should hold the water hose at least once."

LOVE IT!