Why Yachties Are The Best People to Travel With

1. EXCESS LUGGAGE – Yachties are used to packing light. Storage space on boats is at a premium and extra weight avoided at all costs. So your travel buddy won’t take up a lot of space in the car or hotel and you won’t be waiting on them at baggage claim.
2. SLEEPING – Yachties will never complain about sleeping conditions. They are used to sleeping in small bunks, or on deck and without pillows. You won’t find them complaining about the hostel beds or sleeping bag, long flights and long layovers. They can pretty much sleep anywhere sitting up.
3. BATHROOM – You will never have to hear them whine about bathroom conditions. Yachties are used to doing their business in a variety of conditions. They have a method for hanging on to something while underway and getting the job done…overboard.
4. TIME MAMAGEMENT – Yachties know how to maximise limited time, due to anchors dragging or getting off the dock before paying big fees, they can find the nearest store and get back quickly.
5. TOURIST TRAPS – Yachties can quickly assess new locations and determine where and what the tourist traps are and how to avoid them; ports are usually littered with them.
6. CONTACTS – Yachties somehow know everyone. They can get you into local events just by throwing out a few names of other Yachties. “Oh, you know, so and so,” and, bam, you guys are suddenly the guests of honour at the beach bonfire later.
7. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE – Yachties have access to insider local knowledge. They are used to buying local goods and using local services at most ports.
8. FIXING THINGS – Yachties can fix most anything. Rule of thumb: spray with WD40, if not, use duct tape. Sailors are very handy to have around when something breaks.
9. BAD WEATHER – Yachties don’t get riled up by bad weather. A lot of time is spent waiting for a “weather window” to go sailing or start a voyage. Yachties will not sit around complaining, they head to a bar to meet some locals and swap salty sea stories.
10. PHOTOS – When your pic of the glorious sunrise or sunset doesn’t do the moment justice, you can always steal theirs. Theirs will always put yours to shame.
11. INVITATIONS – On most any coastline, your chances of getting invited on a boat go up dramatically when traveling with a Yachty. Yachties have a large network of sailing friends. It’s not unusual to be invited for a sail and/or drinks on the boat.
12. BEST BEACH AND SURF – Yachties know beaches and surf spots. Always in touch with wind and tide reports makes for a good resource to find a nice place to surf or relax.
13. COOK UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS – Yachties know how to cook lasagne with a blow torch. If stuck somewhere without cooking fuel, rest assured that your yachty friend can still work some magic with whatever is at hand.
14. READY IN 2 – Yachties won’t keep you waiting while they primp. Sailors don’t require hair dryers or cosmetics. They have the windblown, sun-kissed look down pat.
15. FLIGHT BOOKINGS – Yachties can book your flight expertly. They know the airports and their symbols. It’s part of the job to move “on the fly,” and they might have some frequent flyer miles to share, too.
16. NO INTERNET – Sailors won’t freak out without power or Wi-Fi. You won’t find them complaining the internet signal is cruddy. They don’t care.
17. BEING PREPARED – Yachties are the original Boy Scouts. They usually carry a multitool everywhere. Bottle of wine? They are always prepared with a way to open it.
18. NAVIGATION – Yachties function as your personal GPS. The location of the sun and stars will do in a pinch.
19. SEWING – Yachties know how to sew. They are not too proud to whip out a needle and thread. Sails don’t fix themselves.
20. DRINKING – Yachties know EVERY hour is happy hour (somewhere). Nothing more needs to be said here.

 
– David Burt

David heads up our YOTI Race division.