10 Tips for sailing with Kids in Croatia

I grew up at sea and with boats. My children were raised in the city and had less contact with nature, sea and boats than I did. In my family staying at sea has always been considered a necessity, not a luxury. I was lucky to work in the nautic to provide my children to spend summers on a sailboat. In fact, these were not summers but 3 to 14 days, but each of them was an adventure and we remember our summer holidays by them… “That was the summer when we were on Mljet… “. In our family album there are only pictures from the sea.

We changed sailboats often. Sometimes they were small, almost dilapidated 6-meter sailboats such as Elan Express, Elan 19, sometimes 12-15-meter charter cruises, sometimes a regatta sailboat without a kitchen, cabin or toilet. We honored ourselfs once with a catamaran, but it was a winter experiment… The conclusion is that the kids have always been all right, never crowded, never bored…

Therefore, with a smile I always watch the children and parents coming on the boats and I feel the need to pass on to them the knowledge I have gathered in all these navigations with my and other people´s children. It is a joy and an adventure, although sometimes exhausting for parents because you should always be well prepared. Happiness at the end of the day and children’s laughter from the cabin before bedtime…

Here are 10 tips that can help you if you have a child on board

1. The ship should be well supplied with food

There must be no mistake. You know what your kids are eating, but the boat requires less perishable food. Milk in smaller packages, favorite cereals, snacks, dry biscuits, water (not juices), it’s something you have to constantly pull out of your sleeve. My children would get hungry as soon as we would sail out… For them the ship is a place with “wonderful” and different food. When we talk about fruit, apples are the longest lasting and they like them grated, cut into cubes or natural, uncut and round. Any kind of pasta with tomato sauce, salads are great after a morning bath that lasts from 8-11 (actually it never stops except in navigation). You should always have cornmeal, rice, pate and something that can be prepared quickly. In the evening, if you are at the mooring in some small place on the island, you can take them for pizza or grilled fish … everything will be fine for them, and ice cream as a dessert will be a Deluxe party.

2. Protect children from the sun

I feel really sorry when I see kids in the sun at 12 o´clock, at high temperatures. This can cause headaches, sunstroke and burns, especially if the children are not living near the sea. Modern sailboats, especially catamarans, have bimini, tent and sun protection. Even in the shade the reflection from the sea is huge. It would be ideal not to expose yourself directly to the sun from 11 am to 3 pm. This can be avoided by waking them up early in the morning, exhausting them with a bath and sending them around 11 am on a daily rest to the cabin or preparing lunch with them in saloon. Let that be a rule. You will see that they will respect it. If you can’t catch them, get them UV-protected T-shirts or a white long-sleeved one. The cap must always be on the head. Put a high factor sunscreen on them all the time, especially the face!

3. Safety first

Even if your children can swim, put a belt on them in navigation. Charter boats are all equipped with belts. Before arriving on the boat, announce the weight of your children to ensure the right size for them. It is good to have your own children’s belts, and you can get them at a nautical fair or in one of the nautical stores.

4. Babies on board

It’s not true that it’s hard to be on a boat with small babies. Just the opposite. Babies up to 10 -12 months, which does not yet walk, are grateful to the board and with them you will have the most free time. True, they require a lot of equipment such as strollers, diapers, railings (on catamarans)… but babies have their own sleep ritual. They eat, sleep and will not walk anywhere. They are waiting for you in someone else’s lap while you are bathing. Babies fall asleep in the stroller while you are in the restaurant, they don’t care where you are…

5. Children from 1- 5 years -Toddler

This is the most demanding crew group. They want independence, and you have to monitor them and be with them constantly. Those who can afford a larger sailboat or catamaran, I sincerely recommend the services of a hostess who will cook while you spend time with the children. At this age, it is great that they get so tired that they sleep peacefully in the evening, so you can enjoy in the cockpit with a glass of wine in the late summer evenings.

6. Children from 6 years

They are great, they swim, they participate, they ask too much, they look forward to every new place, they invent games, they ride a dinghy, they notice everything before you…. Involve them in some small activities such as putting fenders, rowing to the shore and untying the ropes… They will enjoy helping, but will ask for a sandwich immediately after the action :-).

7.  Teenagers on board

You won’t notice them, they’re only in touch with their cell phone and they’re usually in the cabin, some of them wouldn’t even take a bath…. Tie up the boat for them in places where they can walk, but also in places where there is no internet signal…. They would get then out of their cabins and hang out. Take the opportunity and give them the helm, involve them in the tasks… Some will be lazy and offer resistance, but they will be glad at the end…. You will recognize in them again your playful child … think about sailing school for them.

8. Children need to know who is the captain

The captain or a parent is someone who will take on the role of commands “now smear your face”, “now you can swim”, “now you need to eat it” .. “put on your hat”, “now we tie up” … This is a demanding role, but you will notice that if you set rules on board, children will accept them without resistance… They will even enjoy it… Discipline on board will help you get things going right. Warn them to possible mistakes and show how to get into the dinghy, on what to pay attention when crossing the gangway …

9. Tips for defense against mosquitoes, bees, the sun

• Check the boat’s pharmacy when entering the boat
• Bring Autan, mosquito repellent cream, with you
• Kamagel cream is applied to insect bite wounds and can be bought at all local pharmacies
• Pick-up the lavender and put it in somewhere in the salon, it will help repel mosquitoes
• Wasps often come to sweet. If one wasp came, more will come. Therefore, a breakfast that is sweet, such as jam, should be eaten in the salon. When a wasp buzzes around you and if you chase it nervously it will get upset and maybe sting. If a sting occurs, rub it with cold water (ice), or a murtelle leaf (basil) that Italians often have on board. Then spread Kamagel . A good wasp repellent is ground coffee burning in an ashtray. The second trick is sweet juice in an open bottle that you can put on the bow of the ship, for example, and thus concentrate the wasps to go as far as possible from you in the cockpit.
• Nausea, let the children rest in your lap, do not let them fall asleep as this may cause vomiting. They are not allowed to drink juices; salty snacks are good. Refresh their forehead or neck with a cold compress.
• Due to the high exposure to the sun, do not forget that you have to drink a lot during the day.
• We have already mentioned sunscreen – a hat and a thin long-sleeved T-shirt must be on board as well.
• Avoid the sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. because of possible sunburn.
• Sea urchin stings can be painful. Remove them while they are fresh with a needle or tweezers.
• Get children rubber summer shoes to keep them from slipping off the boat.

10. Games with children on board

Don’t forget to bring their favorite toy or teddy bear. Bring books or comics because they might surprise you and read something outside of compulsory school reading. Picture books for smaller, crayons, drawing paper must be on board. Buy cards and learn them to play Briškula, Trešeta… it is a boat party when you want to get away from the sun. Dinghy, SUP, inflatable toys… all this will be enough fun for your children…

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