River sails can be an excellent way to explore different destinations in a relaxed and comfortable environment. They are an excellent option for visiting places, having fun, and attending special events using a ship. However, unlike sea sailing, you tend not to get much time between stops to relax, refresh, and get ready for the next journey, especially if your ship will often sail at night to arrive in the next harbor by morning. To get most of the river sail, here are a few best river sailing tips based on a rich experience.
1. Research
Before leaving home, research some of the best places you may want to visit and their major attractions. That way, your trip to the shore will be much more exciting and enjoyable.
2. Make sure your vessel is well equipped
It’s crucial to ensure you have all the necessary sailing equipment and are in good condition. Sailing boats are required to have certain equipment such as fire extinguishers, personal floating devices, visual distress signals, and a loud bell or whistle. Check the expiration date of your fire extinguishers, and if your flares and spinnaker sock are close to expiring, get new ones from Far East Sails.
3. Travel in the off-season
The best way to have a better river sailing experience and create a significant impact on your destination is to travel during the off-season. The most prominent rivers get crowded with boats come summer, as do the most famous cities.
Be smart and opt to travel outside of the peak summer season. This will contribute to less crowded rivers, making you more likely to get special offers and discounts. In addition, you will get to experience cities outside of peak months with fewer visitors and crowds. If river sailing in winter doesn’t seem appealing, try to travel between peak and off-peak season instead.
4. Bring a map
Take with you some good old-time maps so you can chart your progress and know exactly where you are each day. It can be very frustrating if you don’t know how far you have traveled, how far you are left to sail, and what is behind that next attractive hill ahead.
5. Choose a river sail company with a viable travel policy
Sail companies have expressed remorse given the negative environmental impacts. Most are trying to clean up their mess by burning eco-friendly fuel, ensuring that waste doesn’t get to the river, and supporting unstained waterways initiatives.
Double-check to see whether your river sail company has a viable travel policy and, if so, what is on it. It’s also recommended to conduct a quick google search to see whether you have chosen a company that has recently been involved in a scandal for dumping waste overboard or poor staff work conditions.
6. Chat with the crew
Take time to chat with the staff on the ship. Most will be locals from the areas you are visiting and will be delighted to have an opportunity to practice their English. In addition, since the river boats are smaller, you will probably see the same faces every day, get to know them quite fast, and gain valuable insight into their cultures. This may include how they usually think and their amazing sense of humor.
Endnote
Rivers sails are like train travel but relatively smoother and perhaps more luxurious. However, they share one thing in common; the traveler gets to experience a different view of everyday life in the country they sail through. Morning scenes along the river banks are more interesting than those on the roadside and more wonderful than through an airplane window.
Rivers help you explore various parts of the country, places that may be more difficult to access through the air or road trips. In several parts of the world, rivers remain the avenues that keep a country running and connected.
