10 Things You Might Not Know About Sailing with MedSailors

By guest Alexx Hayward

Hey fellow travellers! I’m Alexx (www.findingalexx.com), I’m a travel blogger, adventure addict and now a Medsailors fangirl. When I moved over to London from New Zealand back in the summer of 2017 (European summer that is, byeeee NZ winter!), I had Croatia island hopping pretty high up on my bucket list.

It seemed like all my friends from home had tried it on their own London OE or extended European backpacker trip, so I’d seen a fair few photos and videos of boat parties, sail days and paddleboard races. Everything I had seen made it look like loads of fun, so I was looking forward to an epic week on the water with some of my London buddies when I finally managed to plan a week sailing the Adriatic Coast with Medsailors to celebrate, or more like commiserate, the end of my two year stint in London.

I knew that it was going to be a super fun week, but what I didn’t expect was for the Medsailors Voyager to be one of the best trips I’ve ever been on, and the absolute perfect way to wrap up my UK & Europe life. Turns out it’s so much more than unicorn floaties and captain’s hats! Here are 10 things you might not know about sailing with Medsailors.

1. A boat for every type of traveller

Medsailors offer three different yacht options to choose from: Premier, Monocat and the mother of all boats, the Catamarans. There are no giant wooden ships with 30+ people on them, each boat holds a max of ten guests which means your yacht will truly feel like your home at sea, and your yacht-mates will feel like family.

We went for the Premier Plus for our first Medsailors trip in the summer of 2019, which was the mid-range option, and they’re being replaced in 2020 by a brand new yacht for the Medsailors range called the Monocat. The Monocats are a fancy hybrid of a catamaran and a monohull, with an extra-large social and dining area, an epic sound system and loads of charging sockets for any gadgets you take with you.

Both the budget option and the mid-range yachts are really decent, but I’ve got to be honest and tell you that my head was turned the moment I saw the catamaran. After watching the cat group in our flotilla have front net cocktail parties and enjoy significantly more deck space and cabin space, I’ve already locked in my catamaran cabin for Turkey next year!

2. Learn to sail

A lot of the skippers on our Medsailors trip actually had teaching experience in sailing, so they were the ideal people to learn from if you wanted to see how it all works.

Your level of involvement in the sailing process is totally up to you. If you prefer to get your hands wet and help out with the anchor, the lines and the sails then the skippers will be glad to have you helping out, but if you prefer to sit on the deck catching rays or letting the boat rock you to sleep for an afternoon nap then that’s totally fine too.

3. All about the BYO

Unlike some of the sailing companies you might have heard about, Medsailors is totally BYO for drinks and snacks! Your skipper will cook you breakfast and lunch each day so that’s all included in the price, and then you can decide if you want to buy or cook your own dinner, plus have your own drinks on board before hitting the island bars to avoid spending hundreds of kunas or Euros racking up an expensive bill on a night out.

4. Choose a route

Medsailors currently has four different countries to choose from: Croatia, Greece, Turkey and Montenegro. Each country offers something different, like Croatia’s secluded bays, Greece’s fisherman villages, Turkey’s beachfront bazaars and Montenegro’s canyon hikes.

Croatia and Greece have two routes each too, with different islands and vibes. Our Croatia Voyager was slightly slower-paced than the original Croatia Discovery, and was a little more focused on the local island experience and relaxation than drinking and partying. There’s truly something for everyone!

5. Adventures at land and sea

While you’ll definitely spend loads of time in the ocean, there’s plenty of opportunities for exploring on land too. Most days you’ll stop at one, two or three swimming spots, before arriving at your overnight port in the afternoon. Once all the yachts are docked you’ll get to do your own thing, whether that’s hiring bikes and riding around the island, hiking along the coast, trying your hand at some water sports or searching for the best gelato in town.

6. Similar travellers

Medsailors trips are designed for 20-35-year-old travellers, so you won’t be stuck on a boat with recent high school graduates (thank goodness for that). And even better, you’ll be asked to fill in a questionnaire before your trip about your travel style and what you’re looking for in the trip, and then Medsailors creates some logistical magic to group you with travellers looking for a similar vibe. Legends!

7. Hugs to the environment

Sustainable travel is more important than ever, and Medsailors has some incredible policies in place to minimise all travellers’ impact on the planet. There’s fresh drinking water available on the boat at all times so no need for plastic bottles, they provide every guest with a tote bag at check in to avoid using plastic bags, and they even have a floatie recycle scheme which lets you purchase floaties from the previous week’s trip for a small donation. Just get to check-in early to get the first pick!

8. It’s owned and operated by Kiwis!

Coming from a tiny country in the corner of the planet, it’s always special when you discover some kind of connection to back home when you travel. Medsailors is owned by three Kiwi guys who grew up on and around the ocean, and then decided to take their passion for sailing global by offering epic trips all through the Mediterranean.

9. Save on round two…

Already been on a Medsailors trip? You’ll be able to score a sweet deal on your second trip in the next season! And if you’re travelling in a big group you might be able to lock in a discounted rate for that too.

10. Bring some essentials

Be careful to avoid packing too much for your week on the yacht, but also make sure you don’t forget these essentials: sunblock, a beach towel, eco-friendly toiletries like shampoo bars, a waterproof speaker, a waterproof camera like a GoPro or a case for your phone, ear plugs, an eye mask, playing cards, seasickness pills if you’re prone to motion sickness, sunglasses, and some easy snacks if you’re hungry while sailing or need a midnight snack.

And if you’re travelling with a group of friends then make sure you’re all aware of who is bringing what, so you don’t end up with four portable speakers and no sunblock!

Woohoo, you’re now ready for your very own Medsailors sailing trip! I hope this blog has been helpful to give you a better idea of what to expect for your week at sea, and if you’re planning on travelling with Medsailors in Turkey 2020 then maybe I’ll see you there!