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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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1. What does the 35 Euros per day include?
It includes your bed, all related sailing, port, marina fees, fuel, plus two meals per day (lunch and dinner). Wine, beer or
our 'killer punch' is included WITH DINNER. Breakfast is very unstructured since different folks wake at different times
and everybody seems to have different habits at breakfast. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate is always stocked, as well as
things like bread, butter, jam and Nutella. We have an open cupboard policy at breakfast. Grab and prepare what you
like from the shipboard stores...just clean up your mess afterward!
2. Are we sailing all the time or do we stop to see the inland sites?
Normally we sail a couple hours per day then stop in the next anchorage or port of interest. We always try to take
advantage of the local sites, places of interest, beautiful swimming coves, hiking, mountain-biking, scooter opportunities
or whatever. Different places have different things to offer and we are always open to suggestions. Exploring inland is
part of the fun!
3. I've never sailed before. Is this a problem?
Nope. Most folks who come aboard have little or no sailing experience. Learning to sail and from time to time receiving
very informal SAILING LESSONS and INSTRUCTION is part of the fun. More experienced sailors usually enjoy getting
to learn more about advanced sail handling, anchoring and navigating techniques.
4. What are my responsibilities while on board? What kind of work is expected of me?
Everyone is responsible for straightening his/her's sleeping bag in the morning and keeping their personal items as tidy
as possible. This becomes a big concern once you begin to have several sailors living within the confined space of a
sailboat. The only other responsibility is that each crew member takes a turn at being the 'kitchen manager' for the day.
This entails washing the lunch and dinner dishes and usually preparing a light lunch like sandwiches, a salad or tossing
a couple pizzas into the oven. (Lunch is normally served with disposable plastic dinnerware and the captain generally
prepares the evening barbeque or dinner) Obviously the more folks on board the less often you are required to be the
'kitchen manager'. Usually once every 5 or 6 days depending upon the size of the crew. Other than that, paricipating in
the deckwork and sail handling is entirely up to you. Most folks consider this as part of the adventure.
5. What kind of person generally comes sailing on Clizia? What other crewmembers might I expect to meet?
You'll meet sailors with varying skill levels but generally those with little or no sailing experience at all. During the last
several years Clizia's crew was mainly comprised of university students taking their SUMMER HOLIDAY or GAP YEAR
from school; BACKPACKERS, INDEPENDANT TRAVELERS traveling through Europe; SINGLE TRAVELERS, folks tired
of traveling alone, wishing to sail with other TRAVEL COMPANIONS; WOMEN TRAVELERS and professionals taking
their CAREER SABBATICAL; and finally folks just looking for ADVENTURE TRAVEL of all sorts.
6. What special clothing should I bring?
During the summer we practically LIVE in our bathing suits and shorts. Spring and fall in the Med can get chilly
sometimes at night so a light sweater is also nice to have along just in case. We try to berth Clizia someplace near a city
on the week-ends so everyone can take advantage of the nice cafes, bars and discos usually found around the popular
spots in the Med. So bringing along a set of 'partying' clothes is a wize idea as well. Pack light though! One medium-sized
back-pack is plenty!!
7. Is connecting up with the boat difficult? How do we do it?
It's a piece of cake. We can usually determine a general area in which we will meet several weeks or even a month or so
in advance by e-mail. This usually depends on where you are in your travels, where you are headed and where Clizia is
heading. Once we determine the country or island that we'll be meeting on, we can get more specific by telephone as I
have a portable telephone on board as well. This has been working like a charm the last few years and we ain't lost one
yet!
8. Are you sure you'll have a place for me?
Yep. Always got a couple bunks in reserve just in case things get very busy. (Note: this is usually prime-time on Clizia.
Lots of cool folks, good barbeques and cockpit parties are definitely the best when things get just a touch crowded, I've
noticed.)
9. I'd like to sail now for several weeks, travel inland for awhile then hook-up again with the boat again later in the season. Is
this possible?
Yep.
10. How long do folks stay on board?
Everything depends upon the amount of time you have available. Though usually somewhere between two weeks to two
months seems about average.
11. How many people are usually on board Clizia?
Normally for most of the sailing season we have from 4 to 6 other sailors plus the captain. Though we did find ourselves
with as many as 11 on board this last year. What a blast!
12. What else should I bring along? What other kinds of expences might I expect?
That's up to you. But folks usually bring along a camera, so film developing might be one. Probably the most common
extra expence is communication home. Stuff like e-mails or telephone calls will cost a minimal amount. And don't forget
about your travel expences to and from the boat. Even if you are in Europe at the time, a ferry, train or bus ticket to the
boat's exact location is something to consider. Naturally, you are responsible for all your travel costs to and from the
boat and addional travel rentals like motor scooters or rental cars etc.
13. I'd like to bring along my portable telephone, video cam and lap-top. Any problems there?
Nope. We have 12 volt chargers on board for portable telephones. Things requiring 110 and 220 charges can usually be
recharged by a friendly cyber-cafe you've been doing business with or most shopkeepers are pretty cool about this sort
of thing. If we put into a commercial marina this can be done at this time as well.
14. How should I handle paying my expences and taking care of the business side of things?
There are no deposits required in advance. Once you show up to the boat please have at least the first week's expences
ready upon arrival. This helps organise stocking and refueling the boat. Afterward always stay at least one week in
advance on your expences. The captain doesn't like to come looking for it! We're all out here for the fun of it, so the less
book-keeping hassles he has, the better.
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