Life on Board FAQ

What do I bring, and what not?

Basically – as little as possible! Have a look at our suggested packing list in the next FAQ question. Sailboat life is very clothing-casual; shorts, t-shirts, swimwear are what you’ll mostly be living in.

One item NOT to bring – any huge, hard-sided luggage. Everything you bring goes in your cabin, so unless you want to share your bed with said suitcase, bring something squish-able. There is a luggage storge room the the main marina office in Kos, so you can leave your larger hard suitcases there for a small fee. We do recommend soft, foldable bags like ‘sausage’ type duffel bags or anything similar. As long as it doesn’t take up space when empty, you’re fine!

We also provide bed linen and a regular towel.

Mains (AC) gadgets like hairdryers which consume a large amount of power simply won’t run on sailboat electrics. You might be able to use them in some on-shore shower facilities.

Suggested packing list

  • Sun cream – plenty! You can buy this anywhere in Kos.
  • If you plan to wear a hat / cap – a cord to stop it blowing away
  • Sunglasses (polarised lenses bring out the Med colours amazingly, but that’s a nice to have)
  • Beach towel – A small towel is provided on the yacht, yet you might want to bring a big towel for the beach, sunbathing etc.
  • Clothing essentials
    • Swimwear
    • Shorts, t-shirts or breezy sumer dresses are what you’ll be living in mostly
    • For those who burn easily; a light, long-sleeved shirt
    • Light sweatshirt (it can get cool on the boat when it’s windy, even if the temperature is high on land)
    • Early and late in the season: something slightly warmer for evenings, like jeans or other light-weight long pants. Ditto on a fleece or similar jacket for early mornings / evenings.
    • Lightweight waterproofs. Even the warmest day in Aug can be chilly if the wind is strong and there’s spray on the boat. Cheap n’ cheerful are fine; you don’t need heavy-duty sailing gear.
  • Footwear
    • On the boat we wear none. If you do prefer to wear something on your feet, please make sure that it is non-marking (many black-soled shoes leave indelible marks on white decks).
    • Flip-flops are great for casual use around the islands
    • Sport sandals, sneakers or anything a little sturdier if you want to hike on rougher tracks or such.
    • Water shoes are a nice to have  if you want to swim to shore during our lunch breaks to go for a little walk.
  • A small backpack or other bag for the day, for taking stuff ashore and exploring the islands.
  • If you’re bringing an expensive phone/tablet – a waterproof case is a very good idea! Poseidon seems to claim at least one digital sacrifice per trip.

Is there wifi on board?

Artemis will be connected with Wifi system, but it may not work when we are in some remote anchorages. Wifi is available readily at most local establishments; buy a coffee or beer, and you’re online! At the tavernas that we frequent, of course they are happy for us to use their wifi for free, and power also for your devices if needed. Most days, there will be somewhere to get online.

If it’s important to stay connected more frequently and easily than having to make a shore expedition – it’s easy to get a local SIM card for your smartphone / tablet, and sign up for a data package. This is best done at the airport when you arrive. Make sure you do activate a package. Without a data plan, your credit will burn up within hours.

It would be worth checking also with your own provider; many have international roaming packages with a data component. Again, be careful not to use data roaming with your home provider unless you have a package activated! Roaming on a contract deal otherwise can run up seriously scary bills.

Our skippers do have wifi packages on their own smartphones, and yes you are welcome to use these connections in an emergency. Please don’t ask to use their data allowance for anything that’s not important, however. The limits are not huge in Greece, and run out real fast with potentially 8 people downloading!

How can I charge my gadgets?

Our boats run on 12v DC, which means that charging small items like phones & camera batteries is not a problem. We have plug converters which will supply USB sockets. However, with the explosion of digital gadgetry in recent years – it can be hard to keep up! We can keep your essentials powered, but there might be times that charging everyone’s laptop at the same time just isn’t going to happen. There are a few ports which shore power on the dock is available, and we plug the boats in whenever possible. If that’s not possible – there is always the backup of taking your device ashore with you, and plugging into our local friends’ tavernas.

Mains (AC) gadgets like hairdryers which consume a large amount of power simply won’t run on sailboat electrics – if every day is a bad hair day for you, try one of the butane curling tongs. Likewise, coffee makers, toasters, other such devices which require mains power don’t work on a sailboat 12v DC supply.

Think of it as running devices from your car battery – that’s the type of power we’re working on. The standard Greek/Turkish electrical outlet is the small round 2pin one and is 220-240v.