Coastal sailing, a new-found pleasure
Preparing your cruise, picking out the spots where you can stop, planning strategic breaks depending on the changes in the weather conditions, and above all, playing with the tide tables: coastal cruising isn't something you can do just like that. But this is actually one of the great pleasures it offers: it has to be earned!
Coastal cruising _ or coastal camping _ is, as its name suggests a cruise during which you sail along a coast in your little multihull (it can also be done in a monohull, but it's not as pleasant...). Your boat's shallow draft allows you to stop in creeks which are inaccessible to bigger cruising boats, and thus to enjoy some little corners of paradise, alone. As its liveability is often reduced to its simplest expression, the only solution at a stopover is to pitch the tent, either on the beach or on the boat's trampoline. And this way of cruising has (very) many advantages: you can change your cruising area as you wish, as these boats are easily transportable, they are not expensive, either to buy or maintain, and the cruises are really economical - as neither marinas nor excessive provisioning can be tolerated. In short, a pleasure for the leisure sailor!
A little creek which is inaccessible...except for a coastal cruiser!
Where and when to leave?
The advantage of this formula is that no destination is excluded... With the boat on the trailer, you can go where you want from your 'home port', which is more often than not your garage! And even on the other side of the sea, by organizing your boat's transfer early enough. Once you have arrived at your destination, all you have to do is leave the car and trailer in a car park and the best nautical adventures are yours for the taking.
Amongst the favorite destinations for coastal camping enthusiasts we find Corsica, Brittany (with the superb Golfe du Morbihan) as well as Scandinavia, Scotland and its canals, the Adriatic and its anchorages which are as numerous as they are deserted, Greece and of course the Caribbean or the Polynesian lagoons... And then there are fresh water cruises: we often forget them, yet with a transportable boat, lakes become destinations which are not just pleasant, but often unforgettable. In fact sailing at the foot of snowy summits will remain forever engraved in your memory. It's up to you to discover the gems that the fresh water destinations hide... And then there are also rivers, destinations which are not reserved for barges. Even though a motor is strongly recommended :)))
Finally, the only limit to this way of cruising will be your imagination.
The cruising period is much easier to find: coastal cruising requires real commitment from the crew. With little or no interior living space, coastal camping multihulls are more tiring and offer comfort and protection which is only relative. Unless you are looking for the ultimate excitement of an extreme –rallye-raid”, it is therefore in your best interest to choose the summer period to enjoy your cruising, and especially your stopovers, to the full.
At nightfall, alone on the beach, the children (and the adults) enjoy the barbecue!
Raid - instructions for use
So you have chosen to carry out a 'raid' for your holidays... Excellent choice! You are setting off for several days on the water and a few nights under the stars... A real pleasure!
Leaving for a 'raid' involves you understanding that you are going to be living in the natural world, far from fawcets and water sources, far from any kind of shops and in almost complete independence. But without having the reserves the big cruising multihulls can offer. This implies excellent organization, without which you will see the atmosphere aboard deteriorate rapidly... And talking of atmosphere, you must also bear in mind that the members of your crew (and perhaps those of the boat you will be leaving with) must get on well and accept the idea of being self-sufficient for these few days.
Given these preconditions, you will be sailing by day in a sea which is always blue (we hope so, for you), perhaps even turquoise, always beautiful, amid fabulous scenery... The perfect settings will follow one another, from mountains which are arid, or covered with lush vegetation, shepherds' camps perched high on their flanks, to typical villages, perhaps archaeological relics, via lagoons, deep blue drop-offs, etc... If you are lucky, you will even sail with some dolphins. There's no point in continuing, you are already under the spell of this kind of cruising.
And then comes the bivouac. A beach or a little creek for you alone will become your shelter for the night. Be careful _ depending on the legislation in the country you are visiting, you will be allowed to camp on the beach between sunset and sunrise, or you may have to remain aboard your boat for the night. Whatever, you will leave the place even cleaner than you found it. No trace of a camp fire, or trash. Think of those who will be coming after you. As a general rule, before setting up camp, have a wander round the surrounding area, and ask the inhabitants you meet about the area. This will give you some precious information about your bivouac spot, the risks you run, and will allow you to make some often very friendly encounters.
For a successful 'raid', even more so than for any other cruise, it is essential to have prepared your navigation meticulously. There is actually nothing worse than having miscalculated the length of a passage, and finding yourself with children who are frozen stiff, under the disapproving gaze of their parent. And I won't even mention a late arrival in a tricky creek where you don't really know where you can land... You must therefore plan short passages, and back-up solutions in case of headwinds or crew fatigue. This will require meticulous preparation of your navigation and a good knowledge of each leg, so you can develop your program according to unforeseen turns of events. In certain places, you can find a welcoming, protected beach easily, but sometimes you will have to sail several miles before finding a precarious shelter...
A piece of advice: enjoy every instant, these moments are too rare; and another: take the minimum; over there you don't need anything. Finally, when you have found a little corner of paradise, don't hesitate to write to us, so we can discover it too...
Happy cruising!
Two igloo tents pitched on the trampolines, and you have a day-boat turned into a cruiser!
Which boats for which types of 'raids'...
You won't choose the same boat for a family holiday in Corsica as for a sporty 'raid'... In the family of 'raid' or coastal camping multihulls, we find barely modified sport catamarans, sport trimarans which may or may not provide a small cabin, and cats and tris with comfortable liveability for a small family, allowing you to avoid the tent on the beach or on the trampoline. All these boats have one thing in common _ they can easily be dismantled and transported, and can therefore take you to discover the playground of your choice.
(To find out about all the production boats suited to coastal cruising, refer to our 2016 Buyers' Guide, available on www.multihulls-world.com).
A sport catamaran can easily serve as the basis for a coastal cruising boat: add a little equipment and the perfect destinations are yours!
The essential equipment for a safe coastal cruise:
In addition to each person's comfort elements, and for obvious safety reasons, equip yourself as a minimum with:
A folding knife
A means of communication, VHF or cellphone
A waterproof flashlight
A lifejacket for each crew member
A long line (15m minimum) with a good attachment point for towing the boat
A serious anchor warp and a good quality anchor
A paddle (at least)
A chart of your cruising area
A GPS and a handbearing compass
A pair of binoculars, an anemometer, hand-held flares, a first aid kit and a radio for receiving weather forecasts
A watertight bag to contain papers and money, as well as the VHF or the cellphone.
On a small boat, the time can seem long for the crew. You must plan regular stops, to allow the youngest crew members to relax!
Certain boats can be fitted into a container and thus be sent to the other side of the world, to discover a new playground.
