Children on the boat a wonderful experience
On a family-sailing trip, young and old can experience the water together in a completely new way. So let's dive in and start exploring together!
Exploring the world from the water with children
Sailing with children opens up completely new perspectives not only for the young ones, but also for adults. The natural environment on the water, far away from noisy streets and everyday life, is not only relaxing, it also evokes an incredible sense of adventure. Taking them on either a motorboat or sailboat gives children an up close experience of the wind, weather and waves and is a unique opportunity for them to enjoy an exclusive timewith their parents and create a lasting bond.
And the best thing about sailing with family is that everyone can help to prepare the lines, set the sails and do much more. In contrast to the classroom, sailing teaches children important life skills such as teamwork, patience and responsibility. From cooking together to having fun swimming right from the boat into the blue water - when children are on board, magical moments are created that will live long in your memory.
The adventure starts at home
Depending on the age of your children, you can already look at books or videos about boating together before the family sailing trip, show them the planned route on nautical charts, and let them help with the packing. Give them a certain say in choosing excursions or activities, as this way the little sailors will feel like an important part of the crew right from the start.
Safety on board - the top priority
Whether on a motorboat or sailboat, children and babies always come first. Sailing with toddlers always requires extra vigilance and attention, especially when moving through a swaying boat.
The equipment needed on motorboats and sailboats with children on board
You're probably asking „What do children need for sailing?”. For a carefree sailing trip with children, your equipment should be tailored to their needs, their age, the boat in question and the season you are sailing in. Doing so ensures sailing with family or friends is an all-round success for everyone involved.
- Children's life jackets are essential and must be suitable for the size and weight of the child to ensure optimum buoyancy.
- Fit your boat with a railing net and it reduces the risk of your child on board falling into the water and gives all adults peace of mind.
- A travel first-aid kit equipped according to your requirements definitely is a must on a child-occupied-sailboat as well as other first-aid kits if required.
- Other items that could or should be taken with you when sailing with children include warm, waterproof or breathable clothing, windproof headgear, gloves and sun cream. These all depend on the season, of course, but in general, anything that can help provide weather protection should be taken aboard.
The most important travel documents you need when sailing with the whole family
No matter what kind of journey you are planning, be it a sail on the Baltic Sea, an exciting cruise around Mediterranean islands or venturing to more exotic destinations such as the Caribbean, sailing with the family requires different preparation depending on the area and safety requirements, so make sure you find out well in advance what these are so that your time away can get off to the most relaxed start.
- Entry requirements: Within the EU, usually an identity card is required, outside the EU often a passport, visa and vaccination certificate are necessary.
- Certificates of competence: These depend on the area and type of boat, e.g. recreational boating licence, SKS, radio certificate.
- Registration requirements: Partial registration of the crew or registration of the boat in the country or with the authorities.
- Minimum age:Requirements for boat handling, life jacket obligation.
- Insurance: International health insurance, possibly travel cancellation and luggage insurance for charter trips.
Tina's tip against ‘seasickness’:
Children, sailing boats and seasickness: how to prepare your children for it
When sailing with children, speak consciously and openly about possible challenges – especially about what happens if your child feels unwell. Especially on the water, far from everyday routines, it is important to create emotional security. Children can sense when something is wrong anyway – so it makes little sense to sugarcoat things or distract them. It is not about creating fear or dramatizing problems, but about an honest and child-appropriate approach to unpleasant situations such as seasickness, insecurity, or overwhelm.
Stay calm when things get difficult, and show your child that they are taken seriously – no matter whether they are struggling physically or emotionally. Often, just a listening ear, a firm hand to hold, or the feeling of being embraced is enough. Especially in moments when a child feels vulnerable, understanding and care are crucial.
From my own experience with my daughter, I can say: this honest and loving support has an effect far beyond the moment. It is the most sustainable thing you can do on a trip with children – because they learn to take themselves seriously, to build trust, and to find security even in unfamiliar situations.
Such experiences leave a mark – not only on the child, but also on the shared bond.
For a short trip: Planning a boat trip with children
If you are planning a sailing trip with children, before you get underway you should think about the needs of all family members so that nobody is left wishing they hadn't come.
Tips and advice for organising your trip
You may well be asking: „Can I take a baby on a sailing trip”? While it is possible, safety is paramount and sailing with children requires significant preparation.
- When sailing with children on aday trip, plan a very manageable route with fixed stops and breaks for eating and sleeping. This is important, even though babies in particular can sleep almost anytime and anywhere, as long as they feel secure.
- For a weekend sailing with the family, you will need a little more luggage, but you should still only take the essentials with you, as well as food and a few waterproof toys.
- If chartering a sailboat with children on holiday, you will usually find yachts that are well equipped. Don't try to pack too much into a short space of time. Take time and approach the matter of sailing with the family slowly.
- When sailing with children on your own boat, you can customise the itinerary to suit your needs precisely. On a family sailing trip, it is always worth setting yourself small goals so that you are flexible enough to cater to the interests of all passengers.
Differences between sailing and motorised boats
What's better for boating with children? Sailboat or motorboat?
- Wherever the wind takes you:: The pace and more relaxing style of sailing with children offers a slower, more nature-focused adventure. You can also get your little ones more involved in mastering sailing skills, which can be great fun for all.
- Full power through the waves: while you often cover distances much faster with a motorised boat, the boating experience tends to be more fast-paced with less time for rest and relaxation. That may not be a bad thing though, as arriving quicker at your destination is sometimes better for impatient children or you might have a busy schedule and want to visit a lot of places in a short space of time.
Product recommendations: Life jackets, guard rail nets, Kapok cushions
For long trips, circumnavigations etc.:Living with children on board
For many couples, "living aboard" is a lifestyle choice and can easily last for more than a year. For those with children on board, some considerations must also be taken into account to keep the kiddies happy.
Well-equipped for children on board
You may be wondering how and when you can go sailing with a baby. Make sure you equip your boat in the right way, as this is a critical and decisive factor. Your vessel should have what it needs to get you through the season, and with items that are appropriate to the age of the child, so that you can be out and about at all times.
a.) A protected sleeping area
When sailing with children or babies, make sure they have a safe place to sleep. This area can be further protected with dense netting, lee cloths or you can use a portable crib / bassinet. Make sure there is sufficient protection to keep him or her in. In warmer climates, make sure there is enough ventilation in the sleeping area. If necessary, use a fan.
b.) Somewhere safe to sit inside and out
The youngest children on a sailboat will need suitable travel chairs and the boat should have enough shaded areas where children can sit out of the sun. In addition to plastic booster seats with straps, hanging boat seats or a baby carrier that can be strapped on are extremely practical when sailing with small children, as well as for sleeping. If you carry your baby on your upper body, you'll have your hands free to hold on to them or do other tasks on board such as cooking. At the same time, your child will feel safe and secure with you close by. On noisy motorboats,ear protection can be useful for sensitive children's ears.
c.) Keeping them busy at sea
Giving children something to do while sailing is not difficult at all: either they are old enough to help out directly, or you can give them toys and activities for all weathers.
These include, for example, learning sailor's knots or the flag ABC, themed children's books for sailing, their own logbook , special binoculars for exploring the environment, water toys for swimming fun and a fishing set for budding fishermen. As requirements change depending on age, you should always see which skills you want to encourage and tailor activities to the children on the sailboat.
Eating while sailing with the family
1. Ready for anything
The time at which you eat on a boat depends more on the wind and waves than on the clock. When sailing with children, flexibility is always required, as cooking can take a little longer than usual. Keep small snacks to hand, as this will help keep hunger at bay and boost the mood.
2. Food shopping is a family affair
Sailing with children means organising routines to suit all crew members, and this is no different when it comes to food buying. Get the whole family involved in choosing provisions and include favourite snacks for everyone. For longer sailing, let the children take part in preparing meals in advance. This will mean you don't have to think about what to eat later on and the whole crew will know what’s on the menu.
3. Sustainable food on board
Buying regional food strengthens environmental awareness of young sailors and if you unpack the goods in the vessel as soon as you bring them on board, you also reduce the amount of waste on the sailboat with children.
4. Storing provisions below deck
Little children love being involved and are happy when given simple tasks that are part of everyday life on board. If you keep everything in one place, your child will know where to find things and be able to help.
5. Eating the easy way when sailing with the whole family
Would you like to avoid small mishaps when sailing with your family? Then make sure your boat is equipped with break-proof crockery with non-slip plates and bowls, as well as drinking bottles that can't leak. Baby bibs also make eating on the go stress-free.
6. For the anglers
Let your children get involved in fishing, gutting, preparing and cooking your catch! It will provide them with valuable lessons about nature and treating animals with respect.
Boat (home) schooling: learning made easy
If your small child is of school-starting age, you may ask yourself: What is the best age to go sailing with children? When they are very young, sailing with small children shouldn't be such a big problem when it comes to missing school.
For older ones, boater children can experience an extraordinary place of learning. Time at sea not only sharpens their mathematical skills when navigating with a compass, it also awakens an interest in physical processes and deepens their knowledge of biology, for example when fishing. Above all, it encourages playful learning through experience, which is long-lasting.
You can also apply tried and tested homeschooling concepts when educating your children on the sailboat. Some parents even decide to temporarily put their youngest children in local nurseries or schools during longer stays in a winter harbour, for example in the Mediterranean. This way, they make social contacts and have new learning experiences.
How to find family-friendly places
If you have children on board “NoForeignLand” is a free, online social network platform for sailors and boaters to connect with other boaters worldwide. Parents can find playmates for their children via the “Kids4Sail“ chat. There you can network with other cruising families and find out about child-friendly harbours or anchorages with suitable leisure activities. Local Facebook or WhatsApp groups can provide valuable tips from local communities and help find playmates and new friends for sailboat children.
On-board crockery & employment opportunities
Tina's summary
Personal tips for your voyage
In answer to the question ‘Can you take a baby sailing with you?’ I can say from my own experience that our daughter has felt safe and secure on our sailing boat from birth onwards and has always enjoyed the gentle movements of the waves. Even when the engine is noisy or it gets loud, she always finds a quiet place to rest or play.
‘What is the best age for sailing with children?’ Well that depends entirely on your attitude and your preparation. Are boater children more happy to be on the boat when they are more involved in the action? Yes, definitely! Give your young explorers the chance to get involved as soon as the opportunity arises.
When sailing, always keep children in sight: The deck and cabin should be designed so that little sailors can move around independently as far as possible on a swaying ship, if in doubt on all fours. As soon as they are out of the cockpit and moving around the boat, life jackets must be worn by all boater children. This is a general rule, but I also tend to make a decision as to whether jackets should be worn depending on the situation and sea conditions.
Guiding advice
Of course, a family sailing trip brings with it unfamiliar situations, but you will grow with the challenges. Life on board may be a challenge at first, especially as space is limited, but you soon realise that less is often more.
For me, the most important rule of life on board is that the needs of the children on the boat come first - don't force anything, but rather create opportunities and leave enough room for manoeuvre Especially when sailing with small children, everyone needs time to get used to the new circumstances.
If your children take a while to get used to life at sea, have a queasy feeling in their stomachs or are exhausted after a day in the sun, then stay calm in the storm, because this inner strength gives your little ones a sense of security. With a breeze of serenity and a touch of flexibility, a family sailing trip will not only be an unforgettable time, but also an experience that will bring you closer together and strengthen you forever.
It’s worth it
Don't hesitate to take the plunge, because a family sailing trip is worth it in every respect! Leave the noise of everyday life behind and realise how enriching it is to have children on the boat: Find your own rhythm and no longer feel pressured by appointments, seeing the sights or high harbour fees.
Frequently asked questions
About Tina:
Tina comes from Mecklenburg and got into boating at a relatively young age. She completed her masters degree and went on a trip around the world, working in tourism and the entertainment industry. Today she works as a freelancer in a boat office and lives with her partner and their child on a sailboat in the Mediterranean all year round.