Soft bags ONLY — never hard suitcases. Cabins have no room for rigid luggage and most yachts will refuse them at check-in. A duffel + a backpack per person is plenty.

Clothes-wise: think minimal. Two swimsuits, three light shirts, two shorts, one pair of long trousers for evenings ashore, one light sweater (it gets cool at sea after sundown), one pair of soft-soled deck shoes or flip-flops. Bring a hat (not the one that blows off in 15 knots), reef-safe sunscreen, a head torch.

Don't bring: black-soled shoes (mark the deck), shampoo with sulfates (kills the marine environment), a hairdryer (the boat will trip), full-sized towels (the boat has them).

On bareboat: the licenced skipper drives, navigates, and is legally responsible. Everyone else helps with watches, anchoring, lines and sails as needed. Decide before you leave: who's the second helm, who's on dinner, who's on provisioning.

On crewed: the captain runs the boat. You're on holiday. The hostess handles meals + cabins; you keep your own cabin tidy and clean up after yourself in the cockpit. Tips at the end of the week.

The single biggest reason crews fall out: nobody asked who's the cook on Tuesday. Agree on day 1.

For a 7-night bareboat, budget €300–€600 per person for food + drink. Lunch on board, dinner ashore 3-4 nights, dinner on board 2-3 nights. Breakfast simple.

Big shop at a hypermarket on day 1 (most marinas have one within 5 km — taxi €15). Top up at island grocers during the week. Buy water by the 5L bottle, not 500ml — saves the planet and your back.

Pre-provisioning service: most operators offer it. You email a list 2 weeks ahead; food is on the boat at check-in. Add €50-€100 to the food bill but saves a full afternoon.

Anchor like you mean it — don't drop on someone else's chain. Quiet hours start at 22:00 in most marinas. Don't shout from boat to boat after dark. Empty your holding tank at sea, never in a marina or a cove with swimmers. Take all rubbish ashore.

If you get something wrong (we all do) — apologise, fix it, learn. Charter operators talk to each other; reputations follow you.

Five things, day one: where the lifejackets live, how the VHF works (Channel 16 distress), where the engine cut-off is, where the fire extinguisher is, what the man-overboard procedure is.

Lifejackets on for kids whenever the boat's moving. Lifejackets on for everyone at night, in heavy weather, or whenever the captain says. Jacklines for night sailing. Tell the captain about any medical conditions before you leave the dock — they need to know.