Frequently
Asked
Questions

As little or as much as you like, but we find the more hands-on you are with sailing and activities onboard, the more you will enjoy yourselves. Even if you are a complete novice to sailing or snorkeling, we can show you some basics so you can really get involved. If you have some sailing experience, we can help you and your group to experience any or all aspects of sailing this big, beautiful blue-water sailing boat, and make you a more confident sailor.

That entirely depends on you. As liveaboards, we sometimes choose to only spend an hour going to the next bay and then stay there for a week. As it’s your holiday, with a pick-up and drop-off point that has a set time frame, we will probably sail to a new anchorage or two every day. This may take an hour or two each day.
The weather will also impact on our decisions but we’ll be working closely with you to determine your preferences as you and the group adjust.

Yes, very much so. We want to inform you or anyone in your family or group about the joys and realities of the sailing lifestyle. If your family members have doubts about the commitment to spending more time on boats, we want to share our experience with you, so that you, and they, can try before you buy, to dispel those fears and worries.

We have safety measures inplace to keep even the youngest crew members safe, and fun  activities to keep them interested in a world outside of their mobile phones.

We have a wealth of liveaboard experience that we would like to share with you. If you have been bitten by the sailing bug and want to experience other aspects of sailing life that you can’t get at sailing school, then come sail with us. Or perhaps you want to get a more in-depth understanding of what it takes to sail and look after a boat. This is knowledge you can only guess at when working everything out for yourself and your family on a Bareboat Charter. We can help fill in the gaps between where you are now on your sailing journey, and where you want to get to next. That might be anywhere from buying your own boat to live on in the future, to being more confident to Bareboat Charter without a Skipper. You may also decide that your family isn’t as into the liveaboard lifestyle as you are, and that can mean that for you, crewing on other people’s boats may be the best option after all.

Sea Pearl will be your own little island paridise, while onboard, providing everything you need. Island hopping can be as quick or as long as you want, so we can unfurl all the sails fully and get you sailing and healing over like a pro, or we can pootle over to the next virgin sandy islet, when you will hardly even notice we have left the previous perfect anchorage.

There is a lot to understand and enjoy about a sailing boat like Sea Pearl. Whether it’s a catamaran or a monohull, the principles are the same. If you are thinking about buying your own boat, we can help you determine what type of boat is going to be right for you according to your preferences, as well as your present and future requirements.

No, this is NOT a sailing school. It is, however, a fully immersive sailing experience where you and you travel companions can learn more about sailing than you might expect, and be participating in every aspect of the sailing lifestyle if you wish.

Skipper Paolo

• RYA Yachtmaster – Commercially Endorsed
• Italian Sail & Motor Unlimited Licence
• SRC Radio License
• STCW Safety Training for Mariners Endorsements:
  • Personal Sea Survival Techniques
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Basic Fire Fighting
  • Personal Safety and Social
  • Responsibilities
  • Proficiency in Security Awareness

Chef Jenny

• RYA Yachtmaster Theory
• RYA Day Skipper – Commercially Endorsed
• RYA Power Boat Level 2
• SRC Radio License
• Ashburton Cookery School – Advanced Cookery Certificate
• Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering
• W.S.E.T. Level 2 Award in Wine & Spirits
• STCW Safety Training for Mariners Endorsements:
  • Personal Sea Survival Techniques
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Basic Fire Fighting
  • Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
  • Proficiency in Security Awareness

Up to four guests in two cabins. One double cabin & one twin bunk cabin.

For Chartering in the San Blas or Bocas Del Toro Archipelagos, you will fly into Panama City. Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the primary international airport serving Panama. The airport serves as the homebase for Copa Airlines and is a regional hub to and from the Caribbean, South, North and Central America and some European cities. We can advise you on the easiest airports for your bespoke experience, whether you’re based in the U.S., Europe, Asia or the Pacific.

We would recommend insuring your trip in the case that you have lost luggage, flight delays, missed connections, injuries or any other problems getting to and from us. You are covered by our insurance while onboard with us, but accidents or theft can happen even when you go ashore, so it’s better take your own cover too.

The list of items we suggest you bring:

• Passport
• Cash, in local currency (USD$ is used in the Panamanian Islands) Small bills are useful for local purchases
• Physical credit/debit card to withdraw local currency in the city before you depart for the islands, as most places on the islands will only take cash
  (NB. Mobile phone “Wallet” or Virtual Credit Cards don’t always work).
•  Mobile phone & USB charging cable
• Splash proof case for mobile/electronics
• Action/underwater camera with batteries & charger
• Kindle or iPad & charge cable
• Sunglasses
• Reading glasses (if used)
• Foldable fabric sunhat with chin tie
• Flip flops/plastic sandals
• White soled Deck shoes & socks (optional)
• 2-4 swimming costumes
• Rash guard top
• Shorts – lightweight
• T-shirts
• Beach wraps/sun dress for the girls
• Light raincoat/windbreaker
• Underwear
• Toothbrush
• Hairbrush
• Lip balm
• Personal medication
• Period products
• Specialty food items
• Folding carryall/backpack/to carry all your belongings
• Small daypack to carry a few personal items for hiking, excursions, etc.

It’s always hot here, so there’s really no need to pack much clothing at all.

Storage space is limited on Sea Pearl as on all boats so your unpacked bags will need to stay in your cabins. We recommend bringing less than you think, in a softsided or collapsible carry-all or backpack. Hard shelled cases, small and large are not welcome. Please refer to our packing list to help you decide what to bring in your bag.

These are the items we already have for you onboard:

• Soap
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Hairdryer
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellant
• Dry bags of various sizes
• Personal insulated water canteens
• Fins in a range of sizes
• Snorkels & goggles in a range of sizes
• Many USB charging sockets
• 240volt adapters – UK to US/EU/Asia
• Internet while on the boat (for a limited time each day to optimise power use)
• English language novels
• Board games & playing cards
• Head torches
• Safety equipment
• Bed linen
• Beach & bath towels
• Adult size bath robes

Please note:
As space is limited onboard, you will need to store your luggage in your own cabin. Therefore, a soft, foldable bag is far preferable, as this can be more easily stored – a hard-shell case is NOT.

It’s always hot here, so there’s really no need to pack much clothing at all.

We provide each of you with separate bathing and swimming towels. 

We have a Bimini with removable sun shades that covers the whole cockpit, so we’ve got you covered while we’re sailing, eating and enjoying the cockpit. We recommend that everyone brings a folding cloth hat and a sun/rash vest for swimming. If using sunscreen, please use “reef friendly” products as many islands have now banned the old fashioned sunscreens that commonly use chemicals that are toxic to coral reefs & marine life. Look for formulas whose active ingredients are zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. In addition, aerosol spray and tinted sunscreens are not allowed aboard Sea Pearl.

We have many hats and reef-friendly sunscreen onboard for your use. 

We have fins, snorkels and goggles for each adult guest and some children’s sets too. If you have your own goggles & snorkel that fits you well, you should bring them as we can’t guarantee the perfect fit of all goggles. As fins are bulky to travel with, please use our adjustable S,M,&L fins. You may want to bring booties or socks to put under the fins to avoid chafing on longer excursions.

We are generally a barefoot boat, especially below deck. However we would recommend the protection of deck shoes while on deck sailing, as there are so many hazards to stub your toes on. Please make sure they are white soled/non marking shoes that have no pebbles or sand imbedded that would mark our deck. To venture ashore, flip-flops, flat shoes or sandals are good, something that can get wet or easily washed, even better. Occasionally, you may want walking shoes or trainers to walk a mountain or jungle path, but sandals are usually enough.

We source all the food we eat onboard Sea Pearl from local fishermen, local fresh produce suppliers and staples from larger super markets. Therefore the food we cook onboard Sea Pearl is local, seasonal Caribbean Style food based around the local seafood of fish, crab, lobster, octopus and squid. It will be a little different from what you’re used to at home because you are on holiday. So it’s important that you fill your preference sheets out for each guest as these will inform us of any dietary restrictions, intolerances or food allergies that you or you guests may have.

If there are some food items that you can not do without for dietary or medical reasons and you think we may not be able to find them in the islands, please ask if we can supply them, or bring them with you if we can’t. Otherwise we’re sure you will enjoy the local cuisine.

A cash gratuity to your hosts is absolutely at your discretion, but very much appreciated if you choose to thank us in this way, at the end of your time with us. If you enjoyed your holiday experience, general guidelines are 20 to 25% of the charter fee in cash.

Drinking while underway can impair your ability to stay safe at sea, and can also exacerbate sea sickness, so we would prefer that you refrain from consuming alcohol while Sea Pearl is underway.

We have 220 volt U.K. electric sockets with international adaptors in every cabin and USB sockets in every cabin. Starlink Wi-Fi. A Fusion Bluetooth stereo system, 32″ TV with external HD containing Film & TV series library and playback for your photo & video footage is also available. Nespresso coffee machine, Hairdryer for use with the generator, and A/C on shore power with 12 volt fans in all cabins.

Sea Pearl has snorkeling equipment (fins, goggles & snorkel) a 2-man dropstitch inflatable kayak, floating inflatable circular water hammock, 3.3 meter Rigid Inflatable Boat or RIB/Tender, Fishing lines, board games, playing cards and English language novels & books, for your use while onboard.

All guests, including children, will be fitted with their own life jacket. We have life buoys, a Dan Buoy, Jon Buoy sling, 8 man life raft, EPIRB, multiple fire extinguishers, fire blanket, full set of Offshore flairs, MOB1 alarms, VHF radio, AIS transducer & Radar. Your group will be required to undertake a mandatory safety procedures orientation as your first activity upon boarding Sea Pearl.

We have a Risk Management Plan that includes what to do in the case of an emergency. We have up to date First Aid qualifications and have made a point of knowing the locations and contact details of local hospitals and rescue services, should these be needed for any reason at any time, though we think this is unlikely. That said, accidents do happen and we will discuss what the procedures are when we run through your safety orientation at the outset of your holiday. You are covered by our public liability insurance while onboard, but you will need to have your own travel cover for all other situations, including while on land and between Sea Pearl and land.