Get ready for your Alaskan cruise
Life on board
According to the weather conditions, the program can be modified at any time. The navigation times are mainly during the day to take advantage of the observations and avoid the fatigue of the nocturnal crossing. The navigation times are variable ranging from 4 to 8 hours.How do we get around ashore ?
Safety instructions will be respected, especially in relation to the presence of bears, for this we will ask you to go out only in groups. We take a bear repellent and a portable radio to keep in touch with the boat. The land walks are mainly on the shore and along the rivers because the interior of the forests is sometimes inaccessible.Physical level and preparation
Although no special physical condition is required, we simply ask that you be fitenough to get up and down easily from the boat and to walk on sometimes slippery terrains as the seashore is often rocky. It is not necessary to have prior knowledge of sailing, beginners are very welcome.Equipment
It is often imagined that a sailboat trip in the Great North looks like a deep cold dive. An idea that proves to be wrong when you run along the Pacific coast, thanks to Kuro Shivo, a hot marine current. Although time is changing throughout the year, the rains are mostly in winter. Summer navigation is generally very pleasant, with a temperature of 15 to 25 ° Celcius in British Columbia and more rain episodes than in Alaska, where the temperature can vary between 12 and 25 ° Celcius, except in the immediate vicinity of the glaciers, with alterning long sunny periods and overcast weather with sometimes fog in some areas.
It is therefore necessary to provide equipment of the type that one takes for a mountain hike. It is also important to note that, with the exception of underwear, it will not be possible to wash your clothes along the way. We therefore advise you to provide a sufficient change, but also remember that you are aboard a boat that has limited storages!
Basic equipment
- Top and bottom thermal underwear
- Microfleece and/or mini-jacket
- A warm fleece jacket type Polartec or Windstopper (excellent weight/insulation ratio)
- A waterproof and breathable jacket type Goretex or equivalent membrane (no need to bring a heavy watch jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- A type Windstopper hat/bonnet
- A hat, scarf or cap for the sun
- Sunglasses
- A pair of gloves
- A refillable water bottle
- A pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing
Shoes and technical equipment
- Rubber boots, mainly for landings ashore (imperative)
- Lightweight hiking shoes
- Light weight shoes such as trainers, crocs or sandals for deck work
- A pair of slippers, for the inside of the boat
Sleeping
- A sleeping bag (comfort temperature 10-15 ° Celcius)
- A sheet-bag
Various
- Quick-drying towel, wipes
- Some plastic bags to protect your things
- A headlamp
Baggage
- A travel bag of 80 to 100 litres flexible: is preferable to a Suitcase (banned on board) small travel bags (grouped in a larger one for the transatlantic flight), in order to better be able to store them in the cabin
- A small backpack with a capacity of about 30 litres, for your daily needs during hikes
Your individual pharmacy
- An analgesic
- An anti-inflammatory (tablets and gel)
- If you are prone to seasickness, remember to bring along your treatment
- A disinfectant, bandages (various sizes) and plasters
- Sunscreen
- A mosquito repellent
- In addition: earplugs, your personal medicines