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You will find us on the beach at Paihia. We won’t be hard to find once you get there, just walk along the beach and you will see the boat anchored very close to the shore line.
Just the usual – bottle of water, warm clothing, a jacket, footwear for island walks, swimwear, towel, hat, sunglasses and sunblock – please do not spray sunblock, it eats the paint.
Please do bring clothing that you can cover up with, the summer sun can be intense on your skin so be prepared for this as much as the possibility of cool wind.
No, the boat sits flat while sailing which means it is a very comfortable experience, especially for first-time sailors or families with children.
Yes we do. We use the motor to get in and out of the beach to anchor. We just love sailing! So we like to sail as much as possible, the boat performs far better under sail than under motor so sailing it is! There are times where if there is not enough wind to reach our destination we will have to use the engine, or to keep to our time schedule – we don’t like to make anyone late to catch their ferry/bus.
New Zealand can be tricky to plan for with the weather, particularly when choosing outdoor activities, so to be realistic you just have to be prepared for anything.
We do try our best and are very vigilant when it comes to weather forecasting.
Safety is always our foremost concern, then comfort. We are generally not too bothered by a rain shower here or there. It is an open boat, so we have rain ponchos to cover up and stay warm/dry, or you can pop down into the cabins if you want. If the forecast looks like a serious day of rain which will make the trip an absolute misery we will cancel/postpone, as we would like our guests to have a good experience.
The skipper is experienced to make decisions based on the weather, and the final decision will be his (keeping in mind that we are reliant on the information that is given to us, we can’t promise the forecast will be correct). If we decide to cancel a full refund will be given if we can’t make alternative arrangements for another day that suits your travel plans.
We understand that everyone has a different level of comfort when it comes to the weather, and we do our best to make everyone as comfortable as we possibly can. Sometimes people are not used to the wind, the sea state, salty splashes, or a bit of rain, or even the sunshine. But as Kiwis, this is all part of our lifestyle, and it is how New Zealand has become so well known for its adventure tourism because we are so good at it!
Yes we have a marine toilet on board, the islands we visit do not have toilet facilities.
Absolutely! But not too wet -you will have to step into the water to get onto the boat. Sometimes it is ankle or calf deep, other times a wave will roll in and it may be up to your knees. So kick your shoes off and roll up your trousers before you step aboard. Sometimes we get the odd wave splash on the boat, it’s all part of the fun!
Nope, just like the name suggests we are Barefoot Sailing Adventurers!! Kick off your shoes at the shore and experience the Kiwi barefoot culture for yourself, it’s quite liberating!
Yes, our skipper loves to get people involved if they want to take the helm or help set the sails. There are some conditions or points of sail that it is not practical to have others helm the boat, but for the most part you are very welcome.
Yes we do see dolphins, not every day but they are there and if they happen to be where we are sailing it is a lovely experience to see them in their natural environment. We like to advise you that the resident dolphins in the Bay of Islands are very sensitive to human interaction, we do not encourage any interaction with them. As of 15 Dec 2021 the Department of Conservation has declared the Bay of Islands a Marine Mammal Sanctuary. This means if we encounter dolphins or other marine mammals there are rules which we must abide by: when within 300m of the vessel we must stop the boat (so long as it is safe to do so) until the marine mammals have moved away further than 300m. There is no swimming or water activities allowed within 300m of a marine mammal. This may cause some disruption to our planned cruise but we hope to keep the disruption as minimal as possible, we thank you for your understanding. If we happen to encounter a marine mammal on our sailing cruise, this is a completely natural encounter, it is very special and possibly the best way to experience dolphins as they can choose to interact on their own terms.
The seating is arranged on deck. There is a range of seating from bean bag seating to comfortable bench seating in the cockpits with the crew. There is no specific shade cover on the boat, however, you do get shade from the sails on different parts of the boat while we are sailing.
The Island Hopper Cruise is our regular scheduled day cruise that may be suitable for cruise ship passengers depending on the ship schedule. Our departure and return times are set, and it is a public cruise (not dedicated solely to cruise ship passengers).
We advise allowing 1.5 – 2 hours either side of cruise ship anchor/departure is recommended to allow reasonable time to get to and from our departure point at Paihia Beach, which involves getting a shuttle bus from the tender terminal to downtown Paihia, and is a 5 minute walk from there.
We can not make allowances for a change in ship schedule or late arrivals. Please arrive 15 min prior to departure time, we leave on time without exception. Normal terms and conditions and cancellation policy apply.
We recommend our guests hold a comprehensive travel insurance policy in case of any unexpected changes in their travel plans that may incur a cancellation fee.
Risk Disclosure Statement – Barefoot Sailing Adventures
We are committed to delivering a safe and enjoyable experience. We take all care to ensure your safety, however there are inherent risks in the nature of our activity. To ensure your safety, you must follow the instructions of our time, act in a safe manner, be physically capable of undertaking any activity you partake in, and not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The following risks may result in serious injury or death:
Boarding and disembarking – slips, trips, falls, crushing.
Sailing equipment – impact injury from moving parts, entanglement.
Changing weather conditions – sea state, moving vessel, exposure to the elements wind cold rain sun heat, unforeseen events. Natural hazards.
Water activities – swimming snorkeling paddle boarding, encounters with marine creatures, cuts & grazes, missing person, person adrift, drowning.
Island walks – uneven terrain, slips & trips, cliffs & steep drop offs, getting lost.
Chemicals – poisoning, burns.
Remote location – medical facilities and immediate access to medical care are limited and may be significantly distant.
Vessel Emergencies – Person overboard, vessel grounding, steering, loss of engine power, fire, abandon ship, encounters with marine mammals.
Natural Hazards – Tsunami, waterspout, wildfire.
Personal Property – risk to personal property being damaged.
By participating, you signify your acknowledgment and acceptance of these inherent risks, and agree to conduct yourself in a safe manner.
Your safety and enjoyment are our priority, and we appreciate your cooperation ensuring a safe experience. You agree to inform all others in your party of the above risks.