Beating the Heat
It’s a balmy 78 degrees Fahrenheit this morning here in western New Jersey, but the morning newscasts are blaring scary graphics about the heat wave expected to start this afternoon and last for the next few days. “Stay inside!” “Extreme weather warning!” “Limit outdoor activity to swimming!”
Now, I don’t have a swimming pool at my own home, but several of my neighbors do have pools, and they’ve graciously invited me to come swimming anytime I’d like. That’s about as good as access to the water gets here in the countryside, and water access is definitely key when it comes to beating the heat.
That’s true onboard charter yachts, too. Because all yachts are different shapes and styles, they all have different kinds of water access. Some, like catamarans, have dual step-down platforms that make getting into the water about as easy as it can be. Large motoryachts, too, typically have proper staircases leading to swim platforms that let you jump right into the sea and cool off whenever you’d like.
Water access becomes a bit trickier onboard monohull sailing yachts, some of which have ladders that you have to climb down–making water access tricky for people who are mobility impaired or who are just plain klutzy.
Some sailboats overcome this inherent design challenge by adding “trap doors” that lead to proper staircases below. Here, for instance, is the view from the deck of the sailing yacht Stenella, looking down through its “trap door” to a swim platform:
If you’re chartering in a place where half the fun is going to involve beating the heat by swimming, make sure you ask your reputable charter broker how your yacht is designed for water access. This is especially true for monohull sailboats.
Think of it as your own, personal heat advisory.