Trips on Alyosha depart promptly at the scheduled time from the berth alongside of Pier 23 restaurant/bar in Ocean City Harbor. (Actual address is 12817 Harbor Road Ocean City, 21842)
Plan to arrive about 5-10 minutes before your departure time, there is not really any "check in" necessary... but please know that if we have other guests and you are late- we will still leave on time. It just is not fair to those guests that are punctual to make them wait for late arriving folks. Sorry in advance!
Ocean Sailing "Advanced" trips will generally last over 4 hours- so plan accordingly! We will go through the OC Inlet (often the roughest part of the entire journey) and then let the wind dictate the triangular shape we will sail.
Keep in mind that this experience is real open ocean sailing! The Captain and Crew have yet to be able to control the wind and seas...although there is no lack of effort on that account! Typically June, July and August on the Atlantic Coast features gentle, rolling swells as a "seabreeze" builds throughout the day. But not everyday is "typical."
Alyosha is a big, stable sailing catamaran, and she sails flat. But there could be motion in ocean sailing and if you are prone to seasickness then you should plan to take some preventative medicine BEFORE we leave the dock. (If you get sick, it is too late!) We recommend "Bonine" or "Dramamine". If you are on the fence after reading this: Please take a look at our “Seasickness Guide!”
This trip is, of course, weather dependent. If the captain feels that there is any risk given the conditions of a particular day, including a forecast that doesn't look promising, then the trip will be cancelled. You will receive a full refund in the event of any cancellation.
What to bring:
Alyosha has plenty of bottled water for customers. Feel free to bring any food or drinks you would like onboard. There is an excellent smoothie/coffee spot across from our boarding location called One Love Smoothie Cafe.
In terms of seating and spacing: There is plenty of room for everyone! Trampolines are built for lounging and cushioned seating for an additional 6 people!
There are restrooms ("heads") aboard Alyosha for use by customers. Keep in mind that the toilets on a sailboat are a little bit more sensitive than land based toilets… so plan accordingly.
Protection from the elements: Although Alyosha has a roomy salon area and cabins that our guests may use, the real action is outside, on deck! Therefore, we highly recommend plenty of sunscreen and sunglasses.
Ocean Sailing is something that can be a once in a lifetime experience and even a gateway into the sport of sailing. Join us and experience an incredible way to see "the other side" of Ocean City.
There is a 4 person minimum for afternoon sails. Don’t let this discourage you! Book the trip if you want to sail and if we don’t get enough people- we almost always do- we will find another time/date for you.