Life hacking yachting: how to get along in a small confined space

If you are planning a yacht trip with a company, you should not rely on "maybe" in matters of relationships in the crew. Even if these people are your best friends or colleagues with whom you get along great. A confined space, from which there is nowhere to go, nowhere to retire - this is a powerful test of strength even for a married couple, let alone the rest. No wonder this plot is so popular in books and films.

We agree on the shore

So, rule number one: agree on some points while still on the shore. If you have things that you are sensitive to and do not want someone else to touch them - say about it in advance. Because of joint ownership, conflicts flare up very easily. If you have unusual habits that may affect others (for example, if every day at 6 in the morning you are in the habit of singing the Russian anthem) - again, do not be silent about them, hoping for someone's natural inclination to telepathy. And most importantly: solve your money issues in advance. How much and what we throw off on the road, who has any wishes for additional entertainment, who is ready to invest in this or that event. Be sure to discuss culinary issues: everyone has different tastes and needs, someone may be allergic to some foods, someone does not tolerate alcohol, etc., but everyone will have to cook. It is equally important to agree in advance on some responsibilities: for example, cleaning, washing dishes. It would seem a trifle, but it is with such trifles that personal grievances and conflicts on domestic grounds most often begin. The clearer the boundaries are, the less problems await you while traveling. Experienced tourists will not let you lie.

Space zoning

A key point for anyone who has to travel, live or work in tight spaces. Each person should have their own territory. It is not so easy to do this on a yacht: there everyone actively interacts with everyone, it is cramped there and every piece of the boat is designed to perform as many functions as possible. However, your berth in the cabin is a 100% private area. Even if you are sharing a cabin with a companion. No one enters someone else's cabin without knocking. Make it clear to people that if you are huddled in your "corner", then you do not need to be pulled without a serious reason, even if someone remembered a very funny anecdote or is in a hurry to share a wonderful photo of the view behind the stern.

Don't overestimate your tolerance

Many sociable and open people, going out for the first time (on a hike, settling in a hostel, getting a job in a tiny office, underline the necessary) are sure that these problems will not affect them. And in vain. Even the most sociable of us needs solitude, needs to be ourselves. Firstly, do not be afraid to lose the image of a "shirt-guy" who is always ready to joke and amuse people. Or an airy, charming, ever-smiling girl. This is a vicious tactic, and it often leads to the fact that you will never, never go on such trips again. Or just quietly hate those around you. You have the right to mood swings, to gloomy silence, to dissatisfaction with some situation, you owe nothing to anyone (except for the skipper, of course, whom everyone on board must obey in any mood). Secondly, tune in to difficulties and possible conflicts in advance. In a confined space, any misunderstanding, swallowed offense can, after a while, break out into a scandal out of the blue and spoiled nerves. If something does not suit you seriously, talk about it directly with the person, do not pull the cat by the tail.

Microgroups and psychological climate

Leased boats usually have 3-4 cabins, that is, 6-8 berths. This is no accident. The bottom line is that more than 7 people on board inevitably split into two subgroups, each of which has different desires. Two camps appear, the ground for conflicts arises. 7 people is the limit for creating a monolithic team in a confined space. In the previous paragraph, we indicated that problems should not be hushed up. Now let's remember that sometimes it's better to chew than talk.

Even in a peaceful, cozy office, intrigue and conversations behind your back can destroy a favorable climate. On a yacht, and in general on any trip, this effect is doubled. Do not discuss someone's ridiculous appearance or an obvious blunder - on yachts, sound insulation, frankly, is weak, unless we are talking about a catamaran or a very large boat. Don't make fun of your friend to show off your wit. Don't be intrusive. Do not bother everyone with excessive, petty care - it can incredibly, fantastically infuriate people, even if you do it from the heart. Do not be a snob and prude ("How can you take food from a plate with your hands ?!"). Try to stay positive and maintain a good team climate. If it's really hard, it is better to write down your stinging thoughts on paper or on your phone. And the most important thing is "not" - never argue with the captain (skipper). Yes, this is a hired person, he will try to politely and correctly express his requests. But the skipper is not a maintenance staff. He is responsible for you with his head before all judicial and heavenly authorities. And he knows exactly when a situation becomes life-threatening, even if it seems to you that everything is in order and the captain is paranoid.

Team roles

Any crew, any tourist group is a temporary group. We join there voluntarily. We are united only by a common interest: in this case, joint leisure activities. Therefore, the internal structure and relationships here are determined only by the personal qualities and character of each of us. On the trip, the group absorbs many aspects of the personal life of the participants, and this is not always pleasant. Do not disdain the fashionable term "psychological compatibility". Think ahead: what is your role? If you are an informal leader, are you ready for the fact that not everyone on board will listen to you? If you are an ardent individualist, ask yourself: are you ready to be with these people in such close proximity, to make compromises, to endure someone's weaknesses? If you do not like to make decisions and take on unnecessary responsibility, will you like a situation where active actions will be expected from you? Try to find out as much as possible about the people with whom you are going on a charter. Experienced yachtsmen say: "There is no better way to find out everything about a person than to go sailing with him." And yet, you need to start preparing mentally in advance, knowing your weaknesses and thinking about possible options for resolving conflicts.

If the conflict still happened

The confined space still played a cruel joke with your friendly company. A conflict begins. Well, try to behave with dignity.

1. More humor and skepticism. Do not take other people's words to heart. Nobody can try on your life, it's just the opinion of another person. More self-irony and less pathos.

2. Do not put yourself in a protective stance over small things. There is one crew on the yacht, and no one deliberately wants to make your life worse. You don't have to defend yourself against each other. If someone attacks you, maybe he just broke off and you need to let him talk, and then calmly find out what the problem is.

3. Learn to learn a lesson from the situation. If someone annoys you, think: why exactly he / she? You are offended by someone's words - why? Do you have anything to hide? Or maybe you yourself provoked someone to aggression?

4. Reread the previous point about team roles. This whole situation is temporary, soon you will return to solid ground, home. After all, you are on a yacht, under snow-white sails, among blue waves, surrounded by beautiful landscapes that you may never see again in your life. Could some stupid skirmish be worth these memories?

Of course, not all aspects of relationships in a confined space are touched upon here. We will not get into the jungle of psychology. We did not seek to list all possible unpleasant situations, but only wanted to indicate a general outline and share our experience of how to avoid such situations and what to be prepared for.