How to be a good guest on a sail boat
When you are invited aboard a boat, there are two critical things to remember, boats are expensive and to a passionate sailor, boats are in fact living things. Both ways, treat the vessel with tremendous respect and you will be invited back, be careless in any way and you'll be looking elsewhere for a chance to live a nautical fantasy.
Footwear
Nobody likes a scuff mark, and many street shoes will leave ugly marks all over the non-skid decks of a yacht. The quick answer is to ditch the footwear and go barefoot, however, sailing boats have more devices on the deck to bend your toe back than you can poke a stick at, so if at all possible, beg borrow or buy a pair of genuine deck shoes, your host will appreciate the effort, your experience will be far more pleasurable and your feet will love your forever.
Be prepared
If you've been invited out for a race and there is any sort of a decent wind about, you'd better be prepared to get wet. A boat being pushed hard to windward will be heeled over a long way, this pushes the downwind side under the wave to some degree, so at the very least you'll get a wet butt on the next tack. Going hard to windward will also tend to, through the occasional splash of water and spray to windward, which nature will happily redirect downwind and on to you. With this in mind, wear clothes that you will be comfortable in damp. Also keep in mind, it may be a lovely day for swanning around on the beach in your swimmers, but the temperature out on the water is usually a few degrees lower.
Use your ears
A sail boat can be a place filled with tension and action, there are no brakes on a sail boat and you have no control over the main force of propulsion, the wind. So mild mannered Joe Bloggs at the office can suddenly and unexpectedly turn into a direct descendant of Captain Bligh! This is not to be taken as a direct attack on you or even what the captain really thinks of you, they are just dealing with stress in a socially acceptable way for the high seas, even if your just pottering about on the local lake. To reduce the danger of their ire being directed towards you, it is critical that you listen carefully to instructions from the skipper, when they say move, just do it. You can discuss its correctness and tone in the club house at the end of the day, delaying any action can genuinely put the boat or yourself in a position of risk. It also does not matter if you have 30 years of sailing under your belt and the skipper is a newbie, they have the con and they have control, so respect that.
Where do you fit in
This is where listening will provide the answer. Ask the boss where he wants you and what they want you to do. A good skipper will usually tell you what he expects you to do before you leave the shore or dock. If they ask you to stay out of the way, it's a pretty good idea to do so. If they ask you to bare a hand (and that doesn't mean take your glove off), get in and help, but communicate the whole time so they know that you are doing as they expect. Depending on your level of experience, there will be jobs that will suit you from sail trimming to being a heavy lump on the windward side. It will also depend on whether you are racing or cruising, on a cruise it will probably be best if you find a comfy spot out of the way until you are called upon.
Mal De Mere
This is of course that sweet sounding French term for one of the cruellest aspects of boating. If you have never been to sea, be prepared. If you have been to sea and never been sea sick, I hate you! I did eight years in the navy and pretty much lost at least one meal every day I was at sea. Even so, I still love being out on the deep blue.
Nobody likes to bear witness to a technicolor yawn, so do what you can to avoid the onset of sea sickness. There are the obvious chemical solutions with patches and tablets, but check out some of the other solutions available. One I have used for many years is an acupressure point on in the wrist, three fingers down from the join and between the tendons for the pointer and ring finger. Pressing down with the thumb here can remove the feeling of nausea for many people. You can even buy wristbands with a nodule in the appropriate place.
You should also actively manage the onset of seasickness. Don't go below while the vessel is under way, avoid reading or looking at photos or maps. Remember, the horizon and fresh air are you best friend, stay on deck and watch the horizon so your eye's register the same motion as your inner ear is feeling. Keeping busy is a great idea, if you can, ask if you can have a go at the helm when you feel queasy, driving the boat is the best cure in most cases. Be aware that the earliest sign of the onset of seasickness is yawning, so take action as soon as you have your first unexpected yawn.
Conclusion
There is nothing in life more enjoyable that sailing, the sense of freedom, camaraderie and whisking along in near silence. The number one rule for being a good guest is to enjoy yourself and appreciate the gift that has been given.