In the height of summer temperatures are at their peak. As the sun beats down while your cruising around beautiful tropical or Mediterranean islands on your sailing holiday, keeping cool on the boat is an absolute must. Luckily, our guest blogger and avid sailor, Louise shares her top tips for staying cool under the sun.  

Beating the heat!

If you’re lucky enough to be boating in warm climates then sometimes the heat can become a little bit uncomfortable or at times even unbearable.

So what can you do to beat the heat?

The best way to get a nice airflow through the boat is to go sailing! Nothing beats a nice breeze through the boat when out at sea. If that’s not an option however, there are plenty of other things you can do to cool down your boat.

You can rig up an area of shade in your cockpit or on the deck. This doesn’t have to look fancy or cost much, we use a mesh tarpaulin bought from a hardware store, which is actually more convenient to throw up quickly than the designated Bimini. (It also serves as a handy hammock for small boat pets!)

• Wind scoops are also very useful to encourage a nice breeze through your hatches. They are quick and simple to put up and easily fold away to store again.

• An awning that covers the deck will keep the sun of the deck and help the boat stay cool down below. This method is slightly more time consuming but very worthwhile. The difference really has to be felt to be believed.

• If you have shore power then of course fans will help keep the air circulating and the temperature cool.

• If you’re outside then a hat is essential to prevent sunstroke. Keeping well hydrated with cold drinks will also help regulate your own temperature.

If all else fails though, you could always just take a quick dip in the water to cool down!

What about our furry companions?

We have recently got a new crewmember who is even fluffier than Bailey the boat cat. April our Border Collie puppy loves her cooling mat that is found easily in most pet stores or online. Pets should always be in the shade during the hottest part of the day and have access to plenty of drinking water. You can also use cold water on a flannel to wet your pet’s fur and help them cool down too. Bailey isn’t a fan of water but is always grateful when we wet his fur with cool water when he’s struggling to keep cool