THE PLANNING DESK

Plan the right day.

Four short notes to help you turn a boat listing into a trip that fits the people who are coming.

START WHERE YOU ARE

The decisions in a useful order.

Think about the outing, the group, who sails and the terms. Then compare the boats.

A good shortlist starts with the day you want to have, not the biggest catamaran you can find.

Guest limits, cabins and berths answer different questions. Read them together.

The choice between a self-sail charter and a crewed outing changes the whole day.

Weather, extras and change terms deserve the same attention as the photo of the boat.