I need to write this down in order to prevent myself making a third mistake.

We’d taken out four non-sailing family friends previously this year. It was only a six mile trip to the Farne Islands yet the boys turned up wearing only jeans and fashion tops. The parents, being scuba divers, and having some common-sense wore wind and shower proof clothes. It was breezy and spray was about. Without yottie gear it was chilling.

They moved about the boat without holding on, hoping to balance in the wave motion. I cringed, as it was a complete bloody shambles. We fed them warm soup and they saw all the delights that the Farnes are famous for. We returned to Seahouses harbour with chilled lads and a touch of seasickness in the mum.

Ignoring that lesson I recently agreed to take my old pal with his young family of wife and two kids from Amble to Holy Island (21M). I had asked if one of the adults might like to take the car to H.I. just in case? This suggestion was brushed aside – and I fell for it. Three out of four were sea sick, only the daughter remained immune and able-bodied. One found relief by being glued to the horizon, the males had to lie horizontal on deck. But worse, our sick passengers became quite demanding. If I should go below to write the log or do some navigation there came a constant stream of requests from the disabled who feared going below, to pass up this, or find that. It would be found in this bag. Or maybe that bag.

No, I will not take more than one novice again. I really mean it. You may shoot me if it happens again!

We do at least carry seasickness pills.  These are mainly for my kids, but have the advantage that they are "supposed" to work immediately, without needing to take them 2 hours before you start.  Having said that, when I did feel queasy on a rare occasion myself, I don't think the Traveleeze helped at all.  It does sound a good idea to have spare clothes etc on board.  We have spare lifejackets, but generally I would advise friends to bring whatever waterproofs they have and at least 2 more layers than they think they're going to need.

 Also carry sun cream, antiseptic cream etc ... again for the kids, but available to anybody who needs them.  And spare food.  It does mean a lot of lugging bags on and off the boat but perhaps when I get really organised we will just have a permanent bag of spare clothes / iron rations hidden somewhere for use when needed.

I love taking out families as guests - especially non-saiing ones as who knows it might tempt them to take up sailing. For me the two tricks are make it a short trip, the guests will invariably be terribly ambitious but better a short sail and a picnic. The second is to get everyone involved, this especially means giving up the helm and giving all a try (under supervision of course). To this end kids will probably get the best buzz by taking the outboard tiller on the trip to the mooring. I've had no complaints and no seasickness yet - apart form one poor kid who puked in the dinghy on the way to the mooring - there are some things a self-bailer can't cope with!

Hi Anthony

Some friends of ours pleaded for us to take their kids sailing for a treat. They were absolutely unmoved by the sailing. Thought it was dead boring. But when we anchored and gave them crab lines to play with they were in seventh heaven. Maybe "messing about in boats" is a better way to start than ambitious passage making!

Once upon a time-the boat a Seawich-Coniston in the Lake District-crew-a female friend-a bit of a townie.

She arrived of course properly dressed in her white " Sailor suite"(a white trouser suite!)-we went sailing and Coniston can get quite rough with wind funneling up it.Just coming along side jetty after sail into wind with Seagull chugging away and ran out of fuel.

To cut a long story short to stop boat grounding I had to literally jump over side with a rope!-as for the trouser suite well it was no longer white and friend ?! never came sailing again.

Phil