Make sure everything works
Good maintenance of the boat is essential, because you don't want anything to happen once you're at sea. Routine maintenance includes checking the winches of your yacht for salt, the condition of the tips, the proper operation of the engine, etc.
Check the weather and tide
Before setting out to sea, it is important to know what the weather will be like. You need to know if the wind will be strong or the sea will be rough and so adapt your outfit and/or equipment.
Wait for the right conditions
Of course, you learn by doing and practice will make you feel confident. For your first sea trip, wait for a nice weather, with a calm sea and without too many other boats. While the wait can be frustrating, safety is most important to you and your crew.
Choose the right boat
Sure, we'd all look good at the helm of a big sailboat or at the wheel of a big motorboat, but you'd better start with a small unit. Many sailing schools use 22-foot keelboats, which are sturdy boats, but small enough to offer new sailors great responsiveness as they become familiar with sailing.
As far as motorboats are concerned, you can start with a small semi-rigid or small open hull of less than 6 m, which will be easier to manoeuvre than a big speedboat.
Embark an experienced navigator
For your first sea trip, call on someone with experience. It can be a friend or a teacher, but he or she will reassure you and will be able to make the right decisions and help you in case of problems. Make the most of it, while sailing, to experiment with manoeuvres such as tacking or gybing.
