Guide for Captains
Publish your trips, build trust with travelers, and run things your way.
Getting started
You can publish your first trip right away. If you haven't uploaded your sailing license yet, the listing goes to manual review and we'll publish it once we've confirmed your details. Captains who finish verification get the verified badge — listings publish instantly and travelers tend to trust them faster.
Writing a listing travelers trust
A clear, honest listing books faster than a clever one. Cover these basics.
Pick the right activity type
Trip, regatta, training, delivery, charter, or instruction — set expectations from the start.
Be specific about location
Marina, departure point, route, finish point. Travelers want to know exactly where they're meeting you.
Date, departure, and arrival times
Realistic times, with buffer for boarding and briefing. If you're flexible, use Proposal Mode.
Describe the boat honestly
Model, size, key features, and the experience level it suits. Don't oversell — travelers compare to reviews.
Set spots and price
Choose whether your price is per person or for the whole boat, set max guests, and say what's included (and what's not). With per-person pricing the traveler's total is the price times the number of guests; with whole-boat pricing everyone shares one flat price. Travelers will ask in chat — having it on the listing saves time.
Add good photos
3–5 sharp photos: a full shot of the boat, the deck, the cabin, and the route. Stock images hurt trust.
Review and publish
Read your listing as a first-time traveler would. Anything unclear? Fix it. Then post — verified captains go live immediately, others go to review.
Once you're live
Reply quickly
Travelers chat with several captains. The first to reply with clear details usually wins the booking. Aim for under 24 hours.
Keep it current
Update price, dates, and details from My Activities anytime. Outdated listings rank lower and frustrate travelers.
Proposal Mode — Flexible Date
Use Proposal Mode when you're ready to host but flexible on the date — travelers pick a window that works for them.
How to use it:
- When creating an event, enable the Enable Proposal Mode toggle.
- Mark approximate availability windows on the calendar.
- Specify the activity type and required participant skill level.
Pro tip: travelers pay you directly. Spell out price, what's included, and your preferred payment method clearly in your listing and in chat — it prevents 90% of misunderstandings.
Collect reviews with a QR poster
Verified reviews build trust and help your trips rank higher in search. SailsSearch gives every captain a printable QR poster that lets guests leave a review in seconds — even guests who don't have an account yet.
How to use it
- Open your profile, scroll to "Your review QR poster" and download the PDF.
- Print it and display it on board — at the helm, in the cabin, or near the gangway.
- Guests scan the code, rate the trip and leave feedback. If they create an account afterwards, the review is linked to them as a verified guest.
Ask guests to scan the poster at the end of the trip, while the experience is still fresh — that's when you'll collect the most reviews.