Lovesail Dating & Sailing Safety Tips

Even the most experienced sailors can sometimes overlook safety when connecting with new people. Here are some important tips to help you stay safe while meeting other sailing enthusiasts on Lovesail, whether on land, on the water, or when travelling abroad.

Lovesail connects you with other sailing enthusiasts, but every member is responsible for carrying out their own checks and making decisions that feel right for them. Take your time, ask questions, and move at a pace that feels safe and comfortable. Your well-being always comes first.

1. Protect Your Personal Information

Keep your personal details private. Do not share your home address, email, social media, workplace, or mobile number until you’ve met someone in person and/or feel comfortable in doing so.

If someone sends you their contact details immediately, be cautious. You can chat safely through Lovesail’s secure messaging system for as long as you need.

Beware: The “my subscription is about to end” story is rarely true.

2. Trust Your Instincts

Everyone’s comfort levels are different. If you ever feel uneasy or uncomfortable when speaking to another member, politely end the conversation and block them.

3. Let Someone Know

Before meeting anyone, tell a friend or family member who you’re meeting, where you’re going, and when you expect to return. Make sure someone else knows your plans.

4. Take a Mobile Phone

Always carry a fully charged mobile phone with you when meeting someone new.

5. Meet in Public Places

For first (and even second) dates, meet somewhere public and busy such as cafés, pubs, museums, or galleries.

Avoid inviting someone you haven’t met to your home or offering accommodation, even if they’re travelling from abroad. A genuine person will be able to arrange their own stay.

6. Arrange Your Own Transport and Accommodation

Always plan your own way to and from the meeting. If travelling abroad, book your own accommodation and keep enough funds for emergencies or a change of plan.

A free night on a boat might sound tempting, but always have a backup plan.

7. Meeting for Sailing Trips

If you’re invited to go sailing, meet on land first, ideally more than once. For your first trip, consider taking a friend or sailing with a group.

If you’re a skipper, remember you have a duty of care to your guest or crew.

Before agreeing to sail, discuss practicalities clearly:

  • Who else will be on board?
  • Is the trip romantic, social, or purely crewing?
  • What are the costs and who pays for what?
  • What are the sleeping arrangements?
  • Does the boat have appropriate safety equipment?

Make sure both of you can afford your part of the trip and have a way home if plans change.

8. Communicate Clearly and Early

Good communication is essential when meeting new people, and even more important when planning to sail together. Be open about your comfort levels, boundaries, and expectations, and encourage the other person to do the same. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings, sets a positive tone, and makes it easier for both parties to feel safe, respected, and on the same page. Honest conversations early on can prevent awkward situations later and help ensure that any trip or meeting starts on the right foot.

9. Sailing & Travelling Abroad

Sailing with new people can be amazing, but trips abroad require extra preparation.

Get to know them properly

Have several video calls before agreeing to travel. Ask detailed questions about the boat, route, experience, safety gear, costs, and expectations.

Verify what they tell you

Ask for:

  • Boat name and registration
  • Photos of the vessel
  • A rough itinerary
  • Their sailing experience or qualifications

You can check the boat on AIS if needed.

Ask for references

Many skippers have sailed with other Lovesail members or will have other references. It is perfectly acceptable to ask whether they’ve hosted crew before, especially other women, and request to speak with them.

Arrange a “trial meet” or short sail

If possible, meet in the departure country a day or two early to get a feel for their personality and communication style.

Keep control of your travel arrangements

  • Book your own flights and transport
  • Have your own accommodation for the first night
  • Keep your documents, money, and phone accessible
  • Always be able to leave independently

Share your travel plan

Give someone back home the boat details, route, port names, and contact information. Arrange regular check-ins.

Sometimes you just won’t get on - and that’s OK

Even with careful planning, sometimes two people simply don’t click - personalities, expectations, or sailing styles may not match. If you find it isn’t working, it’s perfectly fine to adjust your plans or end the trip early if needed. What matters is that both parties handle the situation with respect, maturity, and part ways amicably.

10. Asking for ID & Verifying Identity

It’s OK to ask to verify someone’s identity

It is reasonable to ask a skipper or crew member to show ID to confirm:

  • Their name matches what they’ve given
  • Their identity aligns with boat paperwork or bookings
  • You’re dealing with a real, verified person

This can be done briefly on a video call or in person. You do not need to handle the document or receive a copy.

Never send or hand over your own ID

You should never:

  • Send a photo or scan of your passport or driving licence
  • Email copies of personal documents
  • Hand over your passport to someone you do not know

Showing your ID briefly on camera is enough, you stay in control of your documents.

Cover sensitive details when showing ID

If you choose to show ID on a video call, it is both safe and advisable to cover:

  • Passport number
  • Machine-readable zone (MRZ)
  • Address
  • Date of birth (optional)
  • Any unnecessary personal details

The other person only needs to see your name, photo, and the document type.

Boat documents are often more useful

In the sailing world, verifying boat details is often more relevant. You can reasonably ask for:

  • Boat registration certificate
  • MMSI or call sign
  • Insurance documents
  • Interior and exterior boat photos
  • The vessel name so you can check it on AIS if they have it.

When a skipper may need your passport

In some countries, skippers must present all crew passports together when clearing into or out of a port. This is normal, but:

  • They should only hold your passport for as long as the clearance process
  • It should be returned immediately afterward
  • You should keep it for the rest of the trip
  • It must never be kept for the whole voyage or used as security

Red flags

  • Asking for a copy of your passport
  • Wanting to hold your ID for the entire trip
  • Becoming defensive when asked for verification
  • Refusing to show their own ID when asked

A respectful and experienced sailor will understand these safety measures.

11. Be Clear About Expectations

Lovesail is a social community for sailors, with options for friendship, crewing, and dating. Not everyone is single, some may be married or in complex arrangements. Ask about their status early and be honest about yours. If your goals don’t align, it’s fine to move on politely.

12. Stay Safe When Socialising

  • Keep your drink with you at all times.
  • Don’t drink too much - alcohol and sailing really don’t mix.
  • Leave immediately if you feel uncomfortable, you owe no one an explanation.

Be Especially Cautious with Alcohol Around Boats

Alcohol is one of the major causes of accidents and misunderstandings on sailing trips. It affects balance, awareness, judgement and communication, all things that are essential on the water. UK research shows that around 24% of recreational boating fatalities involve alcohol, and US data also identifies alcohol as the leading known contributing factor in 19% of fatal boating accidents. If you’re meeting someone who drinks heavily or if drinking becomes part of the sailing plan, treat this as a warning sign. Staying sober or drinking very lightly is the safest choice when sailing.

13. Watch Out for Scammers Online

Scammers are rare on Lovesail (every profile is manually checked), but stay alert.

  • Be wary of anyone who shares contact details too soon
  • Never send money or banking information
  • Ignore stories about emergencies, travel issues, or sudden financial problems
  • Use the Report button or contact admin if something seems suspicious

14. Trust Your Gut

If something feels off, online or in person, your gut could be right.

  • Declaring love too quickly
  • Avoiding questions, especially sailing-related ones
  • Asking for too many personal details
  • Inconsistent stories

A chat with a friend can help give perspective.

Stay Safe and Enjoy the Journey

Dating and sailing should be fun and exciting. With a bit of common sense, clear communication, and your own boundaries in place, you can enjoy meeting other sailing enthusiasts around the world through Lovesail.