What could be more relaxing than a few lazy days spent on a boat surrounded by water and sunshine? And, in the age of virtual offices, you can sail to your heart’s content while staying connected with your job.

We love life on the water because it provides a welcome escape from the stresses and strains of urban life. For busy professionals, this doesn’t mean forgoing your office duties. In an era where wireless technology is an integral part of life and virtually everyone works online, you can sail off into the sunset for a few days while keeping up with your work. You may find that the lack of office distractions and the idyllic, tranquil setting is even more conducive to productivity.

Good connectivity, planning and organization are the keys to success.

Balance work and play
If you set yourself a strict work routine at certain times of the day and establish limits, you’ll still have plenty of time to devote to relaxing and sunning yourself on the deck with a glass of bubbly.

While the joys of wireless, Bluetooth, laptops and smartphones mean it’s not necessary to allocate a physical space for your temporary office, it’s advisable to create some sort of area to work in on board. However steer clear of the helm at all costs. Never mix work with steering the boat.

Avoid distractions
Once you’ve established your work hours, the challenge is to stick to them. This comes down to your self-discipline and the type of work you do. It is critical to be familiar with the work tasks you have and fulfill your responsibilities when distractions are minimal, for example get up earlier in the morning and inform those around you of the times when you don’t want to be disturbed.

If your job requires you to make telephone calls and deal with customers, it’s important to schedule conference calls at appropriate times. You can also set up an automated answering service or voicemail on your phone providing information about your availability while you’re away and then stick to your timetable no matter what.

Remain professional
If you’re handling business deals from the water, be careful not to give too much away to your clients. They don’t need to know that you’re speaking to them from the comfort of your yacht in the Mediterranean rather than from your office in the city. If you’re having a video conference call, it’s advisable to conduct it from simple, modest surroundings with no background noise. And dress suitably for the occasion – your sunglasses and bathing suit may be a giveaway.

It’s equally important to organize the contents of your virtual office as smaller objects can easily get lost on the go. Put all important papers, files and other items in sealed storage containers to keep them dry and safe. Even better, minimize the paper in your onboard office by transferring and storing files on Google Docs, DVDs or your computer’s hard drive and invest in some solid security and backup software.

Consider connectivity options

These days, wherever you are in the city, there’s always WiFi nearby. However when you’re out at sea far from civilization, connectivity becomes more of an issue and WiFi coverage is not always guaranteed. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a megayacht with its own satellite suite, you need to consider the options available to you at different points on your journey and organize yourself accordingly.

Bluetooth is an option but only offers shot range transmissions of up to 30 feet. Mobile phone capabilities depend on the model, speed and format of your phone – phones using widespread GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) are limited to max transmission range of 22 miles. Alternatively, look into satellite which has dropped significantly in price in recent years and most providers offer wide-area or even global coverage. While there are new cost-effective voice and text options, video conferencing in remote offshore locations can still be expensive and feature delays.

Wireless comes in numerous formats and its high speeds (which are improving all the time) make it the best form for sending / receiving large data files. Most major marinas have wireless coverage and there are various ways to boost WiFi connectivity offshore such as cell boosters and WiFi amps so plan to catch up on the majority of your work including sending large data files in areas that have a good WiFi signal.

Be selective in your communication when connectivity is limited. Choose to send text messages or emails over voice communication if there’s a chance your conversation may be interrupted.

Take all this into consideration and you’ll maximize your enjoyment out on the boat while successfully managing your work. Just don’t get too used to your new work environment.

Recommended Marine applications for WiFi:

Cell Boosters: Avoid dropped calls and improve signal strength for cell phones with booster systems such as Mobile Repeater’s Tri-Band kit, especially designed for yachts.

WiFi Amplifiers: These boosters work with PCs and Macs and will improve WIFI performance from greater distances as well as allowing you to monitor signal strength. RadioLab’s WaveRV and CaptiFi systems feature simple one-wire, waterproof antenna that connects via USB to provide up to 30 times the range of a laptop with wireless.

Useful links:
mobilerepeater.co.uk
radiolabs.com