Well done, Luke!
That'll be an exciting sail.
I remember my first offshore and I, too, was anxious and excited. For me, the thing I was most anxious about was if I would get seasick or not. (I'm lucky, I actually don't; after 24 hours, I forgot to worry about that anymore.) You might get a hold of some stugeron and have it on hand - or take it prophallactically for the first 24-48 hours.
As strange as it sounds, I find that sleeping and eating well (non-greasy foods) and staying properly warm and dry is essential. Ensure you have proper sea boots and foulies, warm socks and good synthetic layers (no cotton). Also separate dry pyjamas you can sleep in that you are rigorous about keeping
salt *out* of!
Here are the five rules of offshore sailing that some old
salt croaked at me before I went offshore my first time:
1. **Never be late for a watch** Get up early, get into your foulies and be fully ready to step on
deck exactly on time. This is #1 for a reason. You'll find out for yourself someday when you have a crewmember who is always late. The on-time crew will be tempted to throw them
overboard - yes, it's that maddening...
2. One hand for you and one for the boat Ensure you keep yourself safe at all times. Only you can. Get/borrow an offshore Spinlock
PFD and tether and wear it while on
deck - always - and absolutely ALWAYS at night. Walk and move carefully around the boat (mindfulness practise!) and develop the habit of making sure you have one hand - for you - connected to something sturdy which supports your weight. Wedge yourself into a corner of the
galley when prepping
food underway or clip yourself in if there are galley-straps/clips; don't take out a bunch of utensils/ knives that could go flying.
3. Don't be selfish. If you're making a cuppa, or a sandwich, check who else wants some and make it for everyone. Another way this works well is when starting night watches, heat a kettle enough for your going on-watch and the person coming off-watch - make a coffee for yourself and a sleepytime tea for the person coming off-watch.
4. Keep all your $*it in one place. Sailboats are small, snug quarters and nothing will drive everyone more nuts than one crewmember who leaves all his $*it everwhere, all over - a sock here, a book there, foulies in one corner where everyone ends up contacting their wet, soggy sleeves and getting salt all over themselves everytime they pass or unsecured stuff that ends up flying everwhere... such thoughtlessness will drive everyone around the bend and foment a secret resentment toward you. Don't do it!
5. Take care of the boat and she'll take care of you Reef as soon as you think of it and reef down at night. Make a practise of walking around deck at least twice a day checking for chafe and things that might be coming unsecured and would bash; rig a preventer downwind - properly - to avoid uncontrolled jibs and unnecessary strains on the rig. You probably won't be making these sorts of decisions this time out, but you can note and learn from those who are making these calls. Keep this idea in your mind and see if your own calls would mesh with the onboard decisionmakers'.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm being tough, but with around 30 years of sailing, I often bless that old crumudgeon (can you believe I don't even remember his name?), because by god have those rules stood me in good stead!
Have fun! You'll learn a lot. Sailing offshore is very wild and free feeling and your love of the sea will grow when you're experiencing just the sea and no land for a few days. I love, love, love it - in all her moods. For me, it feels like home.
Oh, and I don't know if I already recommended this book for the Admiral as a stocking-stuffer, but it has a wealth of cruising info to support the woman in a cruising relationship:
Cruising Woman's Advisor
https://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Woma...s%2C166&sr=8-4
Fair, fair winds, Luke - and following seas!
Warmly,
LittleWing77