In maritime culture, scattering ashes at sea is often accompanied by a few specific traditions, which we will follow, if you wish;
• The "Eight Bells" Ceremony: We will strike the ship´s bell eight times which normally signifies the end of the sailor's "watch" and their return to the sea, but why not do it for your furry friend?
• Circling the Spot: As a symbolic action and a sign of respect, we will circle the location three times after the urn is released.
• Coordinates: We will record the exact GPS coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) so you can return to the precise spot in the future.
Although hot on land, the sea air can get humid and chilly, especially around sunset. For your own comfort, we recommend bringing a warm jumper or jacket.
Please bring proper shoes with white, rubber soles. The deck is slippery when wet and we wish to avoid any accidents. If the weather is warm enough, barefoot is a good option.
We have life vests for those not feeling too comfortable aboard, also for small kids and medium sized pets.
If you wish to let your family and friends know where you are sailing, they can follow you by searching for TEALIE on
VesselFinder or by clicking on
MarineTraffic.
Motion sickness is the worst, especially wobbling on a sailboat with no immediate escape. However, if you tend to get motion sick, don't worry, there are some precautions to take before and during the trip.
BEFORE THE TRIP
Check with your doctor or pharmasist which medicines or patches to be recommended. The adhesive patch is put behind your ear a few hours before boarding. We have pills and wrist bracelets if needed.
Buy a pack of lozenges, preferably something with ginger.
Do not eat a big meal before boarding.
Lay of alcohol, caffeine and drink lots of water.
Bring a distraction - like music with headphones.
DURING THE TRIP
If you brought music, listen to it as it might add some distraction.
Find a better spot. Many find relief by taking the helm.
Lie down if you can, keep your head still, shut your eyes or follow the horizon. Whatever is best for you.
We will provide something salty, like chips or crackers, green apples, i.e. Granny Smith, anything with ginger, i.e. lozenges.
Drink ginger ale or ginger tea, Coca-Cola, the real stuff.
If nothing of the above helps, we will give you a bucket and head back to Sotogrande.
We’re permitted to take you out to a minimum of three nautical miles (about 5.6 km) from the coast to bid your final farewells.
While ashes themselves don’t affect water quality, please avoid scattering non-biodegradable items.
You can use the temporary container provided by the crematorium and simply pour the ashes into the water. If you prefer to scatter the ashes by hand, we’ll ensure we’re upwind so they blow away from you and the boat. If the wind is too strong, we recommend spreading the ashes as close to the water’s surface as possible.
However, if you plan to release the entire urn into the sea, it must be a certified biodegradable urn. In such cases, an ecological urn that floats briefly and then gently sinks into the water will allow you time to reflect and say your goodbyes as the remains disperse.
There are various biodegradable and ocean-safe urns available. These are made from materials like sand seaweed natural salt paper or cardboard and other plant-based substances.
If you’d like to throw natural flowers into the water, please follow the law and protect the environment by using only petals, not stems or branches. Avoid using non-natural flowers and ensure wreaths and personal items don’t contain plastic or metal parts that could harm wildlife or cause litter. If you’d like to throw written notes, they should be on biodegradable paper.
Declaration of responsibility for the economic activity of placing funeral urns or funeral ashes at sea
- That the action is compatible with the general and specific environmental objectives of the Marine Strategy of the Marine Demarcation, approved by Royal Decree 1365/2018, of November 2, and in particular, with the environmental objectives set out in Annex II of Royal Decree 79/2019, of February 22, for the actions under section R of Annex I of the same Royal Decree.
- That the declarant is aware of the natural values of the area where the placement will take place, and therefore its development will be carried out in such a way that neither the seabed, nor the habitats, nor the species that inhabit the marine environment will suffer any impact.
- That the placement of urns or funerary ashes in the sea will be located in areas where there is no presence of protected habitats or species, such as sandy areas or seabeds devoid of vegetation or sensitive sessile organism communities. This will not apply to species included in Royal Decree 139/2011, of February 4, for the development of the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species. The declarant is aware that the species included in Royal Decree 139/2011, of February 4, are subject to the protection measures established in Law 42/2007, of December 13, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, and in particular to the prohibitions of its Article 57.
- That they guarantee, by means of a certificate, that the urns placed in the sea are biodegradable.
- That no other ornamental or personal items will be thrown into the sea along with the urn, nor will any object other than the urn or ashes be thrown from the vessel, with the sole exception of floral offerings consisting of natural flower petals (never bouquets), flowers with stems, or floral wreaths. This must be controlled by the vessel's crew, for whom the declarant is responsible. The entity is responsible for ensuring that all items thrown into the sea are free of pollutants.
- That motorboats will respect the maximum permitted speed during the activity, minimizing noise and the risk of collisions with marine life.
- That the entity will maintain a record of the services carried out, indicating the date and geographical coordinates of each placement, and will also keep a copy of the certificates confirming that the urns used are biodegradable.
- That it undertakes to provide, where applicable, any data or information required by the competent authority in order to verify compliance with this declaration of responsibility.
- That it will comply with all applicable environmental regulations.
- That it meets the requirements established in the preceding sections, and that it has the documents that prove this, as of the date on which this declaration is made.
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