Here are two more things we've experienced while visiting guest harbours:

• Insects. Ok, we've met insects quite far from land as well, but the risk of getting stung by a mosquito is significantly lower when starying by anchor some hundreds of metres from land than when staying by land.

• Spiders - they seem to enjoy staying at marinas, and they don't mind jumping on board joining for a sailing trip. We've had quite many spiders on board this season. The webs may be charming to look at, and it's nice to think that the spiders may help to reduce the insect problem - but the latter is insignificant, and there is nothing charming with inadvertently putting the face right into a spider web with a giant spider. Also, quite some of the crew has a bit of a fobia against spiders.

While I've never experienced rats nor mice onboard, I believe the risk is insignificant when staying by anchor.