Preparing for a sailing trip is likely to be a difficult process, especially if this is the first time you have experienced this type of adventure.
Making contact with the hire company is likely to provide a reliable checklist of the items that will be required, but in general travel items should include:
If packing for a sail charter, please remember that space is likely to be very restricted. You want to avoid the hard sided bags and suitcases since these aren’t practical choices on board a yacht. Rather a large-size duffel bag or backpack is ideal. A reason for using the duffel bags is that they are much easier to transport and can be folded and stored out of sight once the clothing and related supplies are packed away.
Visas, passports, boarding passes and similar such travel documents are vital to remember when it comes to preparing for the sailing holiday. If any of these documents are forgotten or mislaid, a sailing trip is certain to be compromised. And for any crucial items, like the travel documents, you might want to store them in a watertight and safe bag for extra protection.
Checklist: What to take on a sailing trip:
- Flight Tickets
- Insurance documents
- Passports
- Certification / qualifications (original copies)
- Money (local currency) and debit cards/credit cards
- Cell phone and charger (keep in contact and get regular updates on weather forecasts or similar important news)
- Swimwear
- Beach towels
- Shoes for use on board (deck shoes and/or soft soled shoes)
- Clothing (light fleece, jumper, waterproof jacket, sunglasses, hat, casual tops, T-shirts, casual trousers, shorts, etc.)
- Toiletries
- Sun cream
- Cream, spray, or gel-based insect repellent
- Prescription medication and anti-histamine tablets or ointment
- Camcorder or camera
- CD’s or MP3 player or similar electrical equipment
- Magazines or books to read
- Basic snorkeling gear (flippers, mask, etc)
Space on a hire yacht is certain to be restricted, so make certain to pack the appropriate clothing to match the itinerary of the trip. If you are aware of the expected weather and any details of shore-based stop off points, it will be possible to plan ahead and only pack what is most likely to be required.
For the passenger that requires certain non-prescription and prescription medications, make certain to include a sufficient amount to last the entire duration of the sailing adventure. Sourcing medication is likely to be extremely difficult at foreign ports if forgotten or mislaid.
If sailing in one of the more tropical destinations with intense sunlight throughout the day, a high-strength sun block is certain to be a highly beneficial addition, to ensure that you are able to relax on the deck of the sailing yacht.
Food
Most food tastes are easily catered to when exploring the open waters on a yacht charter and this food can be packed on the boat. But, for those with food allergies (wheat gluten, milk, peanuts, etc.) it can be more difficult to source the food needed to cover the length of the planned voyage. For this reason it is more practical to take along the safe substitutes that have been sourced from home.