What to Pack for a Sailing Holiday

The Basic Principle of knowing what to Pack for a Sailing Holiday.

First, even on bigger boats, stowage space will be limited. Get it badly wrong, you’ll forget essentials and your cabin explode with all your gear, but you will also end up sleeping with it. With some careful thought, we can get the balance right. Here’s my advice:

Pack. Remove half. remove half again. You’ll be about right.

First things to consider when thinking about what to Pack for a Sailing Holiday

When considering what to pack on a sailing holiday there are a number of initial factors that you need to consider:

1. Climate. Will it be warm, and will it be warm at night? In general, we say that you need one more layer at sea than onshore. So if it’s bikini weather ashore, you’ll need a wrap or t-shirt whilst sailing.
2. Type of Boat. When we say one layer cooler at sea, that will be multiplied if your doing 25 knots at the bridge of a motor yacht. The number of bare-chested and bikini topped ladies aim to prove my thoughts wrong, maybe I feel the cold more than most!
3. You! As the last point makes, we are all different, and you will you your own tolerance to heat and cooler. Adjust what you pack to suit you, but don’t be afraid to sneak a hoody in, just in case. The kind of places you know you will eat might be very narrow, for others they might need an outfit for more upmarket restaurants.
4. Type of Sailing. Even when we limit ourselves to what to pack on a sailing holiday, there will be a difference between what you need for long days at sea in the Greek Cyclades and the short line-of-site hops of a yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands.
5. Destination. Some destinations are informal taverners where almost all attire is welcome. Yet if you want to visit the higher class resorts of the Bahamas, you are going to need to pack appropriately.

Medical

• Prescription  Medicines.
• First Aid. Basic pain relief anti-inflammatories, anti-histamines, etc.
• A First Aid Kit. Although, in theory, your boat should have a Mini First Aid Kit, a few plasters and bandages can come in very handy.

Protective

• Sunglasses. Good Quality.
• Hat. Peaked, or a sunhat with a rim.
• Anti-Seaksickness remedies. Read our blog on Sea Sickness Remedies (New Window).
• Sunscreen. The sea reflects UV, so expect a good tan, but avoid any burning with plenty of waterproof sunblock.

Sleep

Getting a good nights sleep is an essential part of enjoying any holiday

• Bedding. Most European charter boats provide bedding. Some destinations like the UK, do not. These are just something to think about.
• Sleeping Bag. Pack light freeze at night.
• Pillow or Pillowcase. The pillowcase can be stuffed with fleece to save you some space if that matters.
• Pyjamas
• Hot water bottle. (not for most of our destinations!).

Food for thought:

• Hammock. Trusted by many sailors in days gone by, and for good reason. If you don’t use it to sleep, you can always use it to relax.

• Wind Scoop. This is a great top tip, especially when at anchor as the scoop will always be in the right position. It’s useful at other times too, so long as the direction if the wind does not change.

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There are so many factors her. As already mentions What to Pack on a Sailing Holiday is highly dependasnt on the destination, tiomne of year and type of sailing. It also depends on you. Are you the skipper or the mate? Are you the person that would have top helm for hours in the rain on the last day to get the yacht back on time?

For some, being without their trusted Oilskins, no matter where they sail is the most prudent packing advice. Myself? I stuff my old breathable dingy smock at the bottom of my bag. It’s come in very useful indeed over the years and is not as an incumbrance as my offshore oilskins when sailing in holiday destinations.