What to Bring on a Sailing Holiday

Heading out on a voyage is always exciting, and especially so for sailing holidays in the Mediterranean. But if you are a first time sailor what do you bring on board?

Here are First Class Sailing’s picks of essential items to pack:

A Soft Luggage Bag

And before you start packing… Do NOT use a large hard-frame suitcase – space on board will be far too limited. Instead soft sailing bags are perfect as they can be stowed away easily.

Sun protection

With all outdoor sports the fun can be spoilt by sunburnt so make sure you bring broad-spectrum sunscreen (which protects against UVA and UVB rays from the sun) and choose a high SPF (50 or 50+ is best). Remember to reapply sunscreen after going in the water, even if the sunscreen claims to be waterproof.It’s also wise to bring a hat to keep your head cool, and a pair of sunglasses to prevent the constant glare affecting your vision.

Clothing

Sailing is all about travelling light and compact. Don’t pack loads of t-shirts and shorts, but you should definitely bring swimming shorts or swimsuits as one of the best things about a sailing holiday is anchoring in a cove or bay and taking a dip in the sea. Something warm for the cool evening breezes and if modesty is a requirement then something to sleep in.

Don’t worry about dressing up for your time on dry land – most sailing locales are fine with casual clothing and beachwear. However check on your itinerary as you wouldn’t want to miss a great restaurant because you didn’t have a pair of trousers.

As for your feet Deck shoes are great but can start to smell in hot weather. Crocs are great for walking round on deck and protecting your toes from stubbing. They are also brilliant for jumping off the dinghy on to the beach when you don’t quite know what you will land on.

Earplugs

Should you be a light sleeper earplugs help block out all those ‘onboard’ noises – such as snoring from your fellow crew members, that might prevent you from getting shut-eye between watches.

Entertainment

You can bring electronic gadgets, they can be recharged via a 12V cigarette style socket but if they get wet, the ensuing corrosion will mean you can pretty much kiss goodbye to them. Many boats nowadays have car stereos with USB connections so you can bring a USB fob with your music collection.

Or bring a board game or a deck of cards. The latter is good for sailing in rough weather as you can hold onto them for games, rather than resting them on a table where they could be dislodged by the motion of a wave. And a book is always a good companion. Try to bring books you can share as this helps reduce the amount of baggage the crew has to bring.

A camera

What’s a holiday without holiday snaps? Bringing a waterproof disposable camera will allow you to capture some special memories, as well as any surprises that crop up while you’re on board (for example, sightings of the local sea life). And if it falls, overboard you have a chance of keeping your pics.

These are just a handful of the items which are handy to have on board for your sailing holiday. What do like to take with you on sailing trips? Leave us a comment below or get in touch via our Google+, Facebook or Twitter.

Posted by: First Class Sailing