Ronja Räubertochter

What should I bring for my sailing trip?

As a first-time sailor, you’ll ask yourself: “What should I pack for this great adventure?” It depends on how long you’re going, where you’re sailing, and the time of year, but if you consider these evergreens, you’ll be well-prepared.

If you lead an active lifestyle, you’ll find that you probably already own many of the items you need, for example from other activities and sports. Others can be improvised, so you don’t need to buy a lot at the start. Consider buying the items highlighted.

I’ll highlight a few products below because I use them and can therefore recommend them. Sailing equipment can be bought in chandleries, some recommendable ones in Germany (with delivery throughout the EU) are SVB, Compass, and AWN. Good sailing stores in Finland (all located on Lauttasaari in Helsinki) are Marinekauppa, and Captain’s Shop.

Keep your luggage flexible and dry

  • One (!) duffel bag Please don’t bring a suitcase, as it will never fit on a curved sailing yacht. A duffel bag has the advantage of being waterproof, and you can stow it in a locker, full or empty. 50 l is enough for two weeks, 90 l is more than enough for a month. The rucksack straps on your duffel will make travelling to the yacht more comfortable!
  • A gym sack This can be used to store laundry on board and as a rucksack when going ashore.
  • A few dry sacks Sailing is a wet affair and you’ll appreciate dry clothes, especially after a rainy day. To prevent damp from creeping in, take a few dry bags of different sizes with you.

Stay in shade

Although “water” is refreshingly cool, being on the water amplifies the sunlight through reflections. So get ready for a sunny adventure:

  • Sunglasses Not just for sunny days: a good pair of sunglasses is a must! For the health of your eyes, make sure your sunglasses block UV light. The advantage of polarised sunglasses is that they increase contrast on both bright and foggy days. The disadvantage is that most sailing instruments also have polarised screens: depending on your viewing angle, you’ll only see a black screen… Rinse your sunglasses frequently with fresh water, as salt water can damage them.
    • Recommendation: A pair of Ray-Bans is always fashionable, and I recommend the non-polarised ones.
  • Glasses or lenses Sailing requires all your concentration on the horizon, as distant dots can quickly become very close mega-tankers. So please don’t forget to bring your visual aids—and keep a sharp lookout at all times!
  • Glasses strap Better safe than sorry. This little helper will keep your glasses from going overboard for a fiver.
  • A lid or cap You’ll want to protect your head from the sun with a bit of your own shade. It will save you a sunstroke when it is dead calm, if you also have a…
  • Hat retainer Even more than glasses, hats have a tendency to go overboard. While this is always a good opportunity to practise a person-over-board manoeuvre, hats also sink quickly.

Keep your body warm

Sailing is similar to many outdoor activities: you’ll want to layer up to stay warm. Many layers will both insulate (by trapping thin layers of air) and allow you to control your temperature by quickly adding and removing layers. Sailing is an outdoor sport and moisture will creep in from the outside (rain and sea) and from the inside (sweat). So make sure you bring technical clothing with good water transport and insulation properties, such as sportswear, and avoid cotton at all costs—the windchill will cool you down rather than dry you out.

  • Oilskin(waterproof jacket and pants) This waterproof top layer is an extremely useful piece of equipment, but also very expensive (around €500 for a set). The longer you sail, the more likely you are to get wet—either from rain, strong winds or rough seas. This can cause your body to freeze and can quickly lead to hypothermia, which you can only avoid by staying below deck (where you really don’t want to be when it’s rocky), or by bringing good, waterproof clothing! As soon as you know this won’t be your last sailing trip, consider buying this as your first piece of equipment (and remember, bright and flashy colours will make you more visible if you ever fall overboard).
    • Alternative: waterproof breathable trekking gear (e.g. a Gore-Tex jacket and pants) works, but salt water attacks the functional layer. Make sure to rinse such equipment with fresh water after use.
    • Alternative: watertight non-breathable wear (e.g. rain pants and a raincoat) is better than nothing, but it will get wet from the inside.
    • Alternative for short trips: a rain jacket.
    • At first: consider borrowing the waterproof outer layer from a sailor friend.
  • Fleece jacket (wind insulation layer) Once you’re sailing, the more wind you get (especially upwind), the colder you feel. It will also get cold quickly in the evening. Take a windbreaker with you to stop the wind and keep you warm. Sailing is also a wet activity due to the sea, so make sure your clothing is as functional as possible, i.e. quick-drying and synthetic!
  • Hoodie or sweatshirt (thermal insulation layer) Bring a hoodie as an extra layer to keep you warm. Consider bringing a second one in case the first one gets wet. Again, synthetics are key and cotton kills! Don’t wear cotton as it will soak up like a sponge and cool you down instead of keeping you warm.
  • Long sleeve shirt (mid- or base layer) A thin long sleeve is the perfect extra mid-layer in the evening or as a base layer on colder days.
  • Shirts or tees (base layer) Bring two or three functional T-shirts (remember: not cotton). Ideally quick-drying. Any sports shirt will do, really…
  • Pants For normal sailing days, a pair of light, soft and flexible (quick-drying, UV-resistant) trousers are preferable to jeans on deck.
  • Shorts For those warm and sunny days (the ones you’re looking for)!
  • Tights or leggings (base layer) Bring a warm base layer of trousers:
  • Underwear (base layer) Bring two or three pairs of functional underwear. I prefer merino wool for its thermal, breathable and antibacterial properties. Merino doesn’t smell (even after days of use, but I’d still recommend washing it regularly…), doesn’t itch and is completely natural.
  • Sailing gloves For working with lines and handling (always dirty) mooring lines. These gloves are fairly inexpensive, so consider getting some from the start.
    • Recommendation: Gill Deckhand Gloves – Short Finger
    • Alternative: None, really. You can bring a pair of cycling gloves, but they’ll have a hard time and you’ll probably never use them for cycling again.
  • Sailing shoes Bring an extra pair of clean trainers for sailing as your street shoes will pick up stones and gravel ashore. Wear slip-resistant shoes on deck (it will be slippery) and non-marking shoes (to keep the deck clean and shiny).
    Don’t wear trekking or hiking boots, they are at best marking (scrubbing the deck will take you a while), at worst abrasive.
    If you want to invest more in sailing, there are sailing shoes with water drainage holes in the soles.
  • Hat Bring a hat for cold, windy, or rainy days.
  • Buff A buff will keep your neck warm on cold nights and windy or rainy days.
    • Recommendation: Buff
  • Rubber boots If you spend hours on deck on a rainy day, rubber boots will come in handy. Flat soles have better grip on the deck than those with a strong profile, and please make sure that your boots do not leave any marks!
  • Slippers For dinghy landings (you’ll get wet) and also for marina toilets and showers (to stay hygienic).
  • One or two nice outfits Something less functional, a summer dress or linen shirt for dining out and nightlife.

Water fun

  • Swimwear Yes, you will want to jump into the water straight from the cockpit. Just make sure the boat is securely anchored first…
  • Snorkeling set Discovering the underwater world can be fun. However, one snorkel is often enough, so agree with your fellow travellers who will bring it.

Sleeping and linen goods

  • Pillow case Bring a pillowcase for your pillow (which is usually on board).
    • We have four pillows aboard.
  • Sleeping bag or bedsheet Check that there are blankets on board your yacht. If you want to be on the safe side, bring a light sleeping bag. In warmer climates (e.g. the Mediterranean), bed sheets (without blankets) may be sufficient.
  • Sheets and linen Bring a set of sheets and linen to keep your bunk hygienic.
  • Two towels Bring two towels, one for freshwater and one for saltwater or sauna. Functional, quick-drying microfibre towels are ideal.
  • Hammock If you have a hammock, bring it along! Summer nights on the deck or on the shore are lovely.
    • We have two hammocks.
  • Clothes-pegs To dry your towels, swimwear and laundry on the railing: bring a handful of clothes pegs to keep your belongings on board.
    • We have plenty!
  • Dish towel As these are usually rare (and always wet), pack an extra tea towel.
    • We have plenty!

Drug store

  • Sun care The most important personal care product will be sunscreen. As mentioned above, UV light is reflected from everywhere, even in the shade. Make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen suitable for your skin type and also some SBP 50 for sailing.
    • Recommendation: Get a product with UVA and UVB blocker.
  • After sun lotion It will be your friend after long and sunny days.
  • Insect repellent Depending on where you sail, mosquitoes may be happy to share the mooring with you. The good stuff will contain DEET.
    • Recommendation: NOBITE
    • We have plenty!
  • Biodegradable shampoo Sailors want to preserve the sea and as shower wastewater goes straight into the sea, please bring a biodegradable personal hygiene product.
  • Personal medication Don’t forget your personal medications, as you may be days away from the nearest pharmacy.
    • we have a basic pharmacy (painkillers, antiallergic medicine, antidiarrheal medicine, disinfectant, etc.) aboard
  • Sea sickness pills If you’re prone to sea sickness, ask your pharmacist about various over-the-counter options. These pills are effective as a preventative measure (i.e. if you take them in the morning before you leave the dock, they’ll help), but once you’ve become seasick, they won’t cure you (i.e. it’s too late).
  • Toiletries Bring your usual travel kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
  • Sanitary products These can be hard to come by in remote anchorages.

This and that

  • Playlist Take plenty of music with you and make your Spotify playlist available offline!
  • Powerbank Power (and USB ports) are scarce when sailing (less so in marinas and under engine). Bring a power bank so that your phone and camera are somewhat self-sufficient.
  • Phone + charger Bring your phone and its charger (the USB cable).
  • No jewellery Best to leave your jewellery at home, as it will go overboard anyway…
  • Head lamp Whether you’re looking for the head (bathroom) at night, or you’re leading an overnight leg, bring a headlamp. It keeps your hands free. Make sure it has a red light, too, so you don’t dazzle your crew.
    • Recommendation: Petzl ACTIK Core can be recharged with a USB charger.
    • Alternative: Bring a flashlight.
  • Camera + charger + memory Bring your camera, its charger, and plenty of memory to record the adventure.
  • Car charger Most of today’s sailing yachts have one or more 5V USB ports. However, they are also equipped with the “old” 12V “cigarette lighter” car plugs. If you have a 5V USB car charger, bring it along.
  • GoPro + charger + memory A (waterproof) action cam will be a suitable gadget.
  • Swiss-army-knife A Swiss Army knife will always come in handy (especially if it has a corkscrew).
  • Lighter or matches For starting BBQs, bonfires, or saunas.

Documents

  • Passport or ID card
  • Credit card
  • Health insurance card
  • Some cash
  • Travel documents

Safety

we have all necessary Safety equipment (e.g. life vests) aboard.

For Pro’s

  • Milebook Your first sailing trip is the best time to start your personal mileage log. Get a nice looking book to record your voyages and collect your crew’s signatures and notes.
  • Sailing license
  • Radio license