Boating holidays are beautiful, and this summer 2020 they could be the perfect solution to avoid all the restrictions on the beaches caused by the Coronavirus: renting a boat with a skipper and sailing with a small group of known people, family or friends with whom it is easier to manage the rules of distancing and containment of the contagion, is the best way to enjoy the sea and an absolute parenthesis of freedom. But for those who have never done this type of vacation there is always the big doubt about what to bring on a sailing boat for a vacation. Now, you don’t have to be a skipper to understand that Spaces are limited on boats: not as cramped as many people think, but certainly compared to a hotel room or a rented house there is no comparison. Reason why you have to pack your bags with a certain precisionso as not to find yourself without the essentials, so as not to take up space with superfluous things, so as not to find yourself with things that cannot be used on a boat and at sea. So the first thing to do to organize your luggage for going on a boat is to think about:

– What clothing to bring on a boat
– Sheets and sleeping bags for sleeping on the boat
– Personal hygiene products on a sailing boat
– Medicines that may be useful during a boat cruise
– How to charge your phone and other electronic devices on a boat
– Snorkeling and diving equipment

What to bring on a sailing holiday

So let’s see in detail what to bring on a sailing boat for a vacation, starting with the suitcase. Actually, no, not the suitcase, because on a boat you don’t bring hard suitcases or trolleys, for two reasons: the first is that they can mark the walls and objects of the boat, above and below deck; the second is that once empty they take up a lot of space unnecessarily. So on a sailing boat you go with a duffel bag like these, or with a dry bag, waterproof and watertight bags designed specifically for cruises and sailing. Soft, roomy, indestructible, waterproof, foldable, duffel bags or dry bags are the right bags to take on board. Once you have chosen the bag, to which you can combine a soft backpack for any trips to land, let’s see what to put inside.

Clothing for a sailing holiday

A sailing holiday basically means sailing in the sea, dropping anchor in front of beaches and coves, staying at anchor or in port for the night. So the clothing is accordingly: a few essential things, considering that during the day you will always be in a swimsuitthat maybe in the evening you disembark to go to dinner or take a walk in some seaside village, that maybe at night on the boat it can be a bit cold and that, if you want, even on the boat with a few precautions you can do a mini wash. Wanting to make a list, the clothes for a sailing cruise they can be:

A pair of swimsuits (for him and for her) A pair of shorts and a pair of light long trousers (for him) A pair of T-shirts or polo shirts or shirts / blouses (for him and for her) A pair of shorts, skirt (short or long) or sundress (for her) One of a sweater, sweatshirt or fleece (for him and for her) Oilskin or waterproof jacket (for him and for her) for any storms or rainy days Underwear Flip-flops Boat shoes with white soles (for moving around on slippery surfaces on board) Any shoes for going ashore in the evening or for excursions Hat (with visor and hook or with a brim): the sun beats down hard on the boat

PS: a good solution for him and for her, if it should be cold in the evening, are the leggings long, 7/8 or 3/4: they take up little space, fit well, are comfortable and practical

Sheets and sleeping bags for sleeping on the boat

Generally sheets and sleeping bags for sleeping on a boat are provided by the owner of the boat or by the rental company, but this does not always mean that and it is a good idea to check: if you prefer to sleep “well” you need sheets, but if you want sleep under the stars and lulled by the sea you need a sleeping bag (here is our guide to buying sleeping bags). Let’s say that if the necessary for sleeping is not included a good sleeping kit is the optimal solution.

Personal hygiene products on a sailing boat

On a sailing boat we wash ourselves and take care of personal hygiene.Of course, taking a shower on a boat is not like taking one at home, but yes, you can also wash yourself on a boat. So, first thing, you need a couple of beach towels: one for when you go swimming in the sea, and one for drying yourself after rinsing with fresh water. If they are made of microfiber, even better, as they take up even less space. Here, by the way, on a boat you don’t take a shower, but the so-called “sea bath”: everything in the sea, back on board to soap up, dive back into the sea to remove soap and foam, and a quick rinse with fresh water on board (because there is fresh water on board, little, precious, but there is). Another essential thing in a beauty case for a boat holiday: At sea, you don’t use the usual soaps, shampoos and shower gels that are used at home, because it’s all chemical stuff that ends up directly in the sea. Luckily, there are marine shower shampoos like these that remove salt from the skin, guarantee hygiene but above all They are of vegetal origin, produce little foam and respect the marine ecosystem (really, it’s a small expense with a big impact on the environment).
Still on the subject of personal hygiene: There is no bidet on the boat. So when necessary you can use the extendable shower of the sink, or some sanitizing wet wipes. In this regard: On a boat, nothing is thrown into the toiletnot even toilet paper, so everything is thrown in the appropriate container which is then emptied at the port by recycling.

Medicines that may be useful during a boat cruise

Every boat should be equipped with a small, essential first aid kit (however, it is a good idea to ask the skipper before boarding). However, it can be prudent and sensible to bring the bare essentials for the most common inconveniences during a boat holiday: READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Sanitizing gel (especially in this summer 2020) Disinfectant Anti-inflammatory / pain reliever (in case of headache, sunstroke, some aches, etc.) Plasters Ointment for insect bites and possibly insect and mosquito repellent Eye drops (wind, sun and salt can put a strain on the eyes)

The following deserve a separate discussion: sun creams. Even the most reluctant will have to think again: on a boat, at sea, you need sunscreen. Now, here are 2 things to know: the first is that oils and sprays can become a danger if they grease the deck, so creams are better; the second is that The issue of environmental impact also applies to sun creams made for personal hygiene, so even in this case it is better to use an ecological and plant-based sunscreen. Like eye drops, a cocoa butter could be useful for the lips, while for perfumes and make-up the choice is completely individual (but is it really necessary?).

How to charge your phone and other electronic devices on a boat

Well, then on the boat there is the problem of recharge your phone and other electronic devices on the boat. Now, on boats there are 12 volt sockets, like those found in cars (the old cigarette lighter sockets, to be clear) and there are practical USB adapters on sale with even two or more ports. But be careful, the battery of a sailboat is not like that of a car, and should be used sparingly, so if you plan to make massive use of smartphones and other electronic devices (but why then?) it might make sense to equip yourself with a portable power bank with solar panels, which certainly has plenty of sun.

Snorkeling and diving equipment

Finally, snorkeling and diving equipment. In the pre-COVID-19 world, it often happened that the skipper or charterer would bring masks, snorkels, fins and wetsuits on board for the customers on board, but now this is no longer possible, which is why if you like diving, observing the seabed and long swims to discover the marine environment, it is a good idea to put your own equipment in your bag.

Other essentials to bring on a sailing boat

Finally, there are other essential things to bring on a sailing boat. First of all a flashlight, or a headlampto move around on board at night without turning on the light, or for when you disembark in the evening, perhaps on an isolated beach (here is our guide to buying headlamps). A waterproof case to protect smartphones, money and documents from water and splashes can always be useful, it does not take up space and costs a few euros. A pair of clothes pegs a swimsuit and beach towel to dry are always useful, as well as a Swiss Army Knife Multipurpose (here is our buying guide). Sailors always have sunglasses, and even if you don’t normally wear them, they can really make a difference at sea (see the point above about eye drops). Finally, dishes for eating: generally every boat is equipped with them, but with the anti-COVID-19 measures it may happen that the skipper or the charterer asks you to bring your own: a cup, a bowl and a metal spork are more than enough for all meals on board.

Photo by David Whiteford from Pexels

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2024-07-31 12:14:30
#Sailing #Holiday #Bring #Whats #Useless

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