For Guests: A Checklist of Stuff to Bring
04 March 2007
General Notes on Packing
Please do not bring anything you would be devastated to lose overboard, or to have ruined by seawater.
The more lightly you pack, the more room you will have to move around in the cabin.
Think of sailing as camping on the water. Think small, light, comfortable, casual, functional.
Packing List
>Small, soft-sided luggage (There is no place to store large or hard-sided bags.)
>Passport (and visa, if necessary)
>Sunscreen (1 bottle SPF 30 or greater per person)
>Bug juice (1 can/bottle per family)
>Snorkel gear
>Sunglasses
>String-things to hang sunglasses around neck & keep them from falling overboard
>Hat
>Shoes: If you feel you must wear shoes, since we understand that you are landlubbers and are custom to always wearing shoes, then please wear non-marring, light-weight shoes for deck & dinghy (As example, canvas deck shoes, or Crocks .) The best are Crocks as they are comfortable, non-skid, light, waterproof and cheap! Quite frankly, we never wear shoes on the boat since they tend to track the dirt from the streets onto the deck of the boat. We always, always, always go bare foot once on the boat.
>Shoes for land sight-seeing (comfortable enough for hours of walking). Here to is where Crocks are great. These are all we ever wear.
>Shoes to go with your dinner outfit (no high heels or black, marring soles; wedge sandals are fine but can be slippery). We also wear our Crocks here. Even in "fancy" places. No one seems to notice or mind. No, mind out, our Crocks are neutral colors, not the bright and loud ones.
Note on shoes: Tragically, a boat allows few footwear fashion statements. Comfort and utility are (sob) the only considerations.
>Clothes: Bathing suits (at least two, three is better)
>Coverup
>Old, crummy t-shirt (for snorkeling, so your back will not get burned to a crisp)
>Comfortable shorts & tops
>Sight-seeing/shopping land outfit (Depending on the country, we ask that you dress in a respectful, culture-appropriate way when on land -- at least, short of a burka.)
>Nicer but still casual outfit for dinner and/or dancing (Men should bring one pair of long pants and a collared shirt, such as a golf shirt.)
>Sleep clothes and/or light-weight robe or cover-up
>Bathroom stuff (We have spare hair dryers that are designed for the boat, so you do not need to bring one. Any other crucial appliances are fine; the boat has normal American plugs.)
>Day-pack
>Camera
Stuff NOT to Bring
>Nice jewelry
>High heels
>Black-soled, marring shoes
>Coat & tie
>Illegal substances of any sort (We will have you killed.)
Note on illegal substances: Boats are subject to frequent random searches by the authorities of every country. And they usually search very thoroughly and/or with dogs. If you bring an illegal substance, you may get caught and go to jail. And we would probably have to go to jail, too. Worse, the boat would certainly be confiscated, and we would lose it forever. DO NOT TAKE THE CHANCE. And if you are bringing a friend that we do not know, be absolutely certain he/she does not bring anything illegal, either -- drugs, guns, Mace, anything.