Sailing Vacation Lists

What to pack for a sailboat vacation.

Sailing Vacation Lists of packing essentials and sailing gear. Whether you're going on a crewed caribbean sailing vacation or bareboating off Canada's west coast or anything in between.

Sailboats don't have a lot of room ~ Pack Light to ensure a carefree trip.

Packing for a sailing is different than packing for any other vacation. Constant motion and small spaces make for some interesting dynamics aboard a boat.

After years of chartering and bareboating we bought our beloved "Pacific Jade", a 41 foot ketch rigged sailboat.

The following list combines what we've packed for numerous sailing vacations and what we want visitors to Pacific Jade to know when they're packing to come for a visit.

Many of the items below will already be aboard and you won't need to bring them. Check with your hosts or charter company.

Start with a Soft Duffel Bag

Nix on the hard sided luggage for sailboats. Storage is limited on boats of all kinds but the configuration of the hull of a sailboat makes for small and oddly shaped stowage areas. There just isn't anywhere to put a big rectangular box.

Our Sailing Vacations start with soft bags. Usually a backpack and a soft duffel bag each.

The back pack is used as carry on and later for shore excursions, day trips and shopping. Soft duffels can be unpacked then rolled up and stowed in a net or cupboard out of the way.

Tropical ~ Sailing Vacation Lists

• Passport/travel documents
• Sailing Gloves
• Boat Shoes (we usually go barefoot on board)

Nautical Superstition

Sailing history is rife with superstition and salty lore.
Here you'll find sailing superstitions that many a sailor still believes.

• Backpack or Dry Bag for shore excursions
• Sandals and walking shoes (I wear crocs)
• 2 swim suits
• 3 pairs of shorts/skorts
• 4 t-shirts (you'll probably buy some)
• Swim suit cover-up
• Pareo
• Underwear
• Sleepwear (for privacy)
• Light windbreaker

Sailing Vacation Tips

Avoid
hard luggage,
packing too much
and dark soled shoes.

A baseball cap worn under your hood helps to keep the hood from falling over your eyes.

• Personal toiletries
• Eye care products
• Hat/ visor
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and SPF lip balm
• Bug spray with DEET
• Prescription meds in original bottles
• Soothing lotion (aloe vera, noxema)
• Small sewing kit
• Flashlight/ batteries
• Mini travel first aid kit
• Zip Lock bags
• books/ magazines
• dice/ cards, etc.
• snorkel
• camera/ film/ chip/ batteries
• waterproof disposable camera
• journal/ notebook/ pen
• small binoculars

Add to Sailing Vacation Lists For Cooler Climates

• 2 pair wool/ polar fleece socks
• 1 pair long underwear
• 1 foul weather jacket with hood
• 1 foul weather pants
• 1 long sleeved, turtle necked, t-shirt
• 1 polar fleece vest
• 1 pair seaboots
• 1 warm touque
• 1 fleece hoodie
• 1 pair warm pants (non denim). Polar fleece is a great choice.

Visitors to our Sailing Vacation Lists page may also be interested in the following pages.

Printable Sailing Vacation Lists
Vacation Packing Checklists