subject: What You Need Pack Before Sailing? [print this page] What You Need Pack Before Sailing?
When going out on the water, you want to make sure you're prepared. Nothing is worse than leaving the dock and then having to turn back around after you've forgotten something important. Remember, in a dinghy (or if your keelboat looks like a really wet ride), you may want to leave the gear bag ashore. Use the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need in your gear bag:
A life jacket for each person.
Jacket or foul-weather gear and/or a bathing suit and wool cap: Now you have all weather extremes covered.
Nonslip, rubber-soled shoes: Don't go offshore without them.
Sun stuff sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen: The glare of sunlight (even on an overcast day) reflecting off the water and sails makes sun stuff essential. Make sure that you have a string or some sort of retainer for your sunglasses and your hat. We've proven beyond a doubt that sunglasses sink. An extra hat and pair of $5 sunglasses can make you very popular with your forgetful sailing friends.
When we're going to be on the water all day, we put good sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) on first thing in the morning, when we brush our teeth, because sunscreen is most effective when it has time to soak in. (But be careful not to confuse your sunscreen with your toothpaste.) Then we reapply sunscreen (everywhere the sun can see us) before going out on the water, and we try to remember to add another layer a couple more times during the day.
I always wear a long-sleeved shirt when I sail, and even in the tropics I wear lightweight, long pants every few days, just to give my skin a rest from the sun.
Gloves: Sailing gloves are a good investment, unless your other hobby is rock climbing and your hands are well calloused.
Hair band: Keep long hair in a ponytail or a braid. Loose hair can get caught in the lines and blocks and then pulled out in big chunks.
Water: Drinking plenty of water is crucial on hot days to prevent dehydration, so throw an extra bottle in your bag.
Snacks: Having an extra apple or orange (skip the fruit that can get squashed), a granola bar, or an energy bar can make you pretty popular if an intended short sail turns into a three-hour tour.
Sailor's choice: We're divided on this one. On anything but a dinghy, JJ wants a cellular phone (such a Californian) stored in a plastic bag, but Peter opts to bring a knife (a sailor's best friend). Your choice? Fill in the blank.
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