What to Bring for a Sailing Course

A sailing course needs more than a boat and life jackets. Plan the food, drinks, teaching materials and backup power before participants arrive, and check that the navigation and safety equipment is actually on board. For a full-day course, pack one lunch per person, at least 1.5 litres of water per participant and extra snacks. Keep paperwork, radios and emergency equipment easy to reach rather than buried in storage.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Transport

Training boat

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 3
Folding chairsqty 16
Tableclothqty 3

Equipment

VHF radio
Handheld GPSqty 2
Mobile phoneqty 2
Power bankqty 3
Flashlightqty 4

Navigation

Water ticketsqty 3
Compassesqty 6
Course rulersqty 6
Compassqty 6
Course foldersqty 12

Safety

Life jacketsqty 16
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Life ring
Emergency signals

Sailing equipment

Fendersqty 4
Mooring linesqty 6
Anchor line
Anchor
Mooring linesqty 6
Boat hook
Bucketqty 2
Bilge pump
Throwing hooksqty 2

Tools

Toolbox
Pocket knifeqty 2

Tableware

Drinking glassesqty 20
Platesqty 20
Cutlery setsqty 20
Mugsqty 16

Kitchen

Kettleqty 2
Thermosqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Chef's knifeqty 2
Serving plattersqty 4
Coolersqty 3
Thermos flaskqty 2

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Dish brushqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 8
Towelsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- White rolls - 24 pieces
- Wraps - 24 pieces
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Croquettes - 24 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Apples - 20 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Muesli bars - 24 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Salted crackers - 4 packs
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Fruit juice - 4 cartons
- Ice cubes - 6 bags
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Sunscreen - 4 bottles

Tips

Pack one lunch, two snacks and at least 1.5 litres of drinking water per participant for a full day on the water. Add extra water for the instructor and keep several bottles outside the coolers for quick access.
Bring one course folder, compass and course ruler per participant, plus at least two spare sets. Papers get wet or blow over quickly, so use folders that can close securely.
Charge the VHF radio, handheld GPS and mobile phone the evening before, then pack at least two power banks. A phone battery can drop quickly in cold, windy conditions when used for navigation or calls.
Keep one correctly sized life jacket for every person on board, with at least one spare if the boat allows it. Check the first aid kit, fire extinguisher, life ring and emergency signals before participants arrive, not during registration.
Take a waterproof flashlight, pocket knife and basic toolbox even for a daytime lesson. Mooring lines, fenders, the anchor setup and bilge pump are easy to overlook when the boat was used by another group the day before.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do I need for a sailing course?: Allow at least 1.5 litres of drinking water per participant for a full day, plus extra for the instructor. Bring more in hot weather or when shore access is limited.
What food should I buy for a full-day sailing course?: Prepare one lunch pack and two portable snacks per person. Choose food that can be eaten with one hand and pack at least one extra lunch for late registrations or unexpected delays.
How many navigation items should I bring per participant?: Provide one course folder, compass and course ruler per participant, then add two spare sets for a typical group. Pack water tickets and route materials in sealed folders before loading the boat.
When should I check the sailing course equipment?: Charge electronic equipment and inspect the boat at least one day before the course. Complete the safety check, including life jackets and emergency signals, again on the morning of departure.

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