What You Need for a Sailing Race

A sailing race needs more than boats and a start line. This shopping list covers the equipment for marking the course, running the start and finish, communicating with crews, and keeping people safe on the water. It also includes the shore setup for registration, scoring, refreshments, and bad-weather cover. Check quantities against the number of boats, crew members, officials, and safety boats before buying or collecting anything.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentqty 2
Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Beer tablesqty 4
Waste binsqty 6

Sports equipment

Buoysqty 8
Anchorsqty 8
Anchor linesqty 8
Start flagsqty 5
Finish flag
Signal hornsqty 2
Bib numbersqty 30
Competition bibsqty 20
Measuring tapeqty 2
Waterproof scoreboardsqty 2

Equipment

Motorboatqty 3
VHF radioqty 4
Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Megaphone
Laptop
Printer
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Power banksqty 4

Safety

Life jacketsqty 20
Life ringsqty 4
Throw linesqty 4
First aid kitsqty 2
Emergency blanketsqty 10
Flashlightsqty 6
Safety whistlesqty 20

Tableware

Glassesqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 60
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving spoonsqty 8
Pitchersqty 8

Catering

Buffet traysqty 8
Serving traysqty 8
Bread basketsqty 6
Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 3 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Beer - 5 crates
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- White sandwich rolls - 60 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 40 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Young matured cheese - 3 kilos
- Brie - 1.5 kilos
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Smoked chicken breast - 1,5 kilo
- Hummus - 1.5 kilos
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Cucumber - 10 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Red onion - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Pesto sauce - 4 jars
- Pasta salad - 6 kilos
- Potato salad - 5 kilos
- Mixed green salad - 5 kilo
- Dressing - 3 bottles
- Vegetarian quiche - 6 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 100 pieces
- Falafel balls - 100 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salty nuts - 4 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Brownies - 60
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Peppermint - 4 bags
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dishwashing liquid - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Coffee cups - 100 pieces
- Wooden stirring sticks - 150 pieces
- Toothpicks - 2 boxes

Decorations

Contest bannerqty 2
Directional signsqty 8
Chalkboardsqty 3
Tableclothsqty 8

Lighting

LED lampsqty 8
String lightsqty 4

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Pliersqty 6
Ice packsqty 24

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Spongesqty 8
Dish brushesqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Broomsqty 3
Can openersqty 2

Tips

Plan at least one buoy for every course mark, plus one spare if the course cannot be reset quickly. Each mark also needs a suitable anchor and anchor line long enough for the local depth and conditions.
Give every race official a reliable communication method. Keep one marifoon on the motorboat, issue portofoons to shore and safety teams, and charge powerbanks before the briefing.
Prepare one start-number set and one wedstrijdhesje for each participating boat or assigned role. Pack a few blank or spare numbers so a last-minute change does not delay registration.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour on shore, then add more for the expected duration. Use koelboxen for cold drinks and thermos flasks for coffee or hot water; collect diet requirements before shopping.
Test the laptop, printer, extension leads, and power strips at least one day before the race. Bring waterproof scoreboards and protect printed results from spray, because wet paperwork can stop scoring even when the race runs normally.

Frequently asked questions

What safety equipment do I need for a sailing race?: Prepare one suitable life jacket for every person who may board a motorboat or work on the water, plus at least one life ring per safety boat or launch area. Check the equipment before race day and keep it immediately accessible.
How many buoys do I need for a sailing race?: Count the marks shown in the final course layout and bring one buoy for each mark, with one spare where a replacement cannot be delivered quickly. Every buoy needs its own anchor and anchor line.
How many radios are needed for a sailing race?: Use at least one marifoon on the motorboat and one portofoon for each operational team, such as race control, shore registration, and safety. Charge and test all radios no later than the evening before the race.
How much water and coffee should I buy for a sailing race?: Budget two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add roughly one drink per person for each additional hour. For coffee, plan around two cups per person if the shore programme lasts a full morning or afternoon, and bring extra hot water.

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