What to bring on a sailing trip

A sailing trip needs more than food and drinks. Pack supplies that work in a small, moving space, and check safety and navigation equipment before anyone steps aboard. Plan chilled food, filling lunch packs and enough water for the full route, with extra for delays. This checklist also covers reusable tableware, coolers, lighting, cleaning supplies and the small items people often remember only after leaving the harbour.

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What to bring

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

Equipment

Sailboat
VHF radio
Navigation mapqty 2
Compassqty 2
Waterproof phone caseqty 3
Power bankqty 3

Safety

Life jacketsqty 24
Life ring
Emergency signals
First aid kit
Flashlightsqty 4
Whistlesqty 24

Sail material

Mooring linesqty 6
Fendersqty 6
Tarpaulinqty 2

Furniture

Foldable tableqty 2
Foldable chairsqty 6

Refrigeration

Coolersqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Serving tongsqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 3

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 30
Reusable platesqty 30
Reusable cutleryqty 30
Napkin holderqty 3

Lighting

LED lampsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Washing-up tubsqty 2
Spongesqty 4
Tea towelsqty 8

Organization

Participant Listqty 2
Waterproof document folderqty 2
Pensqty 6
Name stickersqty 30

Groceries

Groceries
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- White rolls - 30 pieces
- Whole wheat wraps - 24 pieces
- Cheese - 1.5 kilos
- Ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast topping - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Butter - 500 grams
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 24 pieces
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Muesli bars - 30 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Nut mix - 4 bags
- Cookies - 5 packs
- Pasta - 2 kilo
- Pasta sauce - 6 jars
- Grated cheese - 750 grams
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Water - 48 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Lemonade - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Disinfecting wipes - 3 packs
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles

Tips

Plan at least 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1–2 drinks per person for every additional hour. Bring extra drinking water in case the route takes longer than planned.
Pack lunch in individual packs and keep chilled items in coolers until boarding. Add napkins, reusable cups, plates and cutlery so you do not need to handle loose food on a moving boat.
Check one life jacket for every participant before departure, and keep the first aid kit, emergency signals, whistles and flashlights easy to reach rather than buried in luggage.
Bring navigation maps and a compass even when the boat has electronic navigation. Put phones in waterproof cases and charge power banks before meeting the group.
Pack cleaning supplies for the return trip: waste bins, washing-up tubs, sponges and enough bags to separate food waste from other rubbish. Leave time for a 15-minute cleanup before disembarking.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink do I need for a sailing trip?: Plan one lunch pack per person and at least 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, followed by 1–2 drinks per person for each additional hour. Bring extra water for delays, warm weather and anyone who cannot drink the planned refreshments.
What safety equipment should I bring on a sailing trip?: Check that there is one life jacket per participant, plus a life ring, emergency signals, a first aid kit, flashlights and whistles. Put the safety check on your list at least 24 hours before departure so missing equipment can still be replaced.
What should I pack to keep food cold on a sailboat?: Use coolers for chilled food and drinks, and pack ice or frozen cooling blocks before boarding. Chill everything for at least 4 hours beforehand; prepare lunch packs just before leaving the meeting point.
What should I bring for navigation and communication?: Take the relevant navigation maps, a compass, a charged VHF radio and at least one fully charged power bank. Store phones in waterproof cases and print route information at least 1 day before sailing.

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